Sunday, December 03, 2006

Cambodian Muslims spark official worry [in Thailand]

Sunday December 03, 2006

Rising numbers of migrant workers head South

By Post reporters
Bangkok Post


Authorities are keeping a close eye on rising numbers of young Cambodian Muslims who are entering the country, legally or illegally, and heading to the strife-torn South. A ranger unit attached to the Burapa Task Force yesterday arrested six young Muslims from Cambodia - five men and one woman - and one Vietnamese national hiding in a ditch near the border in tambon Thakam, Aranyaprathet district.

The seven, aged 19-30, were detained for questioning at the local ranger headquarters after slipping into the country without travel documents.

One of the detainees, El Mud, 30, said another Muslim had convinced him and the other Cambodians, from Kampong Cham province, to work in the deep South.

He said he had no idea what the job offer was or where he would be working.

He was told the vacancies required young people and that they would be staying in houses abandoned by local Buddhists who had fled the insurgent violence.

Each job seeker must pay a 3,000-baht brokerage fee, he said.

Salitapong Kaewpila of the Burapa Task Force said 341 Muslims, mostly youths, had entered the country at Aranyaprathet checkpoint last month with valid Cambodian passports.

They then continued to the deep South although the purpose of their travel was unclear.

Capt Salitapong said a steady stream of Cambodian Muslims had made their way into Thailand and authorities are watching them.

Meanwhile, the Teachers Federation in the five southern border provinces will present an open letter to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont requesting government help.

They want a support network set up for victims of the insurgency and assurances that education officials transferred out of the far South be given permanent posts elsewhere.

On the security front, an intelligence source has warned of heavy insurgent movements in Muang and Yaha districts of Yala in what is thought to be a build-up to a major attack against security forces.

The source said rebels are planning to fly Pattani State liberation flags at various locations to proclaim victory in their fight for independence.

The flag has a green background, with white Arabian script and a star in the middle.

Elsewhere in Yala, Wiroj Petcharaboonwan, 34, a truck driver in Yaha district, was killed by drive-by gunmen yesterday while going to work on a motorcycle.

In neighbouring Pattani, Nit Thongyai, 59, a banana vendor, was found dead in his shop in Panare district after two gunmen posing as customers opened fire on him.

In Narathiwat, threatening leaflets were handed out by four Muslim teens in Muang municipality's market. The leaflets warned anyone seeking treatment at local hospitals from yesterday to Dec 10 to ''watch their step''.

Also in Narathiwat, Muhammadbasri Satorpa, 29, an employee of the Southern Border Provinces Peace-building Command, sustained severe injuries in a gun attack on Sungai Padi-Waeng road yesterday.

Later, another shooting inside a grocery store in Rueso district left two dead. Shop owner Daeng sae Jiew, 70, and customer Wanna Ongparanupat, 52, who was also the local school director, were killed.

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