October 15, 2008
Bangkok - The government decided to extend emergency rule in the south for three more months, according to Government spokesman Natthawut Saikua.
Natthawut told reporters emergency rule was necessary for the restive region.
"The cabinet has agreed to extend emergency rule in three southern provinces for another three months from October 20 to January 19 next year," Natthawut said.
He said emergency rule was to allow officials to enforce law to perform their duty.
Emergency rule has been enforced since July 2005 in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, giving security forces power of search and seizure.
More than 3,000 people have been killed in the unrest.
The southern region was an autonomous Malay Muslim sultanate until Thailand annexed it in 1902, provoking decades of tension.
