Jihad against education.
“Thirteen schools are set ablaze in the south, Islamic extremists are blamed,” from AsiaNews, with thanks to WriterMom:
Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies) — Violence in Southern Thailand once again is targeting schools and teachers. Yesterday 13 schools were set on fire in Yala and Pattani provinces in a series of simultaneous attacks and later a bomb exploded in front of another school Narathiwat wounding a security guard.
There have been no claims of responsibility but authorities accuse Islamic rebels, who see the schools as representing the state and a way of integrating Muslim and Buddhist children.
In Narathiwat, on June 11 two Buddhist teachers were killed in front of their pupils; one of them had asked to be transferred, in fear of his life. Another teacher was killed during lunch break. Many schools remained closet for a week in protest while teachers appealed for greater protection. Many now carry guns for protection and a State course is teaching them how to shoot.