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Slain Thai imam appealed for peace hours before murder

August 08, 2013

Thai Muslims pray in front of the body of Imam Yakob Raimanee inside a Pattani mosque after he was assassinated Monday (August 5th) by suspected insurgents. Only hours before his murder, the imam issued a fervent call for peace during an interview with the Isra News Agency. [Tuwaedaniya Meringing/AFP]

Thai Muslims pray in front of the body of Imam Yakob Raimanee inside a Pattani mosque after he was assassinated Monday (August 5th) by suspected insurgents. Only hours before his murder, the imam issued a fervent call for peace during an interview with the Isra News Agency. [Tuwaedaniya Meringing/AFP]

PATTANI, Thailand – Just hours before he was gunned down by four men in a market Monday (August 5th), Pattani Central Mosque Imam Yakob Raimanee called on all parties in the Deep South provinces to respect each other's differences and restore peace, local media reported.

"All sides should understand and be sincere and patient in overcoming the (insurgency) problem," Yacob told the Isra News Agency hours before his death.

The interview with the imam, who was considered a major figure in efforts to end the unrest, was conducted ahead of the Hari Raya celebration that marks the end of Ramadan.

Meanwhile, National News Bureau of Thailand reported that National Security Council Secretary General Paradorn Pattanathabut sent a letter to the rebel Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) asking them who was behind the murder. Paradorn said the BRN replied and the government has identified the killers. He did not elaborate.

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