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Thai security forces kill two linked to deadly shooting at school
BANGKOK, Jan 12, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Two insurgents believed to be tied to a
motorcycle drive-by shooting at a school in Thailand’s south were shot dead
Saturday, police said, as UNICEF warned of trauma for children near the scene
of the lunchtime violence.
Since 2004 clashes between Malay-Muslim rebels and the Buddhist-majority
Thai state that annexed the area over 100 years ago have killed nearly 7,000
people, mostly civilians of both faiths.
The conflict rarely makes global headlines but is a reality for residents
of border provinces where security forces maintain a large footprint, aided
by poorly paid defence “volunteers” drawn from local communities.
The four men killed in Thursday’s shooting were all Muslims and were
guarding a school in Pattani province when the attackers struck just before
lunchtime with students mere metres away.
Pattani provincial police commander Piyawat Chalermsri told AFP Saturday
that two people with alleged ties to the school violence were killed in a
shootout Saturday morning.
Though he did not give information about their identities or affiliation,
he said he was “confident that they are the same group who carried out the
attack Thursday” by driving by on motorbikes.
Authorities have also detained one suspect and are questioning five others,
while a military source said an eight-year-old had been grazed by a bullet
but not seriously injured.
UNICEF Thailand representative Thomas Davin said Friday that one child at
the Bukoh school attack was reportedly injured by debris and some who may
have witnessed the attack could face long term psychological trauma.
“This attack has undoubtedly put the school children, the teachers and
school personnel in harm’s way. It has put children at grave risk of injury
or death,” he said.
“Such violence could also affect parents’ willingness to send their
children to school — potentially to the detriment of many children’s
learning and future development.”
The 15-year insurgency has seen scores of teachers killed, slain for their
perceived collaboration with the Thai state, which led to the use of armed
guards at schools.
The death toll in the conflict dropped to a record low last year as
Thailand’s junta tightened its security operations.
But recent weeks have seen an uptick in violence, as rebels show they
remain able to carry out more pinpointed operations.
In a rare statement dated January 4 the main rebel group — the Barisan
Revolusi Nasional (BRN) — swore to “keep fighting” while warning people not
to help or support the state.
But Thai authorities as well as the Malaysian facilitator of the talks have
recently expressed confidence they will make progress soon.
Former 4th Army commander Udomchai Thammasarorat said at the Foreign
Correspondents Club in Thailand on Friday that he “wants to find a solution
to exit from the violence” and he has urged the southern army commander to
try and ensure public safety.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1328 hrs