"It was a remote-controlled bomb," Song-rat, 38, recalls. "Fortunately, it did not go off."

It was one of her most unsettling experiences as Pattani Police Provincial Forensic Science Office chief.

Police forensics officers face danger every day as they go about their business of gathering crime-scene evidence in the predominantly Muslim provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.

As insurgents often target crime fighters, police forensics officers work with the awareness that there is a high risk they will be killed.

Although bombings and shootings are a daily occurrence in the region, the police are short of investigators.

Song-rat has a staff quota of 23 but only 11 officers.

Narathiwat and Yala face the same problem. Major Krisada Wattadham, head of the Narathiwat's forensic team, has only 16 officers.

In his two years in the position, Krisada has encountered two so-called "second bombs" - bombs planted to kill investigators arriving at a crime scene.

He was injured when they exploded.

Altogether there are fewer than 100 forensic-science police working in the provinces. According to the police operations centre in Yala, 8,939 criminal cases - 1,108 of which were security matters - took place in the three provinces last year. Most forensic officers are in Yala where the main laboratory is located.

"Their lives are more vulnerable compared with forensic officers in other regions, but they receive the same salaries and benefits," said forensic commissioner Lt-General Ek Angsananont.

Ek, who took the position last October, said he was looking for incentives to encourage forensic science officers to work in the South.

Besides salary and allowances the only special benefit in the South is a Bt1,000 monthly risk payment.

Since violence re-emerged in the region a few years ago, forensic science has become an important tool in identifying killers and bombers.

"We don't have witness and villagers are too scared to give information to the police so we have to identify criminals using science," Ek said.

However, statistics show that of thousands of suspected insurgent attacks just 136 people have been prosecuted.

Ninth police region acting commander Lt-General Adul Saengsingkaew confirms scientific evidence has led to successful prosecutions. DNA evidence has been very helpful.

Ek said forensic science provided concrete evidence that proved the police caught the right people.

When crimes are detected forensic police collect fingerprints, blood samples, bullets and other evidence to identify the perpetrators. Police have a DNA database.

Even if no arrest is made the evidence, including DNA, is kept in the database and may help identify a criminal in the future, Song-rat said.

"I would be happier if more culprits were arrested," said Song-rat. However, she understands it is not easy.

She has little time to monitor how investigating police use the scientific information her office provides.

"It doesn't discourage us. As police, we all want culprits to be arrested and charged, but its not that easy," she said.

The South is rife with violent attacks and police officers like Song-rat are very busy.

Ek hopes to get better incentives for his staff who put their lives on the line every day.

"The most important incentive for now is support from the public. We want the public to recognise the importance of our work," he said.

Pennapa Hongthong

The Nation

PATTANI, NARATHIWAT