SCHOOL BUS KILLINGS: Suspect faces the wrath of villagers

Published on Aug 15, 2002

A Karen who confessed to the military that he was one of the armed men that ambushed a school bus filled with students in Ratchaburi province was handed to police yesterday and later presented at a press conference.

Ratchaburi Governor Komet Daengthongdee said the man, known as Zaw Bi, was one of three ethnic Karen gunmen who shot at the bus on June 4, killing three schoolchildren and wounding 12.

Hundreds of villagers abused Zaw Bi when he was taken to the scene to re-enact the crime.

The two other suspects, known as Puko and Pataeu, were still on the run. Arrest warrants had been issued against them, the governor said.

Speaking through an interpreter at the press conference, Zaw Bi said he knew nothing about the reason for the attack. His two Karen friends had talked him into going with them. He only shot up into the air, not at the bus.

Thongsuk U-tapao, a villager whose son died in the hail of bullets, told the press conference that she could hardly believe that Zaw Bi was the man who killed the schoolchildren. She said she might have seen the man in the area before but could not remember if she had met him.

"I know you know the Thai language, please tell the whole truth. Who's behind the crime? Why did you guys kill the kids?

"I beg your sympathy for a mother who lost her son, please … please tell the truth," a tearful Thongsuk said while waiing Zaw Bi.

Zaw Bi demonstrated how he and his two colleagues walked down the hill to wait for the school bus. He said he pointed his rifle into the air, but Puko and Pataeu fired straight at the modified pick-up truck when the bus driver, Thongmon Khemthong, did not stop.

Police had confiscated two M-16 assault rifles and some rounds of ammunition belonging to the wanted men and one of the rifles matched the spent cartridges found at the scene, he said.

Zaw Bi had been held in military custody since last month, initially rejecting all allegations and refusing to cooperate. He eventually confessed under relentless interrogation, saying he was involved in the attack in the Ban Kha sub-district, the governor said.

Defence Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said it was Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who told the military to turn the suspect over to police because it had detained him too long without charges.

The military had intended to pressure Zaw Bi until he provided information leading to the arrest of the other suspects, Chavalit said. "But as our superior [prime minister] has given orders we have to follow."

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