Malaysia frees ex-Pulo leader after a month in jail
Sama-ae Thanam, a former leader of the Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo), has been released by Malaysia following his arrest in June this year.
Mr Sama-ae returned to his home in Pattani’s Panare district yesterday to a warm welcome from his family and friends. He was also greeted by Col Somkid Khongkhaeng, commander of Rangers Task Force 42, who inquired about his arrest.
Mr Sama-ae joined the Pulo movement that took up arms against the government to separate the Muslim-dominated region in the southernmost provinces from the Thai state.
He was earlier convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment but the Thai government later reduced his term for good behaviour. He was released from prison on July 17, 2015 after more than 17 years in jail. Authorities have asked him to talk to militant sympathisers and help create an understanding of government policy in the far South.
Mr Sama-ae said his latest arrest took place at Sri Impian, a restaurant owned by his family in Malaysia. A group of armed officers showed up and asked to search the premises. The search went on for two hours but no firearms or illegal items were found, he said. He said he was grateful to Thai authorities for their coordination following his arrest. He also insisted he was not involved in any illegal activities such as drugs and arms smuggling.
Prior to his arrest, Malaysian authorities arrested suspects in Kelantan state on suspicion of being involved in arms smuggling. The officers had earlier killed a suspect who resisted arrest. They had searched the suspect’s mobile phone and found the number of a Thai woman in Malaysia. The police searched her house where they found a Pulo flag. The woman claimed she knew Mr Sama-ae. Malaysian officials later detained Mr Sama-ae at his restaurant for questioning.