The execution-style killing of four Thai Buddhists in Bacho district of Narathiwat on the night of Saturday September 18 represents a grim reminder of the life-threatening danger posed to most Buddhists who live in the three southernmost provinces.

By the News Desk The Cabinet’s decision on Tuesday September 14 to increase the “risk” allowance by 500 baht from 2,500 to 3,000 baht a month plus other incentives to teachers in the three southernmost provinces has sparked off disappointment among other officials doing their jobs down there.

By the News Desk Human rights advocacy groups in the far South have recently been dealt a double blow when a suspect in the I-payae mosque attack in Narathiwat last year and six government officials accused of beating to death an imam (Muslim religious teacher) two years ago, also in the same province, were left off the hook.

By the News Desk Participants of the 1,000-kilometre peace walkathon led by Gothom Arya, director of the Centre for the Study and Peaceful Development of Mahidol University have already arrived in Songkhla and are on their way to their final destination in Pattani, one of the three strife-torn southernmost provinces.

By the New Desk Besides armed insurgency which is killing and maiming both officials and civilians on almost daily basis in the restive deep South, drugs addiction and trafficking has become so widespread that it is posing a serious security and social threat.