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April 8, 2006

Thailand: Islamic Teachers Released

We reported on March 28 that 19 teachers from the Thamma Wittaya school in Yala city, Yala province in Thailand, were arrested. The teachers at the Islamic institution were apprehended under the government's emergency powers. They were arrested after returning from a boat trip to Satun island, where they had been planning next yeas' admissions policies at their annual retreat.

The private Islamic school or "pondok" was founded by Sapaeing Bazo, a leader of the separatist Muslim movement, which wishes to see the three southern provinces of Thailand, Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani to secede from Thailand. These three provinces are predominantly Muslim, with only 20% of the population Buddhist, and were formerly part of an independent sultanate called Pattani. This was annexed officially a century ago into Thailand.

Sapaeing Bazo is currently a fugitive, with a bounty of 10 million baht, or US$ 256,227 upon his head. He is said to be in hiding across the border in Malaysia.

Six of the school's teachers have been killed in since the insurgency began in Jnauary 2004. During the time of the insurgency, at least 1,100 people have been killed in the violence.

It appears that only 18 of those detained were actually schoolteachers, with the other man being the school's boatman. Most of the school's teachers have been educated in Islam in Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Egypt.

On Wednesday, according to The Nation, about 50 people, relatives of those detained, staged a protest outside Yala city hall, in an effort to secure the release of those held. The protestors met with Nataphol Wichianpret, the provincial governor.

Yesterday, a petition from the Muslim Lawyers Association, calling for the detainee's release, was submitted to a court, states The Nation. Later the same day four of the teachers were released.

News today from the Nation states that earlier today (Saturday) all of the remaining teachers were released. The only individual still in custody is one Ustad, or "teacher" at the pondok, called Chaihidan Boonyang. He is a resident of Sun province, and only teaches part-time at the Thamma Witthaya pondok.

One of those now released, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: "Mine was only a few days but I kept thinking of all the fellow ustads (Islamic teachers) who had been held in detention for years and in far away places. My family members come and see me everyday but what about those who are locked away and forgotten."

The attacks meanwhile have continued. On Wednesday, a firebomb was thrown at the house of 42-year old Chehe Sadao, a village defense volunteer.

Late on Thursday night, in Muang district in Pattani, 44-year old Pornchai Sutthisang was shot as he intervened in a quarrel involving his friend and two men, following a road accident. The men drew guns and shot him.

Around 8.45 the same evening in Pattani, 37-year old Bayuni Jeloh was shot while riding his motorcycle. He was apparently shot with an AK-47 assault rifle. Hit in the leg and stomach, he is recovering.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at April 8, 2006 8:04 AM

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