Teachers killed in deep South
53-year old Mrs Isara Chairitchoke became the seventh teacher killed by suspected militants in the restive Deep South so far this year.
The Ban KuanTaen teacher in Tambon ThaRua, Kok Pho district of Pattani was fatally shot in front of a small gas station in a neighbouring village at about noon on Saturday November 15. She was pronounced dead in the same evening at the hospital. A bathing rite was held on Sunday afternoon.
Her death brought the total death toll of teachers killed to 179 since January 4, 2004 which marked the start of an insurgency war waged by a new generation of militants.
The followings are teachers who were killed this year:
- Mr Supakit saeLoong, 38, a teacher of Ban Neebongschool in Kabang district of Yala who was killed on January 14, two days ahead of Teachers Day.
- Mrs Siriporn Srichai, 43, a teacher of Ban Tabungdee-ngee in Mayor district of Pattani. She was shot while riding a motorcycle to school on March 14 by suspected militants who then poured gasoline on her body and set it afire.
- March 20. Mrs Somsri Tanyakaset, a teacher of Ban KokbuebaMitraparb 223 school in TakBai district of Narathiwat was shot dead by suspected militants.
- May 7. Mrs Pairat Chitsaen, 50, a teacher of Ban Dowa, Mayor district of Pattani was shot dead as he was parking his car at Palat market in Panareh district of Pattani.
- August 28. Mrs Patimore Saemasae, 28, a teachere of Ban ThaRuaschool in Kok Pho district of Pattani was killed in a roadside bomb blast set off by suspected militants targeting at a security force providing protection to teachers.
- 31 October. Jetsada Yutkaewna, a border patrol policemen who doubled as a teacher at Ban KuanTaenschool in TambonThaRua, Kok Pho district of Pattani.
Lt-Gen Prakarn Cholayuth, commander of the 4th Army Region, told the media in Songkhla on November 15 that the killing of Mrs Isara was yet another attempt by the radical militants to create an atmosphere of fear among the local people in retaliation against the government’s success in winning the support of the locals.
He also disclosed that the 4th army region had despatched 14 team of army officers to talk to various groups of militants and separatists in the region as well as in Malaysia and Indonesia. He said he expected some clear signs about peace talks within one and a half years pointing out that the problem has dragged on for about 100 years and, therefore, it will take time to resolve it.
Moreover, he said the military had also approached relatives and family members of the suspected militants to get their points of view to see how things can be settled within the framework of the law so that the militants could be convinced to return home.
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Caption : The funeral of Mrs Isara Chairitchoke The Ban KuanTaen teacher in Tambon ThaRua, Kok Pho district of Pattani.