http://www.prachatai.com/05web/th/home/page2.php?mod=mod_ptcms&ContentID=9521&SystemModuleKey=HilightNews&System_Session_Language=ThaiOn 4 September 2007 more than 300 Prince of Songkhla University (PSU) Pattani Campus students took part in a demonstration to condemn the shooting of Mr. Piyapong Petch-ngern, 4th year social development student, Faculty of Anthropology and Social Science of PSU Pattani Campus on 1 September 2007.

Mr. Davud Tuborai, President of PSU-Pattani Campus Student Union read a statement which highlighted the ongoing violence that has inflicted losses on the families and relatives of many Thais. This incident caused a massive loss to the relatives, faculty, and classmates of Mr. Piyapong, which will light way for citizens to build a better society.

The shooting of Mr. Piyapong Petch-ngern, who could have played a role in the future development of the country, occurred on 1 September 2007 at Ton Makarm Village, Tambon Mor-mawee, Yarang District, Pattani Province. PSU Student Union wishes to express its deepest sorrow on the death of Mr. Piyapong and would like to support his relatives and friends.

The three southern provinces, as a multi-cultural region with a distinct culture and identity such as the use of Melayu as the main language, have suffered conflict and violence which has affected the lives and property and inflicted pain on the citizens of the whole country. The media have contributed to bringing the southern provinces into the shadow of intimidation, terror, and fear of becoming a victim in this conflict-stricken area.

Therefore, the PSU Student Union and Student Council wanted to demand the immediate restoration of peace in the three Southern provinces, since we cannot bear to see the severe conditions that the people are living in. The conflict seems to continue with no foreseeable end. We wish that the basic social structure of people's lifestyles to return to normal, and that differences of language, race, and ethnicity are accepted so that the understanding will restore peace. Everyone wishes to see again the kindness of Southerners.

Voices of friends and professors

The shooting of Mr. Piyapong or Eff, his name among his friends, happened when he was on his motorcycle on his way to visit Mr. Imron Manulim, former Bangkok Senator who had traveled to Yala Province. He was riding with Ms. Asma, the daughter of Mr. Imron sitting on the pillion. Another two friends, Mr. Pongthep Kaewsathien and Ms. Acharee were on another motorcycle behind him.

Prachatai had the opportunity to record the grief of friends and close professors of "Eff", at the sorrowful incident and their perspective on the ongoing violence in the region.

Oi or Pongthep Kaewsathien, a close friend of Eff explained that while he was riding his motorcycle about 200 meters behind Eff, two other motorcycles sped past Eff. Eff then sped up and the two drivers overtook Eff again. Then he heard two gun shots. At first he thought they were firecrackers since the sound was very soft.

When he heard the gunshots, Oi turned to see the motorcycle fall. At first he thought that Eff had hit another motorcycle and come off. As he rode his motorcycle toward Eff, he saw a pool of blood. Asma then yelled that "Eff is shot. Eff is shot". He was shocked and did not know what to do. He tried to flag down a car to ask for help.

Oi said that despite his attempts to get passing cars to stop and take his friend to hospital, none stopped. After almost ten minutes, he put is helmet on the road to force cars to stop. As a last resort, he jumped into the middle of the road, thinking that he would do anything so that his friend could be helped, without being afraid that he could get hurt.

At last one truck stopped, the driver was a women. he paid respect to her asked her to help Eff. She let them carry him onto the truck. At the time, a thin man appeared from nowhere to help lift Eff onto the truck. Oi asked his friends to go with Eff.

Oi then rode his motorcycle to the army post and told them "Brother Sir, my friend is shot. Please help me". He had to stand outside the barbed wire gate for a long time until he was allowed in. He was curious why they did not first check out the scene. The military officer radioed for the police to come, which took quite some time.

While Oi was flagging down cars for more than ten minutes, no one stopped. Cars were going by as usual in both directions. Asma was also yelling for help. Oi dragged Asma on the side of the road, but no car stopped. It was not until Oi jumped into the road to block the way that a car stopped. At first, the driver acted as if she would not help, but Oi pleaded with her to take his friend to hospital". Then she stopped.

He was calling Eff's name, but there was no response. He was still coughing blood. He might have passed away at the hospital or on the way to hospital.

Oi explained that he called 191 (emergency police number), but no one answered. He then called 1341 (military number) to report the site of the shooting. The person answering said that he would call back. Oi received a call when Eff was already on the way to hospital, when Oi was driving to the military post. After that he received calls from the police and the district office.

"I want all sides to cooperate more. Another thing is that many friends are saying that the hospital did not take care of the body very well. When we brought his body to the temple there were still tons of blood on it. They should have cleaned the blood off, but in this case, we had to wipe the blood off ourselves.

"The incident scared me, but not to the extent that I am afraid to go anywhere. Eff also had this kind of idea. He was not afraid of anything. He would always say ‘Let's go'. He was still talking to Asma asking her when we could go to Betong (Yala Province). He asked when would we drive our motorcycles to Betong.

"When I was with him, whenever we went away anywhere, we would go by motorcycle. We hardly ever went by car. He was the closest friend I had at university. I will always remember him (crying). I will always think about this incident since the image of it is still with me."

Ms. Alisa Hasormor, the lecturer closest to Eff and his friends, said that she did not know what to do under the current situation. She had been thinking of making PSU as a weapons-free zone, which would be impossible.

"The second issue is we can only guarantee the safety of the students only in the university. Students have to go outside since they or their relatives live around the area. They have to travel. So we do not know if the university would be as safe as it is now.

"We want PSU to be a weapons-free zone. But we do not know how to accomplish that. If we can protect our students in the university, but not elsewhere, I do not know what to do.

"We work closely with a lot of student activists. Every day we hear from them that some have been intimidated, their houses shot at, and some students' relatives were shot. I can only listen, hoping that this will not happen to anyone we know. It might be selfish of me to think like that, but I just keep hoping it will not happen to students that I am close to.

"Third, in many incidents the people who can give most assistance is civil society or the people themselves. In the case of Piyapong, it is quite clear that the soldiers and police were late in reacting to the situation although they tried to help. The people that can help are the people around there.

"Peoples are the best way of helping one another. We need to have courtesy in helping one another in this situation. Oi (Pongthep Kaewsathien) is in the saddest condition. There are many cases, but this situation is most heartrending to me. I understand that there are limitations, but if people in the society do not help one another, how can we deal with this situation where the phone lines are constantly cut off, and constant uncertainties in everyday life.

"We see that state officials should only be assistants, but most important are ordinary people. This does not mean that we are not afraid. I believe everyone is afraid, but we need to have courage more than fear so that we can assist one another."

Professor Sompong Tongpong, Vice-Rector, Prince of Songkla University - Pattani Campus, said that the police and military can give protection when students travel on the road. But it would be quite hard to guard everywhere. The insurgents have been finding opportunities while the military can only tried to prevent things from happening. "Therefore, we need to give our support to the military and police. At the same time, we want timely work and assistance, since speedy work can improve the situation.

"Our university always says that we do not know if the areas outside the university are safe or not. Therefore, we say that if it is not necessary, we should try not to leave the safe areas. The university always says that we have to help looking after the lecturers and students. We have to look after one another, but we cannot criticize one another.

"In reality, we have been demanding from the community. We man that the community does not create the problem. But there is a small group of people that creates the problem, but this small group has never really concerned us.

"I think that everyone is helping one another. When we go to the market in the villages, students would be there with the villagers. However, the wrongdoers would not care who is who. If they have the right moment, they might strike. So I believe that no single community wishes bad things to happen. But one group of people might want bad things to happen and whatever it takes, they will do it.

"I will say the same to the students whenever I meet them, the same message that I gave during orientation, that everyone has to accept that the three Southern provinces are not safe. Therefore, precaution must be the priority and students must never go anywhere alone. We have tried to talk about this because we do not know when the situation will end.

"I feel that it is an enormous burden for the peoples to be in trouble all the time, without being able to continue with everyday life. The soldiers and police are being burdened. Generally there are 200 days of primary school a year, but I am not sure if they can really attend 100 days of school. If you ask me if the perpetrators really care about this, I guess they do not. But the parents of Thai Buddhists and Thai Muslims will be all affected, because their children could not go to school.

Back then, I tried to say that parents do not have to worry about sending their children to PSU-Pattani Campus, because I thought that within half a year the conflict would end. But looking today, I do not know when it will end. We told the parents not to worry, but I think it is pure lies. But what I want to convey is that, as teachers and professors, we will try to take care of and teach our students. But in the same way, students also have to help us."

Translated by Pokpong Lawansiri