Security, aid package for teachers in far South
POST REPORTERS
The cabinet approved a security and aid package to boost the morale of teachers in the deep South yesterday. Insurgents have targeted more teachers and schools this year _ nine have been killed with 86 schools burnt down so far.
The package, proposed by Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn, includes construction of more school fences and posthumous promotions for teachers killed by insurgents, said government spokesman Yongyuth Maiyalap.
The government has already built fences around 300 schools. The minister wanted to build more next year.
The cabinet also agreed to award murdered teachers a six-level increase in their civil service rank to honour them, which in turn would give their families more compensation.
Since the start of the first semester on May 16, 14 teachers have been attacked by insurgent suspects. Nine of them were killed, Mr Yongyuth said.
Mr Phichit said heads of education zones in insurgency-torn provinces would be empowered to allow teachers to ask for transfers if they considered their lives to be at risk.
The cabinet also approved a plan to buy fire trucks and rescue supplies for government officials in Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla's Chana, Saba Yoi, Na Thawi and Thepha districts.
Three people, including a volunteer teacher escort, were shot dead yesterday in separate attacks in Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani, police said.
Arong Tohwae, 50, was ambushed by unidentified attackers in Narathiwat's Rueso district while he was driving a motorcycle following a car taking three teachers to Ban Diyae school.
In Yala, Rormueli Sa-u, the deputy head of the Baloh tambon administration organisation, was shot dead in Yaha district.
In Pattani's Kapho district, Udom Damsi, 38, was killed in a drive-by shooting.
A team of 300 military rangers arrested four insurgent suspects who were wanted on arrest warrants, together with bomb making material, in a raid at Ban Jehteng in Sungai Padi district.
In Pattani, security officials reported they had arrested a total of 101 insurgent suspects during a two-week operation in Sai Buri, Mayo, Yarang and Nong Chik districts this month.
Bangkok Post