South teachers tell world body of safety fears
Pattani slaying takes toll to 144 in 7 years
Published: 6/08/2011 at 12:00 AM
Bangkok Post: Newspaper section: News
Teachers in the strife-torn deep South are petitioning an international teachers' body about the dangers they face following the latest killing of a teacher in Pattani.
Boonchuay Thongsri, chairman of a teachers network, said he did not know whether the government's strategy to solve the southern unrest was on the right track or not.
But what he did know was that the security situation in the far South has not improved as claimed by the authorities. Many teachers were still targets of insurgent attacks.
The Federation of Southern Teachers had earlier petitioned the Asean Council of Teachers to help solve problems affecting teachers in the far South, but so far no measures had been taken, said Mr Boonchuay.
The federation planned to bring the issue of teacher safety to the attention of the International Teachers Association.
The federation's move followed the latest killing of a teacher in Pattani province on Wednesday.
Noppadon Sasimonthon, 50, from Tanyongluloh School, was gunned down in a drive-by shooting on his way to school.
The killing of Noppadon brought the number of teachers killed in the region to 144 since the unrest flared up again in 2004.
National police chief Wichean Potephosree yesterday inspected the work of police at a so-called safety zone in Yala province.
Pol Gen Wichean and a delegation of senior officers inspected a business area on Ranong Road in Yala municipality and received a briefing about security by Yala police chief Pol Col Kritsada Kaewjandee.
Security on Ranong Road has been tightened following a series of bomb attacks in the business centre.
The municipality introduced the safety zone in the area following the attacks.
Vehicles entering the safety zone are given a thorough inspection.
On Feb 13, a pickup truck carrying a bomb exploded in the Yala business area, damaging many shophouses and houses.
On Feb 21, a motorcycle bomb went off in front of a gold shop in the area, killing one resident and injuring many others.
Meanwhile, three wild food pickers were shot dead in Ban Khok Wua village in Kapho district of Pattani province yesterday.
Four men from Muang district of neighbouring Yala were riding two motorcycles to Pattani to collect wild food in the forests when gunmen on motorcycles approached and shot them.
Three men died but the fourth man, Udom sae Tan, survived, said local police.
Search Option
Recent Posts
Todays Birthdays
