Ex-Pulo leader arrested in Perak over security offences

BANGKOK: Ismail Ternang, the former senior leader of the Pattani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo), was arrested in Malaysia several days ago for security offences allegedly related to arms smuggling.

Thailand’s Fourth Army Commander LtGen Piyawat Nakwanich confirmed the arrest yesterday.

“I was informed that he was arrested by the Malaysian authorities. My men had double checked (with reliable sources) on his reported arrest,” he said.

He said the former Pulo leader was not wanted for any security offence in Thailand since his release from prison two years ago.

Piyawat said the arrest was Malaysia’s affair and Thailand had nothing to do with it.

According to a source, Ismail was arrested several days ago at his familyrun restaurant in Perak following investigation by Malaysian police on an earlier case.

His arrest followed a police operation in Kedah several days before in which a man was shot dead after a brief gunfight.

The dead man was suspected to have been involved in arms smuggling at the MalaysianThai border area.

“Police checked the deceased’s handphone and found Ismail’s handphone number which led to his arrest days later,” said the source.

The source said Ismail has been released by the Malaysian police, but this could not be confirmed.

Ismail, 72, who resided in Kampung Ternang, Panarek in Pattani, was released from a Thai prison two years ago after serving 17 years in jail, following a pardon from the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

He was released in 2015 on the eve of Aidilfitri as a goodwill gesture from the Thai government.

In an interview at his house in Pattani last year, Ismail said after his release from prison he had been working together with southern Thailand authorities, especially the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre, to bring economic development to the people.

According to him, the government should pay more attention to the economic and social wellbeing of the locals by implementing relevant programmes that could uplift their livelihood, as it could be effective in discouraging them from engaging in violence and criminal activities. — Bernama