Lao Buddhist workers beheaded in Thai Muslim south
Sun 19 Jun 2005
BANGKOK, June 19 (Reuters) - Muslim militants have beheaded two Lao migrant workers in Thailand's mainly Muslim south, police said on Sunday, believing it may be the same group that beheaded a Thai Buddhist teacher last week.
The bodies of the young Buddhist couple, who left neighbouring Laos two months ago to work on a Thai chicken farm, were found on Saturday in Pattani province, one of three deep south provinces where more than 700 people have died in violence since January 2004.
"From our preliminary investigation, it could be the work of Muslim militants who earlier beheaded the retired Buddhist teacher in the same province," Pattani Police Major Uthai Chaimala told Reuters.
The killings raised the number of known decapitations of Buddhists to 7 since violence erupted 18 months ago in the region bordering Malaysia which has a century-long history of violent rebellion against Bangkok's rule.
In last week's killing, police found a note near the severed head of the 65-year old man that warned the government against arresting more Muslim suspects.
The note said the militants would kill two civilians for every innocent Muslim detained by the authorities without evidence, police said.
No note was found with the Lao couple.
"Beheading has now become part of the unrest in southern Thailand. Police are facing difficulty getting cooperation from local people. They are too afraid to report or provide us with any clues," Uthai said.
Muslim militants have carried out almost daily bomb attacks, arson and ambushes despite Bangkok's olive-branch approach in recent months.
The government of the mostly Buddhist country has imposed martial law in parts of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces, at the same time as offering lavish development aid and regional assistance.
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