PATTANI, Nov 23 – Tha Kamcham School in this southern border province is temporarily closed today after the school’s director was shot dead yesterday.
No students came to school Friday morning. Teachers and students are preparing to attend the Buddhist bathing ceremony rite for the dead teacher at a temple in Khok Pho district.
Wantana Kaewchan, 51, director of a school in this violence-plagued province in southern Thailand was shot dead in her car in a hail of gunfire in Nong Chik district, according to the authorities.
The Tha Kamcham School director was heading home in her car from school Thursday evening when a motorcycle approached, The driver shot at her.
Mrs Wantana was rushed to Nong Chik Hospital but she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Meanwhile, Boonsom Thongsriprai, chairman of the Teachers Federation of the three southern border provinces convened a meeting of school administrators and teachers in Nong Chik district to assess the situation and review security measures for teachers.
He expressed sorrow at the loss and asked security agencies to step up security plans to protect teachers in the district, considered risky zones.
The 4th Region Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Deputy Spokesman Col Pramote Prom-in also expressed sorrow for a loss of the teacher’s life.
He condemned the killing as a cruel and inhumane action as teachers work to teach young people in order to create better society. All nations and religions give importance to education.
ISOC called on human rights bodies and the public to oppose all forms of violence, to protect teachers, education employees and the people and to bring peace to the southern border provinces.
