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| Southeast Asia |
| Buddhist teacher, civilian shot dead in Muslim South |
| 2004-06-07 |
| A Buddhist teacher at a private Islamic school was shot dead in broad daylight yesterday, in the latest apparent attack on civilians thought to be aimed at stirring racial tension in the Muslim-majority South. The gunman shot Jai Intarapo, 49, at least four times at closed range as he was about to get into his car, parked at Sanana Ponoh, a private Islamic school, where he heads the secular subjects, said Ninth Police Region commissioner Maj General Manoj Kraiwong. Initial inquiries with eyewitnesses revealed that a getaway motorbike was waiting for the gunman on the road near the school parking lot where Jai was shot. Jai was the latest Buddhist civilian victim in the ongoing wave of violence that has recently begun to take sectarian overtones. Manoj said the gunman who killed Jai was probably linked with "the group of people who have been involved in the continuing violence to create an atmosphere of religious conflict". Separately, in Yala’s Banangsata district, a Buddhist resident was shot dead when at least one assailant fired a shotgun into his torso at close range. Phayad Duangmanee, 30, died on the way to the hospital. Police said they suspected that the killing was linked to a spate of violence in the region, as the area where Phayad was killed had also seen the shooting to death of a border-patrol police and the torching of a Buddhist temple. Haji Nidae Waba, chairman of the Private Islamic Schools Committee for the five southernmost provinces, admitted yesterday that he and other local residents remained in the dark as to when the wave of bloodshed would end. Nidae described the situation as a "small-scale war" and that the best local residents could do is take precautionary measures. Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula expressed concern over the shootings and gave assurances that the government would do its utmost to provide security for all people. Bhokin said government relations with southern Muslim communities have been steadily improving. Separately, during his visit to a Buddhist temple in Pattani’s Khok Pho district, former prime minister Chuan Leekpai urged the local community not to fall into the trap of the insurgents, who he said were trying to create tension between people of different faiths. He also visited Krue Se Mosque, which was the site of a bloody clash between security forces and Muslim militants in April. Over recent months, Muslim radicals have expanded the scope of their attacks to include "soft targets" and non-security personnel, including civilians, in the region. At least 283 people have been killed in the South this year. |
| Posted by:TS(vice girl) |
| #1 ...former prime minister Chuan Leekpai urged the local community not to fall into the trap of the insurgents, who he said were trying to create tension between people of different faiths. Don't fall into the trap....but do put the "I-refuse-to-see-evil" noose around your neck. |
| Posted by: jules 187 2004-06-07 4:15:06 PM |