South schools in red zone close following attacks

News > Local News

South schools in red zone close following attacks

Published: 7/09/2010 at 04:46 PM
Online news: Local News

A meeting of the Three Border Provinces Teachers Federation resolves that all 465 government schools in red zones and risk areas of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat be closed for three days, following the slaying of two teachers and a school janitor in the far South.

“The three-day closure of all schools in red zone and risk areas in the three southernmost provinces is to allow us to find ways to restore teachers’ morale and coordinate with security units on more stringent security measures for teachers,” the federation’s Boonsom Thongsriprai said.Classes at schools in the municipalities of the three border provinces would continue as usual, as they were not affected by the violence, he said.The decision followed the slaying of a couple, both teachers, in Narathiwat earlier in the day.Wilas Kongkam, 54, a teacher at Manang Kayee school, and his wife, Komkam Petchprom, 53, a teacher at Tungtodang school, were attacked by two men on a motorcycle about 6am while they were on their way to Tanyongmas morning market in Rangae district, police said.Wilas was shot five times, in the back and chest, and died at the scene. Komkam took four bullets, in her stomach and right hand, and was taken to Rangae hospital where she died.Police found nine spent cartridges from an M16 assault rifle on the road. They blamed separatist militants.Wilas had last year obtained a transfer from Nibong school in tambon Manang Tayaw of Rangae district to Manang Kayee school Muang district, saying he feared for his safety. It did not save him.The director of Manang Kayee school in Narathiwat’s Muang district, Wicharn Athigaphan, ordered its indefinite closure after the couple was murdered.Komkam was the 135th teacher murdered in the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat since the insurgency broke out again in January...

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

About the author

: Writer: Online Reporters; Position: Online Reporters

Keep this article in your social bookmark:

Latest stories in this category:

Your comments

Scotty

Discussion 7 : 08/09/2010 at 01:12 AM7
I would agree that it was naive of the government to promise a quick turn around, but the insurgency movement has been allowed to grow under previous administrations and there is no quick solution to this underground movement that has been allowed to grow in strength and power
max meier

Discussion 6 : 08/09/2010 at 12:41 AM6
The government is only focused on Bangkok since thats the place the persons and parties can make money. All other they just dont care, just look at at the road to the south behind Hua Hin, its Thailand rodeo for cars buses etc. why because the Bangkok weekend crowd hardly ever moves behind Hua Hin, so what they should care for ? The problem of Thailand is basically the totally central oriented structure, in every modern function able society the organisation is distributed to the different regions. But nobody in Bangkok wants to do this since it means they must share the money with the regions and not to put it into their pocket.
Adelaide Bob

Discussion 5 : 07/09/2010 at 09:36 PM5
It is so reassuring to see how great the coup worked for the Thai people in 2006. That was one of the reasons given was to end the violence in the South. it is so great to see the people of the South supporting the Democrats who have been in power now for almost 3 years. It has really worked well for them to support the Democrats.
The New Yorker

Discussion 4 : 07/09/2010 at 07:36 PM4
@ John Discussion #2, I agree with you 100%!!!
If the government took 2% of the effort they used to disperse the Red Shirts from Bangkok and used it on the insurgents in the south, I think we would have much less of this problem. Simple.
Cat

Discussion 3 : 07/09/2010 at 07:33 PM3
This is so serious, I hope PM Abhisit will do something to help this people! I feel so sad for those victims and our nation as well!
John

Discussion 2 : 07/09/2010 at 06:14 PM2
The insurgents in the south better be glad that I am not in control of the army. If they killed another innocent I would make the whole lot of them fear me more than they fear allah. I spent 2 years in Iraq with the US army and I saw a lot of muslims committing attrocities against good muslim people, while they let the scum stroll around the city in Bagdad un-molested. I am sick of it, I am not anti-muslim, just anti scum-bag and the only way to take care of them is to eliminate them from the equation with extreme prejudice.
Omegon

Discussion 1 : 07/09/2010 at 05:43 PM1
I think the government should put in more effort to pacify the Southern Problem and less effort to the temple dispute. People are dying every week.

South schools in red zone close following attacks | Bangkok Post: news