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| Southeast Asia |
| Fretful teachers seek meeting with Thai prime minister |
| 2007-01-27 |
| Teacher representatives in southern Thailand have called for a meeting with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont during his visit to the region to demand improved assistance to help them overcome troubles related to the insurgency. A source said the teachers will seek a meeting with Gen Surayud as they felt government assistance had been unevenly distributed in the region. The teachers insisted the danger they encountered on a daily basis while on their way to work or even at their house was ever present, according to the source. More than 60 teachers have been killed in the deep South since separatist violence resurfaced in Jan 2004. Gen Surayud is scheduled to arrive in Songkhla today where he will spend the night at the Senanarong army camp in Hat Yai district. Tomorrow, he will set off for Pattani where he will brief officials on the government's programme to improve livelihoods in the five southernmost provinces. Interior Minister Aree Wongarya said Gen Surayud's visit would help improve the security situation. In Yala, more than 50 Muslim women and children rallied at tambon Lammai police station in Muang district yesterday to demand the release of eight men arrested by security forces. The peaceful protest followed the arrest of eight suspected militants in a pre-dawn raid in Taloh village yesterday. All suspects were sent to Ingkayuthadhboriharn military camp in Pattani for questioning. The protesters specifically demanded the release of Mahuseng Samoh, 30. They claimed he could not have committed any crime because he was ''mentally incapable''. Police finally gave in to the pressure as Mr Mahuseng was taken from the military camp and sent home. The protesters then dispersed. In neighbouring Pattani, a bomb went off on a road in tambon Bana of Muang district yesterday. No casualties were reported. Another bomb exploded shortly after at a repair shop, 20 metres away from the first blast. The explosion wounded three people and damaged a public phone booth and three vehicles parked nearby. Police said the 8-kg time bomb was placed inside a rubbish bin close to the shop. |
| Posted by:ryuge |