Family in limbo after Court orders the seizure of Jihad Witaya School in Pattani
Citing the anti-money laundering law, the Civil Court on December 15 ordered the seizure of a 14-rai plot of land in Pattani’s Yaring district which was once used as the site of Jihad Witaya School on the ground that it was a property used to support terrorist activities.
The school was abandoned and left unoccupied after it was closed down by the military on May 21, 2005 – two days after it was raided by security forces hunting for suspected militants thought to be taking refuge in the school.
The headmaster of the school, Mr Doonloh Waemanor or Poh Sulor, was arrested and charged with insurrection and being a member of an illegal organization in connection with the unrest situation on January 4, 2004 and other violent activities until January 30, 2006. 11 others were also slapped with similar charges.
Security forces managed to arrest two suspected militants at the school which eventually led to the school’s shutdown. The two told security forces that they were RKK members who were sent for training at the school with Issama-ae Maseng serving as the instructor.
However, children and wife of Mr Doonloh disagreed with the court’s order claiming that the land in question did not belong to their father but belong to their father’s father-in-law, Mr Baborheng.
Mrs Yawahee Waemanor, daughter of Mr Baborheng Jeh-arsay and wife of Mr Doonloh, told Isranews agency that her father was the real owner of the school and the land. However, her father was shot dead some time ago and the land was inherited by her and her four children.
She insisted that her husband was just a caretaker of the school on behalf of her aging father. Then she produced a Nor Sor Sam document as an evidence of their ownership of the land.
Mr Balyan Waemanor, a son of Mr Doonloh, admitted to Isranews he found it difficult to accept the court’s order because he has been living on the land since he was born.
He said that he had repeatedly told authorities concerned about their ownership of the land it was ignored all along.
Balyan admitted that he didn’t know where to go if the land was to be taken away from them.
However, the family has vowed to fight the case in the Appeals Court.
Meanwhile, several former students of Jihad Witaya School and neighbours showed up to give moral support to the Waemanor family after they were informed of the court’s seizure order.
Among the visitors who showed up was Haji Sama-ae Thanam, a former core member of the PULO separatist group, who was recently freed on parole. Sama-ae told the family that he hoped the government would ensure justice for their case.
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Caption : (from left) Yawahee Waemanor, Balyan Waemanor and Haji Sama-ae Thanam