King, Queen concerned about violence

Their Majesties the King and Queen are concerned about the violence in the South and its impacts on the people there, including Buddhist monks in the region, Deputy Royal Aide-de-Camp General Naphol Boonthap said yesterday.

In addition, Her Majesty the Queen had graciously granted Bt20 million to help the 2,000 residents of Bangkok's Bon Kai area who were affected by the 2010 political riot, he said.

While giving a speech on the violence in the three southernmost provinces at Bangkok's First Hotel yesterday, Naphol said monks were being targeted for violence, leading to a decline in their number in the South. Another batch of 60 monks from the North and Northeast were sent to the area on July 27, he said, adding that insurgents were trying to drive the monks and people living near temples out of the area.

Naphol said the Queen was worried not only about residents of the deep South, but was also concerned about the wellbeing of people in all regions. She had graciously instructed him and his team to find solutions to the problems of people who wrote appeals to the Queen.

Her Majesty had also instructed him to check on residents of Bon Kai who were affected by the 2010 riot, and to provide seedling money for their small businesses as well as relief bags.