ID :
141692
Sat, 09/11/2010 - 16:09
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http://m.oananews.org//node/141692
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Southern teachers call for reconciliation between government, insurgents
BANGKOK, Sept 11 -- After facing ongoing violence in the restive southern provinces for more than six years, teachers in three troubled provinces have called on the coalition government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to find ways on building reconciliation between the state and the insurgents.
Sanguan Intharak, president of the Narathiwat Teachers’ Federation, said members of teachers' federations in the three southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat will discuss the ongoing violence in the region with Mr Abhisit on Monday.
The significant issue, according to Mr Sanguan, is reconciliation which must be “initiated by the government and both sides must lay down their weapons.”
He said the military must be ready to withdraw troops while those who are initiating acts of violence must lay down their weapons. Only then can reconciliation talks start.
“Several teachers have told me that if such [violent] incidents continue, life in the area would not be happy anymore,” said Mr Sanguan.
He said the military should be able to know who should act as mediator and if the military is reluctant the teachers' federations are ready to perform this duty.
Mr Sanguan’s call for reconciliation between the government and the insurgents came after two Narathiwat teachers were shot dead by presumed insurgents early Tuesday and 365 schools in the province closed the following day due to the educators' safety concerns.
Mr Abhisit himself has said he would inspect the security situation in the troubled provinces later this month.
The latest violence raises the death toll of teachers killed by presumed insurgents to 137 while at least 140 were wounded since January 2004 when the violence re-erupted in the three southernmost border provinces.
Security for southern teachers is difficult to achieve and only improved welfare could boost their morale, Mr Sanguan added.
The overall death toll rose to at least 4,100 people including local residents, security personnel, teachers and suspected insurgents. (MCOT online news)
Sanguan Intharak, president of the Narathiwat Teachers’ Federation, said members of teachers' federations in the three southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat will discuss the ongoing violence in the region with Mr Abhisit on Monday.
The significant issue, according to Mr Sanguan, is reconciliation which must be “initiated by the government and both sides must lay down their weapons.”
He said the military must be ready to withdraw troops while those who are initiating acts of violence must lay down their weapons. Only then can reconciliation talks start.
“Several teachers have told me that if such [violent] incidents continue, life in the area would not be happy anymore,” said Mr Sanguan.
He said the military should be able to know who should act as mediator and if the military is reluctant the teachers' federations are ready to perform this duty.
Mr Sanguan’s call for reconciliation between the government and the insurgents came after two Narathiwat teachers were shot dead by presumed insurgents early Tuesday and 365 schools in the province closed the following day due to the educators' safety concerns.
Mr Abhisit himself has said he would inspect the security situation in the troubled provinces later this month.
The latest violence raises the death toll of teachers killed by presumed insurgents to 137 while at least 140 were wounded since January 2004 when the violence re-erupted in the three southernmost border provinces.
Security for southern teachers is difficult to achieve and only improved welfare could boost their morale, Mr Sanguan added.
The overall death toll rose to at least 4,100 people including local residents, security personnel, teachers and suspected insurgents. (MCOT online news)
