Imam shot dead in South

Published on December 07, 2005 - An imam was shot dead in Narathiwat as he was on his way to attend a conference downtown.

Tayae Ladaeng, 64, the imam of Ban Bangosalaepae in Rangae district, was riding his motorbike when two gunmen also riding a motorbike fired two rounds at him with an 11mm handgun.

The imam was shot in the heart and died instantly. Police believe Muslim militants were behind the attack. Many Muslims killed in the unrelenting violence, which has claimed more than 1,100 lives since January 2004, are believed to have been killed by militants because of suspected collaboration with government authorities.

Ladeng hailed from the village of Tanyong Limo, where two Thai marines were held hostage and later killed while investigating the drive-by killings of two Muslims at a village teashop.

Late Monday, a 54-year-old Muslim school janitor was shot twice in Pattani province by two suspected militants as he rode his motorcycle home, police said.

More than 1,000 people have been killed since unrest broke out in January 2004 in the violence-plagued provinces along Thailand's southernmost border.

The attacks are blamed on a mix of Islamic separatists, organised criminals and drug traffickers.

The Nation
Narathiwat