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Pattani's iron ladies take up arms
Latest women's unit to get weapons training
By Wassana Nanuam
Women in restive Pattani are to take on a new role under army training _ firing guns. ''The situation has reached an intolerable point. Now we need to stand up, grip our guns and get out to fight,'' said Siwatchaya Pararat, a 39-year-old member of the so-called Iron Lady Unit.
Up to 128 women in Panare district are being taught on how to use firearms, part of a five-day training course for village protection volunteers.
The unit was initiated by Her Majesty the Queen, who wants women to learn self-protection and guard their villages against militants in the three southernmost provinces.
The raid on Wat Phromprasit in the district urged women to be trained as ''iron ladies''.
Last month insurgents set fire to their respected temple and killed a monk and two temple boys.
Their friends and relatives were also among victims of the violence, which they said was unbearable.
''Buddhist and Muslim villagers in Panare were used to living in harmony. Now we are suspicious of one another and we don't feel like smiling to our Muslim friends as in the past,'' said Benchamart Laekarn, 49.
Nalinee Chaimanee, a 44-year-old mother whose husband is a policeman, said her husband's duty could make her family a target for insurgents. She needed to be more aware of potential danger to her children. ''We can't wait for death,'' Ms Nalinee said.
The Iron Lady Unit in Panare is the second such unit, after the army's success in training women at West Chang Hai village in Khok Pho district. The first group showed their prowess with guns at Thaksin Ratchanives Palace in neighbouring Narathiwat late last month. The Queen praised their skill and said she would like to see more Iron Lady Units in other troubled areas.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/13Nov2005_news05.php
Latest women's unit to get weapons training
By Wassana Nanuam
Women in restive Pattani are to take on a new role under army training _ firing guns. ''The situation has reached an intolerable point. Now we need to stand up, grip our guns and get out to fight,'' said Siwatchaya Pararat, a 39-year-old member of the so-called Iron Lady Unit.
Up to 128 women in Panare district are being taught on how to use firearms, part of a five-day training course for village protection volunteers.
The unit was initiated by Her Majesty the Queen, who wants women to learn self-protection and guard their villages against militants in the three southernmost provinces.
The raid on Wat Phromprasit in the district urged women to be trained as ''iron ladies''.
Last month insurgents set fire to their respected temple and killed a monk and two temple boys.
Their friends and relatives were also among victims of the violence, which they said was unbearable.
''Buddhist and Muslim villagers in Panare were used to living in harmony. Now we are suspicious of one another and we don't feel like smiling to our Muslim friends as in the past,'' said Benchamart Laekarn, 49.
Nalinee Chaimanee, a 44-year-old mother whose husband is a policeman, said her husband's duty could make her family a target for insurgents. She needed to be more aware of potential danger to her children. ''We can't wait for death,'' Ms Nalinee said.
The Iron Lady Unit in Panare is the second such unit, after the army's success in training women at West Chang Hai village in Khok Pho district. The first group showed their prowess with guns at Thaksin Ratchanives Palace in neighbouring Narathiwat late last month. The Queen praised their skill and said she would like to see more Iron Lady Units in other troubled areas.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/13Nov2005_news05.php