Pattani school denies links to insurgents

An executive at an Islamic school in Pattani has denied allegations by security officials that the school is linked to those perpetrating unrest in the insurgency-plagued deep South.

Bakong Pittaya School in tambon Bang Kao of Nong Chik district has come under scrutiny after the Region 4 Internal Security Operations Command’s (Isoc) Forward Command lodged police complaints against school executives on Wednesday for their alleged links with the insurgency.

The complaints came to light after Maj Gen Jatuporn Klamphasut, commander of the 46th Military Circle and the Pattani Task Force, held a press briefing yesterday.

Usman Abdulmanae, who was granted a permit to run the school, said that he was unaware of the complaints targeting his executives.

The school has nothing to do with the insurgent groups that are wreaking havoc in the region, he said.

Metal-cutting and welding machines seized from the school were used to help build structures on its premises, usually by staff, he added.

Mr Usman vowed to keep the school open.

Security officers had lodged complaints against individuals, not the school per se, he said.

The school offers classes for kindergarteners all the way up to Mathayom Suksa 6 (Grade 12). It has 1,212 students and 102 teachers, including 22 religious teachers.

During yesterday’s press briefing, Maj Gen Jatuporn said security officers had searched the school on Jan 27 and discovered materials and documents believed to be linked to the insurgent groups.

They include books on history and Patani’s fight for independence, which authorities said had been distorted to cause rifts among the public.

There were also documents written about a movement against the Thai state’s use of political and military authority.

The authorities also reportedly found distorted documents about the court’s 2015 order seizing the land where Jihad Wittaya, another Islamic school, was located.

Seized from the school were gas cylinders, fire extinguishers, fertiliser and digging tools, Maj Gen Jatuporn said.

“Officers found a list of 26 religious teachers hired by the school, some of whom were thought to be members of groups that committed violence. Several were associated with insurgents wanted on criminal charges,” said Maj Gen Jatuporn.

Some of the teachers had links to insurgents who remain active in Nong Chik, Khok Pho, Yarang, Sai Buri and Muang districts of Pattani, as well as the four districts of Songkhla, he said.

The investigation found evidence suggesting that several school executives had support various people who instigated violence in the deep South, or who were associated with these unsavory characters, he added.

Key evidence was also found that pointed to the embezzlement of state funds earmarked to be spent on teachers, as well as lunch and stationery for children, Maj Gen Jatuporn said.

Five people have been arrested over a string of bomb blasts in Yaring, Yarang and Sai Buri districts of Pattani on Feb 11 that injured nine people, authorities said. Two of the the suspects have confessed.