By Lekha Kliangklao “As long as there is no justice, there will be no peace,” so said Mr Arzis Pitakkhumpol, the newly-elected Chularatchamontri or the Muslim spiritual leader in this recent interview with the southern news desk of the Isra Institute.
By Abdullah Wangni The killing of three employees of Charoen Pokphand group in Nong Chik district of Pattani last Saturday (June 5) allegedly by suspected militants seems to have reinforced the suspicion that the militants may have deliberately targeted outside workers for attacks.
By Sumeth Panpetch Time flies. A year ago today (June 8) in Ban Aipayae, Tambon Juab of Joh-i-rong district, Narathiwat province, a group of gunmen arrived unannounced in a pick-up truck in front of the Al Furagon mosque and opened fire indiscriminately into the mosque with automatic rifles. After the gunshots died down, ten mosque-goers were found dead and 12 others injured.
By the News Desk It is not uncommon for a criminal suspect to be found dead in a detention cell while in police or military custody. And the cause of the death often claimed by the authorities is suicide and, in most cases, by hanging.
By Pradya Toh-e-tae Mr Arziz Pitakkumphol has been elected the 18th Chularatchamontri or Muslim spiritual leader of Thailand. Mr Arziz received 423 votes out of a total of 716 voters representing Muslim committees from 39 provinces throughout the country who showed up on Sunday May 16 at the National Islamic Religious Affairs Administration Centre in Pathum Thani province.
By the News Desk Many analysts have concurred that the red-shirt movement has not ceased to exist once their leaders announced an end to the prolonged protest at Ratcharasong intersection which eventually culminated to arsoning and looting spree. They also believe that the government’s use of tough legal measures against the red shirts, such as the terrorism charge, will provoke an “underground w ...
By the News Desk As teachers in Bangkok remain at home after the government decided to postpone the reopening of all schools in Bangkok for a new semester for a week until May 24, their fellow teaching staffs in the three southernmost provinces are already back to schools as of May 17 despite the fact that one of their colleages was shot dead just ten days ago.
By Pradya Toh-e-tae Amidst all the bad news that took place in the strife-torn far South, there was however a piece of good news, that was a recent order by Justice Minister Piraphan Saleeratvipark to set up five working committees to help detainees on security-related charges and people directly affected by violence.
By Ekkarat Mukem* Mr Sawart Sumalayasak, Thailand’s 17th Chula Ratchamontri or Islamic spiritual leader, passed away on March 24 this year. He was the first Chula Ratchamontri elected under the Islamic Administrative Organisation Act B.E. 2540 succeeding his predecessor, Mr Prasert Mahamad who died in 1997.
By the News Desk The abrupt transfer of Pol Colonel Manas Siksamat, superintendent of Pattani Muang district police, to an inactive post at the operations centre of the southern provincial police on April 27 has caused widespread criticism not just in Pattani province but also in Bangkok.