Schools in Pattani 'will be ready for new semester'
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Temporary buildings to accommodate students whose schools were torched by insurgents in Pattani province last weekend will be completed by Army engineers before the new semester begins on November 3, Deputy Education Minister Lt-General Surachet Chaiwong
Supplies will also be provided for items lost or damaged by the fires, he said, after completing an inspection of Manangyong School in Thung Yang Daeng district, which was one of six set on fire by separatists on October 11.
The damage bill at Manangyong School was around Bt5 million, the largest amount of the six.
Suspect identified
Meanwhile, a suspect allegedly involved in the arson attacks has been identified, pending a test on his DNA, a source said. A search conducted early yesterday at a village in tambon Pakoo turned up a number of war-grade weapons and a suspect is in custody.
Security officials said one the items found, an M16A4 assault rifle, was likely to have been used by insurgents in a July attack two years ago, which saw four soldiers killed and another wounded. The suspect was identified as Isman Sengmaedee. Other items included three other M16 rifles, seven magazines and 218 rounds of ammunition.
The raid resulted from an arrest on Tuesday of a suspect, Muhammand Tamisi, which led to raids at two locations, which turned up nothing.
