Breaking the Wall of Silence
"Breaking the Wall of Silence" is a programme launched on July 22 by the Women for Peace Association in cooperation with a host of non-governmental human rights advocacy groups to echo the voices of women and children against the senseless violence in the strife-torn Deep South.
The restive region saw a surge of violence targeted against women this year. According to the Cross Culture Foundation and the Duai Jai group, over 30 women were killed and more than 60 wounded since the beginning of this year. The followings are some of the violent incidents against women, mostly Buddhists, allegedly by Islamic radicals.
On July 13, 62-year old Mrs Dang Chankong, a villager of Tambon Pron, Narathiwat’s Tak Bai district was gunned down in broad daylight by the pillion rider of a motorcycle as she was riding for home after having attended an ordination ceremony.
On July 9, two female students of Sirindhorn health college were shot dead by two gunmen believed to be militants as they were strolling at a flea market in Yaha district of Yala after having left the district’s hospital where they worked as trainees. The incident also occurred in broad daylight.
On April 2 in Bannang Sata district of Yala, a female assistant village head was shot dead and her head cut off allegedly by militants.
Ms Patimoh Poh-etae Daoah, president of Women for Peace Association, said that violence which started in 2004 has not abated ten years on causing heavy losses in life and property, among them many women and children.
She noted that, lately, the violence appeared to target at women, particularly women working in health care services, prompting serious concern among organizations working for women and members of the public.
Families of the female victims killed or wounded joined a panel discussion with religious leaders and representatives from the security forces held at the SC Pattani hotel on July 22 when the "Breaking the Wall of Silence" programme was launched. A statement against violence of all forms was also read after the discussion.
Of all the victimized women this year, most of them are Buddhists. This has prompted Buddhist Thais in the restive region to form a group called Network of Buddhists for Peace to voice their strong opposition against the senseless violence.
"Please stop killing us and people of every religion. We cannot stand anymore that our sisters and brothers were killed – not just the Buddhists but the weak targets such as women, children, the elderly and monks and health officials simply because we are Buddhists who represent the minority here," said a Buddhist woman who declined to be identified.
"These people claimed they have their ideology and they fought for the disenfranchised. But why killed the innocent people," she asked.
She may represent just one voice. But the voice is getting louder and louder.