Thailand Arrests Suspects Involved In Torching Six Schools

BANGKOK (Thailand), Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Thai authorities have arrested several suspects in connection with an incident which saw six schools torched in succession in the country's restive south province of Pattani, several days ago. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Gen Prawit Wongsuwarn said the insurgents had planned to set ablaze 14 schools but were only able to attack six due to the effectiveness of the village security guards. "Some of the suspects have confessed to the crime," he told reporters at the Government House here Monday. Prawit said the situation in the south had improved, as compared with about five years ago as the people understood the situation and trusted the government more. He said the authorities would ensure that children from the affected schools continue schooling when the new semester opened at the end of the month. --BERNAMA