Published on June 02, 2006 - Police yesterday arrested three more suspects - all women - in connection with last month's brutal attack on two teachers that left one of them in a coma.

The trio - Hana Salae, Jehpe Samaeng and Amenoh Tomomayoh - all hail from Ban Kuching Reupah, the village where the teachers were held captive. Their kidnappers had offered their release in exchange for the release of two men detained in custody on suspicion of murdering two marines last year. The teachers were severely beaten and one of them, Juling Pangamoon, has been in a coma ever since. Doctors said her condition has never improved. Of 29 arrest warrants issued, a dozen suspects, mostly women, have been apprehended, said Manote Anan-rithikul, chief of Rangae district police.

Staff of Bangkok Bank collect cash from a donation box that the Prince of Songkhla Hospital set up for injured teacher Juling Pangamoon.

About 40 people are implicated in the abduction case, he said.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Yala, three schools in Muang district have suspended classes since Tuesday after militants were rumoured to be plotting to kidnap teachers.

Prasit Meksuwan, an adviser to the Yala Teachers Federation, said authorities were trying to find ways to operate the schools while guaranteeing the safety of teachers and children.

The three closed schools - Ratsadorn Utis, Ban Litoh, Ban Tanyong - will reopen on Monday, he said.

The Nation
Narathiwat