More Than 5,000 Killed In 97 Months of Southern Conflict

By Jamaluddin Muhammad BANGKOK, Feb 15 (Bernama) -– A total of 5,047 people have been killed in the 97 month-long conflict in southern Thailand, according to Deep South Watch, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) Wednesday. They comprised 2,968 Muslims and 1,940 Buddhists, while the religious beliefs of the rest have yet to be determined. The southern conflict which began in January 2004, has left 8,014 injured, comprising 5,091 Buddhists and 2,732 Muslims, while the religious beliefs of the rest have yet to be ascertained, according to a statistics released by the NGO. The conflict started when suspected separatists resumed their armed campaign to seek independence for three southern provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, eight years ago. -- BERNAMA