SOUTHERN UNREST / NEW DEVICE, REBEL ATTACK, GOVT POLICY CLARIFIED

Insurgents raid office of Pattani fishing group

SUPARA JANCHITFAH

Southern insurgents raided the office of the Pattani Small-scale Fishermen Association in Nong Chik on Wednesday, destroying its office, patrol boats and assets, in an act they said resulted from the group's "cooperation with the state".

The association has now asked the state to help pay for the damage estimated at 5.4 million baht.

Men dressed in black took hostage seven volunteers - all of them fishermen - standing guard at the association's office at Tan Yong Pao village.

During the melee, the attackers set fire to patrol boats and the association's office, which the insurgents considered to be "state property".

There were no casualties.

Before setting the hostages free, the attackers ordered villagers to say nothing to state officials.

"We were at a loss for the first two days, not knowing what to do," said Muhama Sukree Masaning, chairman of the association, which is recognised for its active role in protecting coral reefs.

"Should we keep silent to save our lives or should we reveal to the public what happened to us? We have been living in the crossfire for so many years now."

Mr Sukree said that after thinking it over, the association decided to go public. They will also ask the government to help their group.

"We want to tell both the state and those troublemakers that our work, patrolling the coastline, is to prevent plundering of natural resources by large commercial trawlers. We work for the wellbeing of everybody. We are not doing this for political gain."

"When we patrol the sea, we must have some state officials with us, since we do not have the power to make arrests. We are only volunteers.

"We help officials to do their duties, otherwise those big push nets or trawlers will take everything from our seabed and we will have nothing left to catch. Our lives would be ruined," he said.

Another fisherman, Marobee Jehma, said the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen in Pattani had improved thanks to the association's work.

"(Up until the April 18 incident), we were able to catch plenty of fish and shrimp, and make enough money to sustain our families," he said.

Bangkok Post

Last Updated : Saturday April 21, 2007