THAILAND´S SCHOOLS UNDER ATTACK

ATTACKS ON SCHOOLS IN SOUTHERN THAILAND, AS PART OF AN INCREASINGLY BRUTAL SEPARATIST INSURGENCY, HARM CHILDREN AND ROB THEM OF AN EDUCATION

Ethnic Malay Muslim insurgents, who view the government educational system as a symbol of Thai state oppression, have threatened and killed teachers, burned and bombed government schools, and spread terror among students and their parents. The insurgents have also used Islamic schools to indoctrinate and recruit students into their movement.

Insurgents are suspected of killing at least 135 government teachers and education personnel and wounding an additional 100 education workers in southern Thailand since January 2004. The vast majority were ethnic Thai Buddhists. There have been at least 327 arson attacks on government schools since January 2004.

The Thai government’s military forces frequently occupy schools in the south, sometimes for years, disrupting education and putting students at risk of attack. These security forces conducted numerous raids at Islamic schools, seeking suspected insurgents and weapons, sometimes arbitrarily arresting students en masse. On some occasions, the raids have turned violent, endangering students and teachers.

In addition to hurting children, these government practices create further grievances for the insurgents to exploit.

FONTE: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH - 21/09/2010 (http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/09/21/thailand-protect-students-teachers-schools-south?tr=y&auid=7048286)