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January 8, 2007

Thailand: Miss Juling Finally Dies After May Muslim Attack

On May 19, two Buddhist teachers were savagely attacked with sticks and clubs in Gujingruepo School in Kuching Lepas village in Rangae district, Narathiwat.

The women became the victim of a mob of Muslim villagers, led by Karima Masaleh, the wife of Muhamad Sapaeing Buari, a Muslim separatist who had been arrested earlier in the day. Buari had been involved with shooting at soldiers at a train station on April 12. Another man, Abdulgareem Matae, had been arrested with Buari.

The mob had come to the school and demanded to know which members of staff were not Muslim. 26 year old Juling Pongkanmul (Kamphongmoon), an art teacher, was dragged from her class. 30 year old Sirinat Thavornsuk was abducted from a noodle shop nearby. The school's janitor had colluded with the mob.

The teachers had been taken to the village's child care centre, and Nawaree Ding and others dragged logs across the roads. Another mob member, 25-year old Bawankit Hinna and other women prevented rescuers from getting near the two teachers.

While the two teachers were being detained, Suena Madeng, with about 20 other women, allegedly obstructed the security officers from taking Karima Masaleh's husband and Abdulgareem Matae from the village. 24-year old Karima Masaleh ordered other leaders of the group to form a human chain around the child care center.

Here, the two women were beaten for at least an hour, while no security services could reach them. By the time the women were rescued, they had suffered severe injuries, and Miss Juling was in a coma.

She was taken to the Prince of Songkhla hospital in Hat Yai, Songkhla province. Her brain had suffered tears and bleeding, and she never regained consciousness. At the end of May, shortly after the attack, Miss Juling's paintings were exhibited at Chiang Rai Vocational College, where she had trained to be a teacher. She loved to draw still-lives and cartoons. In April she had created 17 wall paintings for school day care centres in Pornpinit Pitthayakhan and Wat Phutthaisawan, before she decided to teach in Narathiwat.

In July, another exhibition of her paintings was held in Chiang Rai Rajabhat University. Thawan Dachanee, who is regarded as Thailand's foremost visual artist, also had work at the exhibition. He then described Miss Juling as a "model of sacrifice, love and faith who feared no danger and made a brave decision to work in the deep South." Hundreds visited the exhibition, and proceeds were donated to Miss Juling's family.

Juling's mother, Khammee Pongkanmul (pictured), was given an award on August 12, mother's day in Thailand. The award, bestowing upon her the title of "Mother of the year", was given to her by HRH Princess Somsawali. Khammee said that she was very proud of her daughter. She said that she was overwhelmed by kind messages and financial gifts from the royal family to support her daughter's medical treatment.

Today, according to Associated Press, Miss Juling finally passed away. Throughout her coma, her body had been prey to infections, particularly lung infections. In the end, it was a lung infection, combined with low blood pressure, which caused her body to give out.

Dr. Sumet Phirawut, director of the Prince of Songkhla hospital said: "We did everything we could to save her."

After eight months, Miss Juling's family who had promised to look after if she recovered, no matter how mentally impaired she would have been, can lay her to rest.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at January 8, 2007 2:51 PM

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