100 schools reopen after fatal blast

Schools in Narathiwat’s Chanae district have reopened amid tight security following a bomb attack last week in which two teachers were killed and another teacher and two police wounded.

More than 100 schools under the province’s Educational Zone 3 resumed classes yesterday after being shut for three days following the bomb blast last Thursday.

Two female teachers — Nayiha Yira, 38, and Nuryahan Awae, 44 — were killed and a male teacher, Apichat Benjulamat, 33, was seriously injured in the blast.

The three teachers were from Pitak Withaya Kumung School.

The explosion hit a patrol car and wounded two policemen inside.

At Pitak Withaya Kumung School in tambon Chang Phuak, only 100 out of 390 students showed up yesterday.

The 19 teachers, all Muslims, were present. The atmosphere at the school was sombre.

Areeyanee Haree-arsan, 8, a Prathom Suksa 2 student, said she did not want to see more teachers killed in the southern unrest.

A source said a team of 19 soldiers and a village defence team had been deployed to beef up security at the school since Sunday night.

Nipat Manee, director of Education Zone 3, said executives and teachers at most schools were satisfied with the security measures provided.

He said he had told teachers to strictly follow a security plan jointly developed by the schools and the military to minimise security loopholes that could lead to attacks.

Meanwhile, doctors from Narathiwas Ratchanakarin Hospital yesterday reported that the condition of Mr Apichat, the teacher injured in the July 24 blast, has improved.

The teacher, who sustained severe head injuries, was still in intensive care yesterday, but he could now move his right arm.

The blast has prompted sceptics to question if the ceasefire agreement that was reached between the National Security Council and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional insurgent group for the fasting month of Ramadan this month is still working.