Old people targeted for violent attacks by suspected insurgents
Although retired several years ago as headman of Ban Pa Sri, Tambon Taloh of Pattani’s Yaring district, 70-year old Mr Larb Waewthongrak still kept himself busy helping out helping out his villagers in various odd jobs.
Occasionally, he worked as an undertaker at Wat Pa Sri and in May he took care of the cremation ceremony of 19-year old Athisit "Omsin" Moongmaithanarak who was killed in one of the 20 bomb blasts which rocked Pattani on the night of May 24.
When he was free, Loong Larb as he was called by his neighbours would visit a roadside grocery in Ban Pa Sri to chit-chat with his friends and eat some sweets available at the shop.
On June 24, Loong Larb was free since the morning. So he went to the grocery to eat sweets and to meet some friends for their usual chit-chat completely oblivious with the danger from suspected insurgents.
At about 11 am, four men arrived at the grocery shop in two motorcycles. Then one of pillion riders dismounted, walked toward Loong Larb and fired at him at point-blank range. Then he grabbed a bottle of petrol from the grocery, uncorked the bottle and poured the petrol on the victim’s body before setting it afire. The assailants also drove away the victim’s motorbike.
The daring broad daylight immolation of the old man took place in front of several villagers who were shocked by the incident. He died at the scene.
But Loong Larb was not the only elderly killed by suspected insurgents. Three others were also killed in what was described as senseless violence against the innocent elderlies.
Three days before the murder of Loong Larb, suspected insurgents shot dead a couple, 60-year old Mr Choey Kraikaew and his wife, Mrs Pen, aged about 60 as they were riding home in a motorcycle after having sold rubber to a shop in Mae Larn district of Pattani.
On June 24, an 88-year old retired teacher, Mr Pien Chantharakran, was knifed to death at his house by an unidentified assailant thought to be a suspected insurgent in Raman district of Yala.
A committee member of Ban Tha Pong masjid, 53-year old Mr Abdulloh Jenee, was seriously shot as he was about to leave a mosque in Mae Larn district on the night of June 20.
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Caption : Loong Larb's funeral