Football massacre relived

Football massacre relived

Family fears for safety ten years after mass slaying

Relatives of one of 19 football players killed in Songkhla after carrying out an attack on a police outpost are still living in fear of further violence in the South, as today marks the 10th anniversary of the massacre of the young men.

Udom Maeprommi, 78, father of Kamaruding, one of 19 football players shot dead by security forces after carrying out an attack on a police outpost in Sabai Yoi district of Songkhla 10 years ago. (Photo by TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD)

The family of Kamaruding "Ding" Maeprommi received 7.5 million baht compensation from the government following his death in Sabai Yoi district.

"Money is not more important than the life of my son, who was shot dead by police and soldiers 10 years ago," said Udom Maeprommi, 78, recalling the incident.

His family had to wait until the end of last year to be handed the cash, nine years after the death of their son. Part of the money had been used to build a new house.

Ding, 23, was a member of a 19-strong local football team which was popular in Sabai Yoi. He and the other team members were shot dead after they carried out a dawn attack against a police outpost in the district on April 28, 2004. Ding was one of seven siblings.

The attack in Saba Yoi occurred on the same day as young Muslims elsewhere in the South seized Krue Se mosque in tambon Bana, Muang district, Pattani.

Saba Yoi is one of four districts in Songkhla that used to be part of the former Pattani state. The three other districts are Chana, Thepha and Na Thawi.

Ding was a forward player on his football team, according to his elder brother Manuyee Maeprommi, 38.

At the time, the head of the football team had tried to persuade all the youths in the village to undergo armed training to prepare for attacks, said Mr Manuyee.

Initially, his younger brother had not joined the movement. But Ding later took part after being persuaded by some of his fellow players, he said.

Mr Manuyee recalled that he himself had also been persuaded to take an illicit drug and indoctrinated to hate security officers at the age of 28.

He managed to distance himself from that group of 'friends', but said he feared retribution and attempts on his life afterwards.

"Kamaluding initially showed no interest in joining the attack (on the police outpost). At the time, he had just been decommissioned from serving as a military conscript at a camp in Hat Yai.

"I believe he joined the movement because his friends persuaded him. My brother might have been asked to take illicit drugs and indoctrinated," Mr Manuyee said.

Ding's younger sister Ketsara, 23, admitted she was initially angry with security forces for killing her elder brother.

Now, she said she understands why the officers did what they did, though she will never forget the bloody incident.

Just one year after Ding was shot dead, her family again suffered the loss of another relative, said Ketsara.

Her elder brother Pitthaya, who served as deputy chairman of tambon Than Khiri organisation at the time, was gunned down by unknown assailants.

The deaths of Ding and his elder brother sparked panic among the remaining family members, who did not know who among them would be next.

Mr Manuyee said he and his relatives were gripped by fear, and continue to be.

Meanwhile, a man and his wife were shot dead in broad daylight while selling tobacco in a market in Pattani's Mayo district yesterday.

Mayo police chief Pol Col Kong-arth Suwankham said the incident occurred about 11pm at Palas market in tambon La-nga.

Witnesses told police that Suchart Chanthabodi and his wife Kesorn were selling tobacco in the market.

Two men approached the couple pretending to be customers, shot them in the head with pistols, then snatched their money bag. The attackers fled in the victims' pickup truck.

Police have yet to establish whether the attack was related to the Southern insurgency or was just an ordinary robbery.

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