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| Southeast Asia |
| More murders and school burnings in southern Thailand |
| 2007-04-16 |
| Suspected Muslim insurgents set fire to five schools and other symbols of government authority in retaliation for the killings of three Muslim youths in Thailand's restive south, police said Monday. The attacks in Pattani province came during a spree of scattered violence Sunday night to Monday across the restive south that killed two people and left one person wounded. The arson attacks in Pattani were the latest angry reaction to the fatal shootings Friday of three Muslim boys, killed by soldiers. Troops shot the youths, aged 13 to 15, who were standing among a rowdy crowd that allegedly fired gunshots at them. Hundreds of Muslims protested the killings on Saturday, amid the country's weekend celebration of the traditional Thai New Year. Around midnight Sunday, suspected insurgents set fire to teachers' dormitories in five public schools in Pattani, a public health clinic and two police checkpoints, said Pattani police Col. Somjit Nasomyon. Flyers scattered at the sites read: "This is an act of revenge for soldiers brutally killing three Muslim teenagers," Somjit said. The flyers were unsigned but believed to have come from insurgents, he said. Also Sunday, suspected insurgents bombed a roadside restaurant in Pattani township, leaving one customer wounded. Muslim villagers stressed they had nothing to do with the attacks and had agreed to stop protests. "It must be the work of insurgents who are taking advantage of the situation ... to create chaos," said Marueding Jehka, a protest leader and representative for the families of the boys' killed. Army spokesman Col. Akara Thiprot blamed insurgents for trying to incite more anger in the community after the issue had been resolved. "The soldiers have confessed their guilt and apologized," Akara said, adding that the army has punished the soldiers and agreed to pay compensation to parents of the victims and "both sides are satisfied with the agreement." In separate violence Monday morning, a suspected insurgent shots dead two Muslim men who worked as drivers for a municipal office in Yala province, said Police. Col. Chaitat Intanoochit, of Yala police station. A gunman stormed the house of one victim, identified as a 63 year-old man, and shot him in the head at close range. About 10 minutes later the same gunman entered a coffee shop and open fired on their second victim, Chaitat said. Authorities believe the two Muslim men were targeted because they worked for a government office and were seen as collaborators. |
| Posted by:ryuge |