Novice, 13, senior monk latest victims

Bangkok Post ^ | Sunday 25 January 2004 | Muhamad Ayub Pathan

[JimSEA]

Religious tensions intensified in the South yesterday after a 13-year-old novice and a senior monk were killed, and a second monk was critically injured in three separate attacks by motorcyclists armed with machetes.

Phra Jetsak Maneesak, 13, died in hospital after receiving deep wounds to the head from a machete wielded by a youth riding pillion on one of two motorcycles at the scene.

The attack occurred shortly after the teenager left Weluwan temple, in the Yala provincial capital, at around 6am.

At about the same time, 65-year-old Phra Wichai Panboon was killed in a similar attack near the entrance to Khuhaphimuk temple, located in tambon Na Tham.

Phra Juladet Chulalaksanapawin, 25, of Lammai temple was admitted to hospital with serious injuries after a third machete attack.

In addition, two laymen were killed and two others injured in three attacks by machete-wielding youths on Friday night.

Police said Chukiat Tiewcharoenkul and Nikom Thongnu were killed in Yaha and Bannang Sata districts of Yala, respectively.

Ampol Sodsong sustained serious injuries in Friday's third attack, in Yala town.

In Narathiwat yesterday, a senior police officer was gunned down by motorcyclists as he was leaving his home in tambon Manangtayo of the provincial capital.

Pol Sgt-Maj Prasart Lateh, 58, was reportedly killed instantly when a pillion passenger opened fire at point-blank range.

The spate of attacks prompted regional army commander Lt-Gen Pongsak Ekbannasingha to call an urgent meeting with Yala provincial governor Boonyasit Suwanrat and senior police officers, including deputy police chief Pol Col Parinya Khwanyuen.

Mr Boonyasit subsequently met provincial Sangha Council chief Phra Panyasophon and Islamic Committee chairman Abdulrohman Jehsae, as well as representatives of the local Christian and Sikh communities.

Islamic Council deputy chairman Nimu Makaje condemned the attacks and called for restraint among all religious leaders.

Lt-Gen Pongsak also ordered authorities to provide security at temples and mosques, as well as Islamic religious schools.

National police chief Pol Gen Sant Sarutanont later flew to Yala, where he would oversee investigations into the latest spate of violence in the South.

Assistant national police chief Pol Lt-Gen Priewphan Damapong and Central Investigation Bureau chief Pol Lt-Gen Wongkot Maneerin earlier visited Khuhaphimuk temple to hold interviews with eyewitnesses in the murder of Phra Wichai.

The latest attacks followed the murder of a monk on Thursday in the Muslim-dominated Bacho district of Narathiwat province, who also succumbed to machete injuries.

[JimSEA]

Islamic Council deputy chairman Nimu Makaje condemned the attacks and called for restraint among all religious leaders

I called a friend this AM and the Muslims are calling for restraint from the Bhuddists -- fearing retaliation. The Islamic news and Al Jeezira are complaining that the Bhuddist in the South are "richer" than the mostly Malay Muslims. This justifies the attacks in their eyes.

In the North where I live, the Muslims are largely Jin Haw (Chinese) but attitudes are becoming tense with "menacing" by youth on motorcycles. The neighbors tell me that the Saudi's fund the local madrassas. Although they are a tiny minority (2 to 3 %) the Muslims in the North are beginning to exert more influence just because everyone understand they are capable of violence and hate their Bhuddist and Christian neighbors.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

...because everyone understand they are capable of violence and hate their Bhuddist and Christian neighbors.

How can that be???? RoP alert. Keep a low profile or get out of dodge would be my advice.

[baltodog]

The muslim faith is really showing it's true colors lately.

One would think that the majority of them would be concerned about how the world sees them.

I suppose that this particular group has had its civil rights stomped upon by the monks. I think its time for some actors and bulldozer bait to go over there and help them out.

[pabianice]

Valuing the Difference of the Multicultural Diversity Alert!

Who are we to judge a superior Third World Culture by our Western, capitalist, imperialist, homophobic, war-mongering, technological, racist standards?

[FormerACLUmember]

For the 1,300 years of its evil existence, the only way Islam has ever spread is by cold-blooded murder, intimidation, and tyranny.

[cherry]

"The muslim faith is really showing it's true colors lately."

I think wherever you have an ideology where men are given carte blanc to rape, torture and murder even innocent people in the name of whatever they want to believe, then that is the ultimate danger to civilization...

afterall, let's face it...Christian groups as well as others are all based on "love" and "forgiveness" etc etc....

But I can not fathom how God above would not understand, yes, even expect, people of good will to protect themselves, their children and other helpless people even with violence if that what was required...

isn't it sinful to sit back and let others die horrible deaths when you know you could stop it?