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| Southeast Asia |
| Brutal attack must be the last |
| 2006-05-22 |
| The appalling and uncivilised attack on two Narathiwat teachers can go neither unremarked nor unpunished. Both the instigators of the kidnappings and those who carried out the barbaric assault deserve the harshest penalty prescribed by law. Police already have arrested a key suspect, and it is hoped that they will follow up this shocking violence most vigorously. There is no room, and must be no tolerance in southern communities or anywhere in Thailand for what occurred. The kidnapping and beating of Sirinat Thawornsuk and Julin Kampormoon began while the two women were performing their difficult and sometimes thankless job of teaching youngsters at Gujingruepo in Rangae district. This is one of the most dangerous regions in Thailand, designated as a "red zone" by security agencies because of insurgency activity. Ms Sirinat and Ms Julin are among hundreds of dedicated teachers who strive to give children in the South the opportunity all young Thais deserve. Late on Friday morning, in a different area and on a different mission, police arrested two suspected insurgents for questioning in the murder of two Marines last February. According to later investigations, the wife of one of the arrested men instigated a plan to invade the school, take teachers hostage and bargain their lives for the release of the suspected extremists. A mob of villagers went into the school, demanded that Buddhist teachers identify themselves, and kidnapped Ms Sirinat and Ms Julin. To back up the criminal demands, men in the mob bound the teachers and took them into an adjoining room. With sticks and fists, they beat the women. Yesterday, the life of one teacher was still hanging by a thread in a hospital intensive care unit. Villagers attempted to bargain the lives of the teachers with security forces. To their credit, police took the hostages away from the mob by force. Narathiwat Governor Pracha Therat refused to negotiate with the kidnappers, and promised that photos and video taken by security forces would be used at the trials of those involved. On Saturday, police arrested the first suspect and alleged instigator, Karima Masah Leh, 25, wife of one of the accused murderers. It is as shocking as it is inexcusable that a mob could be incited to single out, kidnap and then brutally assault entirely innocent women teachers. No excuse or apology ever could justify such action. The women teachers played no role whatsoever in any violence or in the arrest of Mrs Karima's husband. Villagers who could take such an atrocity right into the schools of their own children need to be dealt with firmly, to the extent of the law. Among other measures, qualified authorities should determine if such men and women are fit parents. No one doubts the militants have turned the deep South into a dangerous and violent region. But the decision by a handful of insurgent leaders to attack Buddhists, beat women to death and directly endanger their own children cannot be justified. Communities and their religious leaders must condemn kidnapping of innocent people, attacks on schools and planned endangerment of bystanders. The kidnappings in the South have got out of control since villagers detained, tied and beat to death two Marines last September. That violence was also in Rangae district. Since then, insurgent activists have led a number of kidnappings which were bound to result in tragedy. Indeed, men and women instigators want to encourage murders and attacks on innocent people in order to provoke authorities into further violence. Too often, of course, security forces answer with excessive force. The kidnapping and beating of the teachers should be a turning point. Authorities must protect schools better. Community leaders have done a poor job. Muslim and Buddhist clerics seem to have failed to impart the teachings of their religion. Islam specifically forbids both kidnapping, and putting innocents in peril, let alone beatings. Southerners have long said Buddhists and Muslims live peacefully side by side. But the insurgents have managed to instigate violent, murderous rage. Leaders throughout the South must act quickly to restore civilised behaviour. Security forces must quickly arrest those responsible for the atrocity against the two innocent teachers. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #2 Someone has to get seriously medeval on these guys. Being stuck in the 7th century its the only language they understand. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-05-22 10:27 |
| #1 Islam specifically forbids both kidnapping, and putting innocents in peril, let alone beatings. Get outta here. Islam is the religion of the snake. It speaks with two tongues. Wake up, already. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-05-22 09:55 |