SOUTH

More security cameras torched, as teachers seek transfers

Parez Lohasan,

Narong Nuansakun,

Wattana Kamchu

The Nation

PATTANI: -- Unknown attackers destroyed 15 security cameras and stole seven others in Pattani early yesterday. They were the latest simultaneous attacks on the authorities' closed-circuit television system in the deep South since early this year.

Police were examining available evidence late yesterday to check fingerprints in a bid to identify culprits.

"Attackers put car tyres that had been set ablaze and hung them over electricity cables near where the security cameras had been installed," Pattani police chief Maj General Ekapop Prasitwattanachai said.

The cameras that were burnt were in Pattani's Mayo, Panare and Thung Yang Daeng districts, he said.

And the seven cameras that were stolen were from the front of the Tambon Taloh Mae Na Administrative Organisation in Thung Yang Daeng.

An explosion also erupted on Chonnabot Road in Thung Yang Daeng at around 9am yesterday. It caused no casualties. Police suspect insurgents might have plotted to harm security officials when they planted the bomb there, as the spot was close to where a security camera was set alight. But, it took officials a long time to check the camera on fire, and the explosion occurred before they arrived.

"Police had to check many other spots where security cameras were also attacked," Thung Yang Daeng Police Station's superintendent Colonel Kowit Rattanachote said.

Unrest in the deep South has raged unabated for eight years. And teachers have been high among the casualties. The latest teacher to be killed was Chonlatee Charoenchon, who was shot at Ban Tanyong School's canteen in Narathiwat last Wednesday.

"We have already interrogated 15 witnesses in this case. Of them, one can remember the gunman well. We will develop a sketch and gather further evidence to seek an arrest warrant," Bacho Police superintendent Pol Colonel Pakdee Preechachon said yesterday.

Following Chonlatee's death, seven of 14 teachers in Narathiwat's Educational Service Area 1 Office asked for a transfer. The office, however, has asked them to stay until the end of the semester.

Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan said security officials would use stricter measures in protecting teachers in the deep South. "The latest attack on teachers took place while security officials attended prayer sessions. From now on, security officials will take turns praying," he said.

He added that kamnans, village heads and councillors on tambon administrative organisations had now established a network of communications in a bid to help track perpetuators of violence.

"This network has now had about 8,000 members," he said.

-- The Nation 2013-01-29

According to an article yesterday in the other English newspaper, it appears that most of these cameras were usless anyway.

Many cheap Chinese models of these cameras, some with nothing inside, with those that did work, producing very poor imaging. It also seems that the authorities forgot to

have people monitoring the working ones.

Possibly another purchasing scam that, although likely it won't backfire on anyone.....highlights "managed" purchasing programs.

That's the other thing, if these were working security cameras, wouldn't like the people who torched them be on video tape or someone would have been watching over the monitors such that they wouldn't have been torched?

Wait!!

Whats is that, that I hear?

Pitter Patter of little feet.

Chalerm to the rescue!

"More security cameras torched, as teachers seek transfers"

To Parez Lohasan, Narong Nuansakun, Wattana Kamchu and The Nation in general...

And your point?

Nice isn't it. It shows the incredible incompetence of all Thai men in uniform. You put up CCTV camera's used to spot bomb makers and you are not even able to respond when those same bomb makers torch the cameras/ Whatever police and army may say, they were never ever watching the footage if the CCTV camera's are working at all. CCTV camera's are all window dressing. The army wants the conflict to linger on. They make incredible money out of it. That is why nobody is ever stopped at a checkpoint. The Nation in the meantime is pointing the finger to Rohingya based on fake forensic scientist Porhthip who still uses the GT200 bomb scanner to determine if bomb making residue is on Ronhingya boats. It is all one big cover up by the establishment.

Nice isn't it. It shows the incredible incompetence of all Thai men in uniform. You put up CCTV camera's used to spot bomb makers and you are not even able to respond when those same bomb makers torch the cameras/ Whatever police and army may say, they were never ever watching the footage if the CCTV camera's are working at all. CCTV camera's are all window dressing. The army wants the conflict to linger on. They make incredible money out of it. That is why nobody is ever stopped at a checkpoint. The Nation in the meantime is pointing the finger to Rohingya based on fake forensic scientist Porhthip who still uses the GT200 bomb scanner to determine if bomb making residue is on Ronhingya boats. It is all one big cover up by the establishment.

That is funny. I never thought that angle. Well done!

That's the other thing, if these were working security cameras, wouldn't like the people who torched them be on video tape or someone would have been watching over the monitors such that they wouldn't have been torched?

As said in post#2 BKK Post article stated that the CCTV cameras are not monitored in real time, but the tapes are removed & reviewed. later. Went on to say many CCTV camera installations are but shells, no video etc. Yet another example of endemic corruption impacting peoples lives. Security personnel responsible are not held to account for imperiling national security.

That's the other thing, if these were working security cameras, wouldn't like the people who torched them be on video tape or someone would have been watching over the monitors such that they wouldn't have been torched?

As said in post#2 BKK Post article stated that the CCTV cameras are not monitored in real time, but the tapes are removed & reviewed. later. Went on to say many CCTV camera installations are but shells, no video etc. Yet another example of endemic corruption impacting peoples lives. Security personnel responsible are not held to account for imperiling national security.

Reviewing the cameras later ( the ones that work at least) would be about as useful as a brick and tile hot air balloon.

Then they review the tapes, running about not being able to catch them. What a debacle.

"More security cameras torched, as teachers seek transfers"

To Parez Lohasan, Narong Nuansakun, Wattana Kamchu and The Nation in general...

And your point?

I'm not sure if Parez Lohasan, Narong Nuansakun, Wattana Kamchu and The Nation in general are trying to make a point. As journalists, they are simply reporting the news.

If you want to know if they have a point, you probably should contact them directly. They may not be members at Thai Visa.

Unrest in the deep South has raged unabated for eight years. And teachers have been high among the casualties. The latest teacher to be killed was Chonlatee Charoenchon, who was shot at Ban Tanyong School's canteen in Narathiwat last Wednesday.

Following Chonlatee's death, seven of 14 teachers in Narathiwat's Educational Service Area 1 Office asked for a transfer. The office, however, has asked them to stay until the end of the semester.

Over 200 teachers demand transfers out of deep South

YALA, 15 February 2013 (NNT) - According to an educational body in the southernmost provinces, over 200 teachers have applied for transfers out of the restive region following a series of deadly clashes with the latest incident occurring in Narathiwat this week.

Around 30 militants attacked a marine base in Bacho district, Narathiwat province at midnight on February 13. 16 insurgents were killed in the overnight shootout by the marines. As authorities are still in pursuit of the remaining militants, rumors and leaflets threatening lives of Thai officials and civilians spread over the region, leaving local teachers in fear and uncertainty about their future.

Chief of Yala Primary Educational Service Area Office 3 Adul Promsaeng said that in Yala alone, 44 teachers have already appealed for a transfer out of insurgency-prone districts.

In total, over 200 teachers in the three southern border provinces have submitted their transfer requests in the wake of targeted killings. He added that the office will be holding meetings with school directors in the area to devise measures to cushion the situation.

Nearly 160 school personnel have been killed since the Islamist insurgency flared up in Thailand's three southernmost provinces in 2004.

In January this year, a Muslim teacher was gunned down in his school canteen, leading to calls for tightened safety measures in schools.

-- NNT 2013-02-15