Nervous schools continue to close as another teacher is slain in South

Nervous schools continue to close as another teacher is slain in South.

POST REPORTERS

A teacher was shot dead in his car by unidentified attackers on a pick-up truck in Yala's Raman district yesterday, the second killing of a teacher in the deep South this week. Jamnong Temmanee, 47, who taught at Ban Patae Rayor school in tambon Kae Ror, was shot twice in his car while driving home on the Rueso-Kapho road in the afternoon, police said.

Men in a pick-up truck were waiting by the roadside and tried to flag down Jamnong's car. As the teacher slowed his vehicle, a gunman in the back of the truck opened fire at him.

Thawat sae Ham, an advisor to the Narathiwat Teachers' Federation, yesterday backed the latest proposal by the Education Ministry that teachers carry guns for self-defence.

However, Mr Thawat cautioned that the availability of guns for teachers should not be given too much media coverage as it could hurt their image.

He also suggested a monthly review of security measures for teachers who, despite being provided with constant protection at work, continue to be targeted by militants.

In Pattani, Ban Tohbala school in Sai Buri district remained closed for the second day after one of its teachers, Yaena Mayamae, was shot dead while driving a pick-up truck on Wednesday.

The Wednesday arson attack at Ban Jakong school has also forced the closure of more than 30 other schools in the district.

Meanwhile, in Narathiwat, a bomb hoax at a railway sub-station in Rueso district temporarily disrupted train services yesterday morning.

A suspicious-looking box hidden in a black plastic bag was spotted at Ban Salowbugit-Yuerae sub-station around 7am.

However, a bomb disposal squad sent to defuse the device discovered it was a fake. Chunks of brick, stone, wood and paper were discovered inside the box, which weighed about five kilogrammes.

The hoax delayed train services at the sub-station for two hours.

In Mae Laen district, a post office employee was wounded in a drive-by shooting while delivering mail yesterday.

Bangkok Post
Friday January 12, 2007