Risky commute

For teachers in Yala government schools, the drive to and from work can be a life-threatening experience.

Teachers’ cars gather daily at a meeting point in Muang district of strife-torn Yala province before being escorted by soldiers to schools in Krong Pinang district to safeguard them from insurgent attacks. LAMPHAI INTATHEP

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Running the Yala gauntlet to work

Teachers commute in army-chaperoned convoys on a daily basis

Lamphai Intathep

Around 8am every day, 56-year-old teacher Urai Kaewmeesi has to rush in her car to join a convoy guarded by soldiers travelling from Muang district to her school in Krong Pinang district.

Missing the convoy may mean losing her life.

On a recent day there were about 10 cars carrying nearly 20 teachers in the convoy with two soldiers' armoured vehicles in the front and back.

About 20 soldiers from the 13th Yala military task force are responsible for escorting the teachers to two schools – Ban Talo Sumae School and Ban Krong Pinang School – in Krong Pinang district.

"This has been my routine for several years," Ms Urai said.

The Surat Thani native started working at Ban Talo Sumae School in Yala's Krong Pinang district almost nine years ago and soon realised that she and her colleagues might end up the target of insurgents.

The 15km route to Ms Urai's school is a risky commute for the teachers as well as the soldiers charged with guarding them. Insurgents have planted many bombs or set up ambushes on Route 410 (Yala-Betong), the same road they must take to get to work.

"I feel more secure than driving alone to school," Ms Urai said while travelling behind an armoured vehicle.

The two-lane road is desolate with thick bushes on both sides. Cars pass in the opposite direction only sporadically.

When the convoy arrived at a bridge, the leading armoured vehicle slowed and signalled for the rest of the convoy to stop.

As the distressed teachers looked on, about 10 fully armed soldiers were sent to scout the bridge and nearby areas.

"It has been too long since another car has passed from the opposite direction," a soldier told this reporter and Ms Urai.

"This may be an unusual sign."

After the soldiers returned 15 minutes later, the convoy resumed.

Ban Talo Sumae School, which has 27 teachers and 474 students, was burned down six years ago by insurgents.

Although Ms Urai says she has become somewhat accustomed to the insurgent violence in the three southernmost provinces –  Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala –  every time she and her colleagues hear that teachers have been injured or killed, their morale takes a hit.

Daranee Bindue-rae, a 33-year-old teacher, was the only teacher riding a motorcycle in the convoy.

"Though I'm a Yala native, it is too frightening to travel alone," she said. "So I join the soldiers' convoy every day.

"The insurgents think that teachers are working for the government.

"They are people of the government; therefore, to hurt teachers is regarded as hurting the government.

"It is easy to attack teachers as we have no weapons to protect ourselves and if teachers die, it will deeply affect people's feelings and attract the country's and the world's interest," Ms Urai added.

Nevertheless, the two teachers have no plans to leave their jobs.

"I would be concerned for the students if I were to leave. Few teachers want to teach here," Ms Urai said.

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gather – to come together in a group รวมกลุ่ม, รวมตัวกัน, จับกลุ่มกัน, ชุมนุม
strife-torn – experiencing much fighting or disagreement between people or groups ที่ประสบปัญหาอย่างหนัก
escort – to go with a person or group of people in order to protect them คุ้ม
safeguard – to protect something/somebody from loss, harm or damage; to keep something/somebody safe ปกป้อง,  คุ้มครอง, อารักขา
insurgent – someone who belongs to a group of people fighting to take control of their country by force กลุ่มก่อการกบถ
run the gauntlet – to be attacked or crticised by a lot of people, especially a group of people that you have to move through
commute – to regularly travel between work and home เดินทางระหว่างบ้านและที่ทำงาน
chaperon – to escort; to go with a person or group of people in order to protect them คุ้ม
convoy – a group of vehicles (or ships) travelling together  ขบวนรถ
rush – to move or do something very quickly รีบเร่ง, วิ่ง
armoured vehicle – a military vehicle that is heavily protected by a metal covering  รถหุ้มเกราะ
task force – a group of people who are brought together to do a particular job, or a large military group who have a military aim to achieve คณะทำงานเฉพาะกิจ, กองกำลังเฉพาะกิจ
responsible for – to have a duty to do something มีความรับผิดชอบ, มีความรับผิดชอบ
routine – the normal order and way in which you regularly do things กิจวัตรประจำ
native – someone who was born in a particular place ชาวพื้นเมือง
realise – to know about ตระหนัก  รู้
colleague – someone who works in the same organisation or department as you do เพื่อนร่วมงาน
target –a person, business, building, area, etc., that someone intends to attack เป้าหมาย
risky – involving the possibility of danger, harm or failure เสี่ยงอันตราย
charge with – to give somebody a responsibility or task  มอบหมายหน้าที่ให้
plant – (of an explosive) to hide in a place where it can be exploded ฝัง
ambush – to attack someone after hiding and waiting for them ซุ่มโจมตี (จากตำแหน่งที่ซ่อนอยู่)
secure – safe from attack or harm ปลอดภัย
desolate – empty and without people, making you feel sad or frightened เปล่าเปลี่ยว,ไร้ผู้คน, ว่างเปล่า
bush – a plant that is smaller than a tree and has a lot of thin branches growing close together พุ่มไม้
opposite – across from or facing someone or something ที่อยู่ตรงกันข้าม
sporadic – not regular or frequent ซึ่งเกิดขึ้นนานๆ ครั้ง,  ที่เกิดขึ้นเป็นพักๆ
signal – to make a movement or sound to give somebody a message, an order, etc  ส่งสัญญาณ
distressed – upset and anxious กังวลใจ, ไม่มีความสุข
armed – carrying weapons  ติดอาวุธ
scout – to go to look in various places for something you want or for possible danger ตรวจสอบจนทั่ว
reporter – someone whose job is to write articles or make broadcasts about events in the news ผู้สื่อข่าว, นักข่าว
resume – to begin again after stopping for a period of time  เริ่มอีกครั้ง
accustomed to – made yourself familiar with new conditions เคยชินกับ
violence – physical force with the deliberate intention of causing damage to property or injury or death to people ความรุนแรง
injured – hurt in an accident or attack ซึ่งได้รับบาดเจ็บ
morale – the amount of confidence and enthusiasm, etc. that a person or a group has at a particular time กำลังใจ, ขวัญ
therefore – as a result of the reason that has just been mentioned  เพราะฉะนั้น, ดังนั้น
nevertheless – despite what has just been said or referred to แต่อย่างไรก็ตาม
concerned – involved in something, or affected by something เกี่ยวข้องกับ ที่สัมพันธ์กับ