The dark shadow in Bannang Sata and the other side of Hakim
"From now on, the situation inl Bannang Sata may turn more violent because of the anger of defence volunteer Hakim of the death of his parents. There may be situation that may affect the people. But this incident will make Hakim and his brother realize the pains of loss. Or they may become crazy."
The above remark was made by a resident of Bannang Sata, Yala province, in the aftermath of an incident on April 20 when gunmen opened up at a pick-up truck killing parents and a two-year old niece of Abdul Hakim Daraseh, a defence volunteer in Bannang Sata district.
And this is not an ordinary incident because it prompted Army Commander-in-Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha to order Lt-Gen Walit Rojanapakdi, commander of the 4th army region, to travel to Bannang Sata to solve the local conflict. Also, gun controls were restricted as a precaution against anticipated escalated violence.
It should be noted that three days earlier on April 17, gunmen killed Mukta Ali Mama and his six-year old son, Lukman Apibarnbae, in an ambush in Tambon Bacho, Bannang Sata district. Mukta was suspected to be an important separatist in the district.
It was discovered later on that the two fatal shooting incidents on April 17 and April 20 were believed to be the result of conflict between two families. As such, religious leaders from the Yala provincial Islamic committee would be invited to act as the "middle men" to resolve the conflict.
But the question is whether all or most of the violent incidents in Bannang Sata district were caused by the conflict between two families?
To try to find the answer, one may have to take a close look at the background of Hakim, the defence volunteer.
Hakim’s name was mentioned in leaflets left at the crime scenes of at least five incidents perpetrated by the separatists. All the leaflets carried the same message – that is the violent incidents were meant to retaliate against the state for allowing Hakim and his brother to harass local villagers in Bannang Sata.
The most atrocious incident which took place on April 3 and believed carried out by separatists in retaliation against Hakim’s harassment was the killing of Ban Kalang Nai village headman, Iae Srithong, and his two assistants, one of them a woman who was beheaded.
It was quite odd that despite the leaflets, local authorities did not attempt to make any investigation to find out whether the incidents were connected. The Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre however set up a panel to investigate the incidents but there has been no progress.
Hakim’s alleged wrongdoings have been the talk of the town in Bannang Sata for quite some time but it cannot be determined whether they were true or fabricated. One thing undeniable was that Hakim and his brother were disliked by many local people.
But police report regarding Hakim seems to portray the volunteer in a different light. Pol Maj-Gen Songkiat Watakul, Yala provincial police chief, believes that the killing of Hakim’s parents and a young niece was the work of separatists in retaliation against Hakim’s defection from the separatist movement to the government side.
After the defection, Hakim joined the defence volunteer force tasked with hunting down the separatists who subsequently retaliated with the bombing attack of Hakim, his brother and a friend on February 17. Fortunately, the three escaped with minor injuries but the pickup truck in which they were travelling was damaged beyond repairs.
Seven days after the bombing incident on February 23, a couple, Doloh Padoong,66, and his wife, Mareeyae, were slain in their house by unidentified assailants. Their house was also torched.
It was reported that the Doloh’s family suspected that Hakim might have a role in the killings of the two elderly people in retaliation against the bomb attack on February 17 against Hakim.
Several violent incidents allegedly perpetrated by the separatists were suspected to be retaliatory acts against Hakim’s exploits. These included the killing of an ex-police officer at a gas station on March 17 and the bomb attack against a noodle shop on March 3.
Many local villagers are fully aware of the alleged misconduct of Hakim and his brother but they just keep their mouths shut, according to an informed source.
Hakim himself appears to be aware of the risks against him and his family so they were moved to live in Muang district instead of living in Bannang Sata for their safety. But nevertheless, his parents and a niece were gunned down.
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Caption : The incident on April 20 when gunmen opened up at a pick-up truck killing parents and a two-year old niece of Abdul Hakim Daraseh, a defence volunteer in Bannang Sata district.