465 schools in Thailand's deep south closed after teachers killed

Three Border Provinces Teachers Federation resolved Tuesday afternoon that all 465 schools in risky areas of the three southernmost provinces -- Yala, Pattani, Nrathiwat -- would be closed for three days after a teacher couple were killed by insurgents this morning.

"The three-day closure of all schools in red zone and risk areas in the three southernmost provinces is to find ways to restore teachers' morale and coordinate with security units on more stringent security measures for teachers," Bangkok Post quoted Boonsom Thongsriprai, chairman of the federation, as saying.

The resolution followed the murder of a teacher couple in Narathiwat's Rangae district this morning.

The husband was killed at the scene while the wife was severely injured and died later in a local hospital.

Police said they were gunned down by two men on motorcycle armed with an M16 assault rifle while they were riding on motorcycle to a local market.

During the past six years since the violence renewed in the region in 2004. Almost 8,000 insurgent attacks have taken place in the southernmost provinces -- Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, which once were part of Sultanate of Pattani State. The majority of people there is Malay Muslims.

During Ramadan or Muslim month of fasting, which begins from Aug. 11 and ends on Sept. 10 this year, violence in the region always flares up.

Source: Xinhua