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Raid on Islamic schools in South Thailand yields valuable haul
A joint military and police task-force yesterday raided a number of Islamic boarding schools in Pattani, believed to be training grounds for insurgents in the deep South.

Over 100 officers searched six residences and dormitories in Yaring district and confiscated documents written in Malay and Arabic dialects, some of which contained pictures of Krue Se mosque and ancient cannons.

The contents of the documents are not yet known but officials believe several notebooks contained records of the movement of security officials and maps of several outposts, leading officials to believe they formed part of an attack plan.

Officials also confiscated electric wire, PVC pipes, a personal computer and a video cassette on Al Qaeda's terrorist training.

Aedunan Jeharsae, a teacher at an Islamic boarding school, and his three students, Wae-afit Kaetong, Masulan Damae and Abdullah Kajeh, were held for questioning.

Police found bullet holes on coconut trees and soft-drink cans in an area near the school's dormitories, leading them to believe it was used as a shooting range.

The raid was conducted after police received a tip-off from two suspects nabbed earlier in connection with an arson attack at schools in Panare district.

Officials said the group was suspected of plotting a major attack.

On Wednesday night, a defence volunteer was shot dead in Narathiwat province by a group of gunmen who stole his gun. Wae-ali Ha, 35, was killed at about 9.30pm while drinking at a teashop in Sungai Padi district because he refused to hand over his shotgun.

Minutes later, a bomb went off at a nearby roadside just as police rushed to the scene.

Three officers were injured when insurgents opened fire during an ambush.

They retreated when about 100 troops arrived at the scene.
Posted by: Dan Darling 2005-05-19
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=119562