Security measures beefed up for teachers in Thai far South

BANGKOK, December 14 (TNA) - The Ministry of Education has intensified security measures to protect teachers in the Thai far South, where violence has continued with nearly 160 local teachers having been killed since early 2004. Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Pongthep Thepkanjana told reporters on Friday that teachers in the Thai deep South will be, from now on, protected by the government's security officers from houses to schools, particularly at locations or along specific routes being at risk of any insurgents' attack, to boost their confidence and morale so that classes in the southern border region should be reopened within next Monday. The deputy premier praised Buddhist and Muslim teachers in the southern Thai border region for having bravely devoted themselves to their students, saying that local villagers should, from now on, participate in the protection of teachers by providing tip-offs of possible attacks. Meanwhile, more than 60 teachers in Narathiwat Province alone have reportedly sought official approvals for their transfer from violence-plagued zones in the southernmost Thai region, after 157 teachers have been killed in the restive South since early 2004, including two female school directors recently. (TNA)