Bangkok Post - Students at a private Islamic school in Pattani that was recently raided by soldiers confessed that Islamic teachers, or ustazes, had provided weapons training and also taught them how to make explosives. | cuz there ain't nothing more islamic than blowing stuff up |
However, all four students, who were held in military custody following last week's raid on Jihad Witthaya school in Pattaya, denied any involvement. ``Some students confessed that ustazes served as weapons instructers. They taught students how to fire guns and make bombs. But the four students insisted they were not involved, saying they only knew about those activities,'' said Col Chatuporn Kalampasut, commander of the 22nd Task Force. | "No, no, we didn't have anything to do with them. We was, er, down at the malt shop." |
On May 19, troops from the 22nd Task Force raided Jihad Witthaya school at Ban Taloh Kapo village in Pattani's Yaring district. During searches of 15 students' living quarters, the task force found several CDs showing al-Qaeda terrorist-style weapons training and documents inciting people to fight for an independent state. The documents were written in Arabic, with the cover of the documents showing pictures of the Krue Se mosque and the two-century-old Phya Tani cannon.
They also found a weapons training site behind the school with empty cans that had been used as targets. Bullet holes were found in coconut trees in the area. The school's owner, Dulloh Waemano, 55, fled before the raid. | "Curly toed sandles, don't fail me now!" |
The four students held in a military custody for interrogation were identified as Arduenan Jae-arsae, Wae-arfit Kaetong, Suelan Damae and Abdulloh Kajae.
Sources said the students told the military that ustazes had told them to prepare for a major attack. But the students said they did not know the location of the attack or when it would take place.
Translations of some of the Arabic-written documents detailed al-Qaeda-style weapons training and bomb-making. ``There has been no evidence about a link between al-Qaeda terrorists and this school and its students. [But] the school has used al-Qaeda-style weapons training as guidelines in its training,'' said Col Chatuporn. | Hello! Clue Alert! Anyone? |
Meanwhile, vandals went on the rampage in several districts of Yala province yesterday, burning national flags and attacking public and private property. In Muang district alone, at least 18 spots were vandalised or defaced. Some were painted with the message ``Independence for Pattani''. Around 6.30am, a road-side shelter in tambon Lidol was slightly damaged in an arson attack. Half an hour later, villagers spotted a suspicious-looking package at an empty gas station in tambon Tha Sap.
Security forces, using a M-16 rifle, fired 20 rounds at the box which gave off white smoke. A high-pressure water gun was directed at the package to blow it apart. It was found to contain a gas cylinder and a clock but no traces of gunpowder. National flags were set alight and the remains found at the entrance to Ban Krong Pinang school. A bridge was spraypainted with the message ``We want our land back''.
In Narathiwat's Rangae district, a former soldier was shot and killed when answering the door to his house yesterday morning. Asira Ahwae, his wife, said that two men had shouted for her husband, Supachai Honsaengdee. He was shot as he opened the door. |