Imams urge 'peaceful Ramadan' in Deep South

June 11, 2013
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BANGKOK, Thailand – Muslim religious leaders asked Sunday (June 9th) for insurgents in the Deep South provinces to refrain from violence during the holy month of Ramadan, which begins next month, The Bangkok Post reported.

  • Thai police officers inspect a house after an alleged bomb maker was arrested by soldiers in Rueso district, Narathiwat on Monday (June 10th). Muslim leaders called Sunday for southern separatists to refrain from violent activities during the holy month of Ramadan, which begins next month. [Madaree Tohlala/AFP]

    Thai police officers inspect a house after an alleged bomb maker was arrested by soldiers in Rueso district, Narathiwat on Monday (June 10th). Muslim leaders called Sunday for southern separatists to refrain from violent activities during the holy month of Ramadan, which begins next month. [Madaree Tohlala/AFP]

Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC) Director Tawee Sodsong met with the imams of 634 mosques at the office of the Narathiwat Islamic Committee, according to the Post. The clerics said the insurgents should honour Ramadan by desisting from the shootings and bombings that have plagued the Deep South since the insurgency escalated in 2004.

Even Iran and Iraq managed to observe a ceasefire during Ramadan in 1988, while the two countries were at war, the Post quoted Abdulrahman Abdulsamad, president of the Confederation of Islamic Councils in five southern provinces, as saying. He added that he expected no less from the Deep South militants.

Ramadan begins around July 8th.

Meanwhile, Yala Governor Dejrat Simsiri warned that insurgents opposed to the peace dialogue with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) might try to stage an attack on Thursday, when the next round of talks begins, the National News Bureau of Thailand reported.

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