By: BangkokPost.com
Published: 29/06/2009
Work will begin immediately on building safe accommodation for teachers within school areas in the far South as part of improved security measures, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Monday.
The promise followed reports that separatist militants have threatened to take the lives of another 50 women teachers in the southermost border provinces.
Their attacks have recently concentrated on teachers and their security escorts, with pregnant women being among the growing number of victims.
Mr Suthep, who is in charge of security affairs, said he had not received details of the reported threat, but there was a need for urgent action.
Officials in the southernmost provinces had been again reminded of the need to ensure teachers' safety.
"Providing safety for teachers has always been a weak point for officials in the region,'' the deputy prime minister said.
"To protect teachers from being targetted by the insurgents, especially when they are travelling to and from work, the government will build them official residences within school areas, beginning immediately."
He said security measures at schools will also be more stringent.
He said the number of teachers being murdered in the deep South was still fewer than in the past.
According to the Human Rights Watch's report on June 19, separatist militants were believed responsible for the murder of 115 teachers in the restive region.
Narathiwat Teachers' Association president Sanguan Jintarat said southern teachers' morale was in disarray.
He said many of the them, especially the women, had started to believe the spreading rumours that the militants' plan to kill 50 women teachers in the region as they raise the level of violence.
Fourth Army Region commander Lt-Gen Pichet Visaijorn and southern teachers' representatives woud meet to plan details of the new security plan, Mr Suthep said
Mr Suthep also said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had assured him during their meeting on Saturday that the tension around the disputed border near Preah Vihear temple would not heighten again.
They also discussed the plan to transfer Thai and and Cambodian prisoners to their respective countries.
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