LifeinPattani

Sept 27, 2009 -- BACHO, NARATHIWAT: Muslims vandalize a Thai road sign by painting over the Thai script with Yawe, the local language (a dialect of Malay). Language is one the key issues in the conflict in southern Thailand. Local Muslims want to use Yawe, the Thai government insists all official communication be done in Thai. Thailand's three southern most provinces; Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat are often called "restive" and a decades long Muslim insurgency has gained traction recently. Nearly 4,000 people have been killed since 2004. The three southern provinces are under emergency control and there are more than 60,000 Thai military, police and paramilitary militia forces trying to keep the peace battling insurgents who favor car bombs and assassination. Photo by Jack Kurtz / ZUMA Press

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Filename: DeepSouth3013.jpg
Copyright: Jack Kurtz
Image Size: 4000x2667 / 5.1MB; Insurgency Muslim Narathiwat Pattani Religion Sign ThaiFall09 Thailand Vandalism Violence War Yala ZUMA
Contained in galleries: Thailand (All)

Sept 27, 2009 -- BACHO, NARATHIWAT: Muslims vandalize a Thai road sign by painting over the Thai script with Yawe, the local language (a dialect of Malay). Language is one the key issues in the conflict in southern Thailand. Local Muslims want to use Yawe, the Thai government insists all official communication be done in Thai. Thailand's three southern most provinces; Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat are often called "restive" and a decades long Muslim insurgency has gained traction recently. Nearly 4,000 people have been killed since 2004. The three southern provinces are under emergency control and there are more than 60,000 Thai military, police and paramilitary militia forces trying to keep the peace battling insurgents who favor car bombs and assassination. Photo by Jack Kurtz / ZUMA Press