Teachers tell of lessons in the firing line

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Teachers tell of lessons in the firing line

Armed escorts, shootings, bomb threats and hazard pay - all just part of daily life for educators in the far South who have found themselves growing targets of a ruthless insurgency. Three shared their stories with 'Spectrum'

Published: 16 Dec 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Spectrum

'There is a saying among insurgents: 'Get Buddhists, gain merit,"' says Khru Ya, a retired Muslim teacher in Pattani province. "They believe that if they kill Buddhists, they will go to heaven."

SCHOOL SECURITY: A soldier stands guard at Ban Ranor school, in Yala’s Bannang Sata district. Since violence in the South escalated in 2004, 157 teachers have been killed in the region.

Born and raised in the southern border province, Khru Ya said he has seen his home transform from a place of peace and cultural vibrancy to one where fear and sadness now dominate daily life.

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amazed
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Discussion 18 : 16 Dec 2012 at 21.1518
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My thoughts are echoed by Disc. 6. If this is indeed a severely misguided religious jihad of sorts, then the top leaders in the Muslim world must step in and correct the erroneous beliefs that fuel these murders. It strikes me, however, that the perpetrators are not too concerned about the faith of many of their targets or who may be near by. On the other hand, these may just be the low life thugs of society trying to feel good about themselves by claiming a higher meaning for their animal behavior.
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Scratch
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Discussion 17 : 16 Dec 2012 at 20.0017
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I think that the safety of teachers, rubber planters and yes even from the people on the street is better protected when all carry a gun and know how to use it.

The last teachers who where killed, extreme sad for the one left behind, where just sitting ducks to shoot down. No guards, no protection.

Image what a difference it would be if the killers came in a room with 7 guns pointed on them...

Gun's bring freedom... police, army, rangers and all others who must protect them are always to late and only good enough to clean up.
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lookmoo
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Discussion 16 : 16 Dec 2012 at 19.3916
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Islam needs to be reformed.
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CMfarang
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Discussion 15 : 16 Dec 2012 at 16.1915
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This government is too busy to get amnesty for one. The military and police fear terrorist bomb. To say there is no terrorist is good for morale - a little white lie.
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viking
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Discussion 14 : 16 Dec 2012 at 16.1614
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I'm quite impressed over the teachers in the deep south, they are heroic since they continue teaching even all terror around them and they are the target. They do their job, now the goverment must to do the same.
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joa
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Discussion 13 : 16 Dec 2012 at 16.0113
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Check you facts and history and stop using blind eyes methods and you will understand why the situation is like this.
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bluebottle
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Discussion 12 : 16 Dec 2012 at 13.0512
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You are not listening Thailand dose not have a terrorism problem says your mr Chalerm.No wonder the problem is escalating.
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dickemery
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Discussion 11 : 16 Dec 2012 at 12.5311
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the situation in the deep south will get worse,because the twisted terrorist knows they have nothing to fear,the lack of action from this regime is appalling and shocking,these terrorist only understand to bring fear to the local communities,you cannot debate with these terrorist,to eliminate is the only option,the country is in denial,a very sad situation exist
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1man1vote
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Discussion 10 : 16 Dec 2012 at 11.4710
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Please help them! Please! Bangkok people... please come out and help drive the government to do something. What's been done and is being done is clearly not enough or not at the right spots. Thank you BangkokPost for keeping publishing these stories. I go around to other Thai newspaper websites and don't see anything about the south. People are becoming insensitive with the issue and we need to bring back the awareness!
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Silkpit
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Discussion 9 : 16 Dec 2012 at 11.239
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It is frightening as how little or none the Muslim world leaders, the Imams and the local Thai Muslim community are condemning these coward murderers of their same faith.
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