Ranger boss transferred after killings
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Ranger boss transferred after killings

The last photo of their son Kholid before he was killed by paramilitary rangers is shown by Suraya and Sakariya Sameang at their Thung Yang Daeng home. The parents pursued a claim of wrongful death but the army now is transferring those responsible for the unlawful killing. (Photos by Abdulloh Benjakat)
The last photo of their son Kholid before he was killed by paramilitary rangers is shown by Suraya and Sakariya Sameang at their Thung Yang Daeng home. The parents pursued a claim of wrongful death but the army now is transferring those responsible for the unlawful killing. (Photos by Abdulloh Benjakat)

The commander of the 41st Rangers Regiment and his deputy have been transferred after a panel ruled the four men killed in a raid in Pattani's Thung Yang Daeng district on March 25 were not militants and were unarmed.

Under an order signed by Lt Gen Prakarn Cholayuth, the 4th Army commander, Col Pichet Chutidecho, commander of the 41st Rangers Regiment, was transferred to temporary duties at the 42nd Army Circle in Senanarong military camp in Hat Yai district of Songkhla for one year, effective from April 20.

His deputy, Col Sithisak Jenbanchong, was transferred to temporary duties at the joint operations centre of the forward headquarters of the Region 4 Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) at Sirindhorn camp in Pattani's Yarang district.

Rangers from the 41st Regiment, which is based in Yala's Raman district, were involved in the raid on a house under construction in Pattani's Thung Yang Daeng district following a tip-off that some militants were there plotting an attack in the district.

Four men were killed in the raid and 22 other people detained for questioning.

Isoc set up a panel after receiving complaints from relatives of those killed.

The panel found early this month the four were not militants and were not carrying any weapons at the time of the raid. The house was a hang-out for local teens.

Meanwhile, in Pattani, Col Pramote Prom-in, spokesman for Isoc's Region 4 Forward Command, said violence in the deep South has been declining over the past six months.

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