Published on June 27, 2005

A school in Chanae district will remain closed indefinitely after its female director was shot

dead three days ago, and all eight of its teachers have asked to be transferred out of the troubled region.

Jeujai Petchaparn, 33, a teacher at Ban Tua Ko School, said the teachers and students became concerned for their safety after director Kobkul Runsaewa, 47, was gunned down on Friday.

“A meeting of the school’s committee, parents and local leaders will be held after Kobkul’s funeral tomorrow. We will look at safety measures for teachers and students.”

Until then, the school will remain closed and the rest of the teachers have asked for transfers to other schools because they do not want to end up like their director, she said.

Jeujai was speaking yesterday during Kobkul’s funeral in Muang district.

The director’s murder was especially shocking because she was gunned down while on her way home to care for her paralysed mother.

Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya visited the province yesterday and was briefed by Narathiwat Governor Pracha Tehrat on the investigation into the director’s death.

Four people were involved in the killing, the governor said, two of them identified the director and the other two did the shooting. However, the probe hit a snag because the local villagers are too afraid to testify.

Meanwhile, the violence continued yesterday when a Muslim villager was shot dead in Yala’s Raman district.

Torlae Damoe, 51, was shot several times by unidentified gunmen at about 9am. He died at the scene.

Police found cartridges from AK-47 and M-16 rifles at the scene.

The Nation

Narathiwat

Post your comment to this story here