Over 2,000 people attended the first-ever Orphan's Day event in Narathiwat, organised to mark the ninth anniversary of the Tak Bai incident that left 85 Muslim protestors dead.

Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok, who is responsible for security issues, represented the government.

Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre Secretary General Tawee Sodsong and Narathiwat Governor Nattapong Sirichaichana, Deep South civil servants and local Muslim and Buddhist leaders also attended.

"No fewer than 5,000 children have been left orphaned by the unrest, causing enormous losses and ill-effects," Tawee said. "All of these orphaned children and youths are our future, so we must look after them and support them so that they will grow up to be good adults in the future."

The event, carrying the theme "we stand united to build our future", was organised to mark the Tak Bai Incident on October 25th, 2004 but was held to October 27th so as not to interfere with Friday prayers.

Pracha presented 92 scholarships worth Bt. 460,000 ($14,800) to students, both Buddhist and Muslim, who have been orphaned by Deep South violence.

"In order to restore peace, all arms of the Thai civil service and other related agencies must work together to closely protect orphaned victims of the violence, shield them from its negative results and expose them to positive influences. This will benefit both the local community and the country on the whole," Pracha said.

Paisan Promyong, a long-time member of the Thai National Islamic Council, indicated his support for the government's efforts to solve the unrest.

"This is a good opportunity in that we have a good government that recognizes the importance of the problems brought about by the ongoing unrest in the region," he said. "Many people were killed or injured in the Tak Bai tragedy, and we are still feeling the effect to this day. Many children were left orphaned and incidents of unrest continue unabated. However I can assure you that the government is doing the right things and is on the right path.

"In establishing this first-ever event and project to assist orphans, the SBPAC has demonstrated that it really understands the local people, who have responded in kind," he added.

Rosida Awae, 16, is the youngest of five children. She lost her father in the Tak Bai tragedy.

"(His death) caused so much loss and suffering for everyone in our family," Rosida said. "But whatever else happens, dead people can never come back to life. We are lucky that this current government is caring and has compensated treated the families in a satisfactory way. I hope they will continue to find a way to solve the unrest as soon as possible because I want all the pain and suffering to end immediately."