Muslim cleric shot dead in Yala

Quoting the victim’s relatives, police said an unknown number of hooded gunmen approached Asan Mataeha, a teacher at a local Islamic school in Yala’s Betong district, and opened fire at him. The teacher’s son sustained serious injuries when a stray bullet hit him on the side. 

Police did not initially put the attack down to insurgents. 

Military spokesman Colonel Pramote Phrom-in gave his condolences to the victim’s family and described the attack as inhumane and brutal. He also called on a network of local non-governmental agencies and peace movements jointly to condemn the attacks and call on the insurgents to stop using violence. 

He also advised all military and civilian agencies to beware of a propaganda campaign launched by insurgents, in which they blame state officials for attacks in order to encourage reprisals from people unaware of the insurgents’ mud-slinging campaign.

Separately, arrest warrants have been issued for three new suspects believed to be behind the devastating car-bomb attack in Yala’s Betong district in July, which killed three people and wounded 42 others.

Senior police commander Pol Maj-General Dussadee Choosangkij said one of the suspects being hunted had been identified as Paosee Kaloopae, who was in the silver Mazda pickup truck that exploded soon after he got out. The pickup’s owner had been shot dead on June 1. Police have, meanwhile, arrested three other suspects in relation to the same case.