The latest teacher shot dead by suspected militants in the restive deep South knew he was marked for death but he refused to give up his teaching job and went to school and back home riding unescorted in a motorcycle.
Mr Komsant Chomyong, 40, a teacher of Ban Bor Ngor school in Ra-ngae district of Narathiwat, was shot dead on October 1 as he was riding home in his motorcycle. According to eyewitnesses, two men riding on a motorcycle approached him and the pillion-rider shot him to death with a handgun. Then the shooter stopped and took away the victim’s 11-mm pistol which he always carried but did not have a chance to use it.
Mr Komsant’s death brought to 152 the number of teachers killed by suspected militants for the past eight years since the start of a renewed insurgency in January 2004.
The victim’s younger sister, Mrs Kantha Veeraseni, told Isra news agency that Mr Komsant used to be a border patrol policeman but served in the force for only three years and had to quit the service due to health problem. Then, he took a teaching course and got a teaching job at Ban Lupodeeyae in Ra-ngae district after graduation. But later on, he further his study until he got a Master’s in education and got transferred to Ban Bor Ngor school where he taught until his murder.
"He knew that it was a great risk teaching in this red zone so he decided not to get married in order to be able to fully devote himself to teaching. He did not want to move out of the district and wanted to teach here," said Mrs Kantha.
The victim’s colleagues at the school told Isra news agency that Mr Komsant was fully aware that he would one day be attacked by suspected militants but he refused to travel with them for fear that they might be harmed.
While most of the teachers in the school travelled together in a chartered truck and escorted by security forces, Mr Komsant rode alone in his motorcycle but kept changing the routes, said his colleagues.
Mr Komsant’s sudden death has provoked widespread concern about safety problem among teachers in the restive region, especially in the so-called red zones. Mr Boonsom Thongsriplai, head of the Federation of Teachers in Three Southernmost Provinces, said the killing had badly affected the morale of teachers. He urged the government to increase incentives for the teachers such as better welfare, a rise in risk fees and better career path.
Pol Col Thavee Sodsong, secretary-general of Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre, and Narathiwat Governor Apinan Suethanuwong, presided over the bathing rite of the victim on October 1 along with several teachers of Ban Bor Ngor. About two million baht in cash were also given to the victim’s family as compensation.
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