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| Southeast Asia |
| Thailand prolongs emergency rule in south |
| 2011-04-13 |
| [Straits Times] THAILAND on Tuesday extended emergency rule in most of its violence-plagued deep south for three more months, a government front man said. The decree, which was first introduced in 2005 and covers most of the Mohammedan-majority provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, has been criticised by rights campaigners who say it effectively gives the army legal immunity. The state of emergency allows the military to detain suspects for questioning without charge. Suspected Islamic Death Eaters have waged a violent campaign in the region since early 2004, leaving more than 4,500 Mohammedans and Buddhists dead. 'There are still attempts to use violence to attack officials and innocent people,' deputy government front man Supachai Jaisamut said. |
| Posted by:Fred |