SONGKHLA
Panicked parents rush to collect kids from school
Rumours of further bombs in South cause scenes of chaos across province
There were chaotic scenes at schools across at least two districts in Songkhla yesterday after rumours spread that schools in the province may be targeted for attacks. Panicked parents rushed to remove their children from schools after the rumour spread. It followed a series of bombs set off in Hat Yai on Saturday night that killed four and injured over 70 people. The director of Songkhla kindergarten school, Sommai Kwanthongyim, said he was not informed about the bomb threat and had not found any suspect items in the school area. He was confused, he said, when he saw parents rushing to the school to take their children back despite classes still going on. But he said it was possible for parents to do that. Indeed, many schools in Songkhla had to cancel classes because parents came and took children back home after learning of the rumours, he said. Preecha Bangpueng, the father of a student at Changwithaya in Songkhla's Muang district, said he heard the rumours from his neighbours and did not totally believe in them. However, when he saw his neighbours leaving home to get their children back, he decided to do the same. "The school's gate was closed and teachers were teaching classes when I reached there. But when I saw other parents climb the school's wall, I did the same for fear that my child might be in danger if bombs really were planted in the school," Preecha said. Sunit Sukchuay, the mother of a student in Songkhla Municipality School 2, said she also hurried to the school to take back her child for fear that violence might occur there after the Hat Yai attacks. The two places are not far from each other. Meanwhile, 36 schools in Narathiwat's Sungai Padi district remained closed yesterday as both teachers and children were too scared to go to school. The fear stems from recent arson attacks by Muslim militants, who spread road-spikes and set some areas ablaze in Sri Sakorn, Rusoh and Sungai Padi districts on Sunday night. The militants also ambushed and bombed a teacher's home in Sungai Padi district and bombed a signal tower for train traffic in Rusoh district. More than 1,700 people have been killed in the deep South since the violence re-emerged in early 2004. The Nation Songkhla
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