Reinforcements of troops in southern Muslim provinces anticipate new attacks
The testimony given to AsiaNews by a nun who lives in one of the targeted provinces: despite the fear of the violence, it's possible for youth of different religious beliefs to coexist peacefully
Bangkok (AsiaNews) The Thai government has sent additional military troops to the southern Muslim majority provinces in anticipation of further eventual attacks. In the past few days, during clashes with police and army, 108 persons died, many of them young Muslim fighters and mostly still teenagers.
"The troops should be in the state of highest alert and must prepare for a second and third wave of attacks", said the Minister of Defense, Chettha Thanajaro.
The international human rights organization, Human Rights Watch, has asked for an investigation to determine if such a violent repression and deadly order of force was necessary. Concerning yesterday's attacks and violent aftermath, AsiaNews asked Sister Agnes Nara Niyomthai, of the Congregation of the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (also headmistress of the "Charoensrisuksa" school in Pattani, one of 3 targeted provinces by Islamic militants) to give her testimony on the escalated violence.
"It grieves me to see youth participate in such bloody battles", the nun said. Sr. Agnes underlined how the heightened violence influences the lives of schoolchildren, teachers and administrators, creating difficulties on the level of safety as well. "Students and teachers at our school are terrorized." Only one in 3 teachers came to school today: "On April 28, our teachers wanted lessons done at home out of fear that the conflicts would become violent and dangerous. But today the situation seems to have slightly returned to normal, so they came to school". Then, Sr.Agnes stated: "There are 926 schools in the 3 southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwas. So many of the schools of the diocese of Surat Thani asked the Ministry of Education for financial support, but they still have not received any reply. The only help we have is that of the students' parents, who have positions in the local government. They advise us on how to prepare school personnel to protect themselves from eventual attacks, sometimes they send policemen to guard the school. In such moments of crisis, we do not allow any cars to enter the school grounds to protect us from possible bomb attacks".
The diocesan school of "Charoensrisuksa" has about 900 students, of whom 100 are borders from nearby provinces accommodated in the school dormitory. The students from nursery to high school belong to different religious beliefs (Buddism, Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism) and are treated in the same manner. They share studies and life and are happy to be together, Sr. Agnes says.
There are 3 Catholic schools in the 3 provinces of Pattani, Yala and Betong. In Pattani, Fr. Gustav Rosen, a Belgian Salesian missionary, is carrying out a construction project for a technical school dedicated to St. Don Bosco. The school built with the support of the Thai princess Sirindhorn will offer 3-6 months training in electronics, mechanics and other useful subjects helpful to local needs. Students who are interested may continue their studies further.
The construction project should be finished by 2005. Fr. Rosen and several Salesian students are now gathering funds to allow the poorest students to have full scholarships and to supply the structure with the necessary materials. (WK)
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