Malaysia’s peace talks facilitator’s recent public appearance and his role in meeting the Thai media to talk about the southern peace talks have been viewed with skepticism from security experts and officials of Thailand.

The torching of six schools in Thung Ya ng Daeng and Mayor districts of Pattani on the night of Saturday October 11 has provided a grim reminder of similar incident over two decades ago during the administration of Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai when separatists launched arson attacks against 36 schools in Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla provinces on August 1, 1993.

In light of the seemingly endless violence against officials and civilians alike by militants, the Central Investigation Bureau has commissioned a study of terrorist acts which occurred in many hot spots in the world and has come up with a list of "Do" and "Don’ts" called "self-protective measures" for people in the restive Deep South.

"I am saddened with the incidents during this period. While the cremation of Acting Sub-Lt Benjaporn Kuathung, a police officer’s wife, is yet to take place, the same incident happened to Ms Sayamon sae Lim, an employee of Bangkok Bank, and while the bathing rite is yet to take place, four more people get killed in Mae Lan," so said Senator Anusart Suwanmongkol of Pattani.

Economic targets appear to be the southern separatists’ choice of bombing attacks in the restive far South, according to security sources.