Islamic leaders against curfew in Thai deep South

PATTANI, THAILAND, August 3 (TNA) - Islamic leaders have expressed their disagreement with a proposed curfew in Thailand's insurgency-plagued far South, reasoning that Muslims need conveniences for their routine religious activities. The Islamic leaders in the three southernmost Thai provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani told Commanding General of the 4th Army Area Command Lieutenant General Udomchai Thammasarorat today of their disagreement with the proposed curfew, as local Muslims need conveniences for their religious activities during the ongoing fasting month of Ramadan. In response, the 4th area commander said that there was not a plan to impose a curfew. Meanwhile, security authorities in Hat Yai, Thailand's southern business hub in Songkhla province, have stepped up their measures following intelligence reports that there may be violent attacks at local department stores. The security authorities have, thus, carefully searched all vehicles at local department stores and shown pictures of suspects and suspicious vehicles; while police, soldiers and administrators have operated checkpoints and monitored pictures from over 400 surveillance cameras in Hat Yai and Muang districts to look for suspicious vehicles. The security authorities have also monitored movements of three men believed to be southern insurgent leaders, namely Seri Waemamu, Ruslan Baima and Jehma Wani. (TNA)