Buddhists protest for troops
Buddhists in Songkhla’s Saba Yoi district rally at the district office yesterday to oppose a plan to withdraw troops from the area.
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About 2,000 Buddhists in Songkhla's Saba Yoi district ended a four hour-demonstration in front of the district hall yesterday after authorities agreed to their demand to keep troops in the area to ensure public safety.
The Buddhist demonstration was staged to counter Muslims' demand for a troop withdrawal following a mysterious explosion at an Islamic boarding school in the district on March 17.The Muslims believe the blast at the Bamrungsart Witthaya Islamic boarding school that killed three students and injured three others was an attack by Army rangers. They staged demonstrations in following days to demand the rangers be withdrawn from the district. Buddhist protesters yesterday submitted a seven-point letter of demands to Saba Yoi district chief Preecha Damkerngkiart. Their demands included an increase in security forces in the district, arming of local Buddhists for self-protection, equal enforcement of laws for Buddhists and Muslims and equal protection from the National Human Rights Commission. There is a widespread feeling among Buddhists in the predominantly Muslim region that they get worse treatment from the authorities than Muslims. District chief Preecha said the authorities would respond to the demands within three days. The Nation Saba Yoi, Songkhla
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