Four controversial crime cases reinvestigated
The Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC) has set up four ad hoc panels to investigate four crime cases in which several Malay Muslims and local teachers were killed or maimed under suspicious circumstances.
The SBPAC is empowered by virtue of Section 9 (6) of the SBPAC Act to investigate such cases to ensure justice to all parties concerned as well as to investigate the improper conduct of the state authorities.
The four cases which occurred in the three southernmost provinces in 2012. They are as follows:
1.The killing of five Malay Muslim villagers in Krong Penang district of Yala in April by security forces. The case was raised by Mr Saroj Maming, president of Muslim Attorney Centre Foundation of Yala Province, to the attention of SBPAC after relatives of the victims complained that the victims were not militants as alleged by the security forces who claimed that they were shot first and had to respond in kind.
2.The killing of Mr Abdullateh Tohdae, an imam of Ban U-beng masjid in Tambon Patae, Yaha district of Yala on November 14, 2012. Relatives of the victim dismissed the suggestion by security forces that the victim was killed by suspected militants.
3.The murders and attempted murders of severl Buddhist and Muslim religious teachers. However, the most controversial case involved the killing of Mr Mahama Ma-ae, a Muslim religious teacher or ustaz at Thammawitthaya Foundation School on October 30. Malay Muslim villagers suspected that Mahama was killed by security forces and the subsequent attacks against Buddhist teachers were a revenge for the murder of the ustaz.
4.The attack of a tea house in Tambon Tanyong Limore, Ra-nage district of Narathiwat on December 11 in which four Malay Muslims were killed, including an 11-month old baby, and four injured.
Each investigating panel is represented by all sectors concerned such as the military, police, local officials, religious and community leaders, the local media and the Muslim Attorney Centre Foundation to ensure transparency and fairness.
Certain degree of progress has been reported in some of the cases. Regarding the Tanyong Limore tea house attack, for an example, teaFor instance the tea house attack case, it has been verified that three types of rifles were used in the attack, including M16, HK33 and AK47 assault rifles.
The HK33 spent shells were found to match with the ones used to kill Mr Luema-ngae Yusoh in Tanyong Limore on December 21, 2011 and Mr Neelae Ngoh, headman of Ban Ngo Kubo of Ra-nage district on February 5, 2012.
The AK47 spent shells were found to match with the ones used in two fatal attacks on Ocrober 15 and November 18, 2012 in Ra-nage district. In the first case, Mr Nasae Uma was killed and his wife, Mrs Ropee-ah Mading, was seriously injured. In the second incident, Mrs Haleemoh Royee was shot dead and her son was seriously injured.
Result of tests of the 21 M16 spent shells is expected soon.
SBPAC secretary-general Pol Col Thawee Sodsong insisted that the investigation was not meant for any groups of people in particular but was meant to allow public participation in the investigation process to find out the truths and to ensure fairness and justice to all concerned.
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Caption : Mr. Abdullateh Tohdae an imam of Ban U-beng masjid in Tambon Patae, Yaha district of Yala was killed on November 14, 2012.