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| Southeast Asia |
| Thailand:Troops sent in to protect teachers from Jihadis |
| 2004-04-26 |
| Teachers in Thailand’s southern border region made nervous by further arson attacks on local schools over the weekend were told today that they would receive military protection at the start of the new academic year, while pupils from burnt out schools were promised extra tuition via satellite. Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Chaiyasit Shinawatra said that a battalion from the 2nd Army Area Command would be sent to the southern border region to boost morale and provide protection at the start of the new school term. He also noted that several graduates among the armed forces had expressed willingness to help teach in southern schools, and would go immediately to the southern border region if told by the Ministry of Education to do so. Schools have been one of the focal points of the recent violence in the southern border region, with the latest arson attack in Pattani over the weekend. Gen. Chaiyasit also promised that if building work to repair schools razed by arson attacks could not be completed by the start of the school year, pupils would be offered tuition via satellite, with the teachers based in Hua Hin. The teachers are also asking permission to carry guns to work. |
| Posted by:TS (vice girl) |