The public furore about the deadly military-police raid on a house in Thung Yang Daeng district on March 25 has subsided after a military probe cleared the four victims of any involvement in the insurgency.
However, the families of some victims say they are still heavy hearted about when justice will be delivered to them.
"Many security officers joined that raid but only six people have been charged," complained Laeko Kalaisa, mother of 24-year-old Saddam Wanu, who was killed in the shooting at a partly-finished house in Toh Chud village in tambon Pitane.
Three police and three military officers have been charged in connection with the raid. Saddam, the third of six children in the family, was among four killed in the 45-minute raid by joint forces of the 431st Special Operation Unit, the 41st Task Force Rangers Unit, the Thung Yang Daeng Police, the Pattani 25th Task Force, and defence officials under the Interior Ministry.
Authorities were tipped off that an insurgent group had gathered at the house to plan attacks.
Ma-useng Jeh-awae, the owner of the half-built raided house, mourns the death of his friend Saddam, who was killed in the ranger raid. Ma-useng now has to lay the bricks and pave the walls himself. (Photo by Achara Ashayagachat)
The attack has damaged the military's efforts to forge closer links with the community under the so-called Thung Yang Daeng model, a joint defence and surveillance operation designed to prevent insurgent attacks in local communities.
Those brought together under the campaign include village defence volunteers, the military and Interior Ministry officials. It was launched after six schools in Thung Yang Daeng and Mayo districts were burned down in October last year.
Laeko was unhappy to see the soldiers who came to apologise a few days after the incident. She brandished a machete at them.
"I would feel better if the people who killed my son and those who gave the order were convicted," said the 48-year-old mother.
Manase Wanu, 31, the eldest of Laeko's children, said a forensics report showed his brother was brutally killed.
Manase Wanu, eldest child of Laeko Kalaisa, holds up primary school transcripts belonging to his younger brother Saddam. (Photo by Achara Ashayagachat)
"He was killed on a shortcut through the rubber forest to the back of my house. He had many bullet wounds to his body," Mr Manase said.
He conceded his brother took the narcotic kratom leaf to boost his energy before work and had been charged twice previously for taking kratom and marijuana.
"He might have been scared when troops turned up for the raid so he fled, but unfortunately they killed him," Mr Manase said.
The house which authorities raided was under construction. Ma-useng Jeh-awae, 28, the owner, said he lost a friend - Saddam - in the raid, and now has to to lay the bricks and pave the walls himself.
"They turned up en masse and told us to lie down. They shouted some names and then gunshots were heard and we were moved across the road," said Mr Ma-useng, who was one of 22 people rounded up for interrogation.
Marokuesee Tayeh, 24, another one of those rounded up by the military, said he looked towards the sound of the gunfire and saw Madaree Maeroh fall to the ground not far from the house.
Madaree was one of two final-year students from Fatoni University who were killed in the shooting. The other student was Kolid Mameng.
University rector Lutfi Japakiya insisted on the students' innocence.
The 4th Army appointed a probe committee including Islamic leaders and peace scholars. The panel concluded the victims were not insurgents and had nothing to do with weapons seized at the scene.
Mr Marokuesee conceded that he takes kratom regularly but said the house was just a place for teenagers to hang out.
"Kolid had come here before but it was Madaree's first time," he said.
During their detention by the military for questioning, Mr Marokuesee learned the authorities had heard that Anwar Dueramae and Makurosee Maeloh, wanted insurgents, were among those who had supposedly gathered at the house.
Thung Yang Daeng district chief Sawet Phetnui said the operation was a lesson for the authorities but the military's swift response in clearing the victims of any involvement in the insurgency has satisfied villagers and families of the victims.
"The insurgents have yet to get any benefit from the state's errors in this case," Mr Sawet said.
Lt Col Jakkrit Ratana, deputy commander of the 25th Pattani Task Force Unit, said authorities have helped the families by offering them job opportunities and scholarships.
The last photo of their son Kholid before he was killed by paramilitary rangers is shown by Suraya and Sakariya Sameang at their Thung Yang Daeng home. The parents pursued a claim of wrongful death but the army now is transferring those responsible for the unlawful killing. (Photos by Abdulloh Benjakat)