Yala calls for peace

YALA: -- Posters appeared in the main street in Thailand's southern border province of Yala yesterday, urging the local population to embrace peace.

Erected on electricity poles along the street, the posters were emblazoned with the slogan, written in English, "Yala, Pattana, Narathiwat want peace, no war please, stop bomb, shot or kill".

The main street in Yala, also the town's business and residential centre, is known for the diversity of its residents, including Thai Buddhists and Thais of Chinese, Indian and Malayu descent, representing religions, including Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism and Christianity.

Yesterday afternoon residents of seven Yala districts held a simultaneous rallies in front of their respective district offices, calling for peace in the troubled deep South, and to show the government that the people there were behind its efforts to halt the current spate of southern insurgency.

--TNA 2005-04-07

Some good news, there are still sane people in the world!