Although Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung is yet to pay his first visit the restive deep South in his capacity as the new boss in charge of security affairs there, he has already visited Malaysia to seek Kuala Lumpur’s help to solve the unrest problem as well as the problem about southern Malay Muslims working in "tom yam kung" restaurants in Malaysia.

The southern unrest problem which has dragged on for nine years still poses a major challenge for the government this year and the big question is how the government will proceed – militarily and politically - to pacify the region.

Mahmu Sulong aka Bae So of Tambon Kuan Noree in Kok Pho district of Pattani is not just any village security guard but a role model security guard who is dedicated to his job, fearless and disciplined.

"Ask me if teaching is a risky job in the deep South? My answer is "Yes!" So are the jobs of being a solider or a policeman who has to take a risk almost on daily basis. But many of these people have not asked to be transferred to safer places because they believe in certain ideology. And our ideology is teaching because we are professional teachers,"

Four teachers were shot dead and another seriously wounded within 19 days from November 22 to December 11.