Pattani teacher killed by gas-cylinder bomb

A FEMALE TEACHER was killed, while her colleague severely injured when insurgents set off a home-made bomb as the two were being escorted by police to their school in Pattani’s Khok Pho district yesterday.

A policeman also sustained injuries in the attack, which took place in tambon Tharua about 8am. The teacher’s death brought the restive region’s teacher death toll so far to 175.

Police said 28-year-old Patimoh Saemaesae, a teacher at Ban Tharua School, died on her way to hospital. Another teacher Lamduan Chuduang, 55, and Pol Senior Sgt-Major Pradit Iamsri, 44, are being treated at Khok Pho Hospital.

Boonsom Thongsriprai, chairman of the Confederation of Teachers of the Three Southern Border Provinces, confirmed that Patimoh was the 175th teacher to be killed in the unrest. 

This attack took place despite tight security, which has left many teachers worried. They are planning to call a meeting to discuss security with related agencies again, Boonsom said. 

Meanwhile, Pattani’s Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Educational Personnel will initially provide Patimoh’s family with Bt500,000 in aide. 

This recent attack has also prompted Khok Pho district chief Sanan Pong-aksorn to order adjustments to the teacher protection details on 24 routes covering 44 schools. The bomb was reportedly meant for security officers in the convoy escorting seven teachers, he said. He explained that the seven-vehicle convoy, comprised two motorcycles, each with two teachers onboard, and one truck with three teachers, while security officers were on the leading motorbike and the tailing truck and two motorcycles. The bomb was detonated to hit the tailing vehicles, he said, but as convoy had slowed down the wrong vehicle got hit. 

Sanan said he had learned that Patimoh was a good and capable teacher who also spent her weekends teaching children at a Pondok |school on tambon Kuan Lamae.

Meanwhile, Colonel Pramote Phrom-in, spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 4 Forward Command, yesterday offered condolences to the slain teacher’s family and condemned those behind the bomb attack. 

Pramote said initial investigation found the bomb, attached to a gas cylinder, was planted at a bridge and detonated when the convoy passed by. He urged all sides, including NGOs, civil society and media, to condemn such actions and object to extremist behaviour and attacks.