By Lekha Kliangklao “As long as there is no justice, there will be no peace,” so said Mr Arzis Pitakkhumpol, the newly-elected Chularatchamontri or the Muslim spiritual leader in this recent interview with the southern news desk of the Isra Institute.

By Sumeth Panpetch Time flies. A year ago today (June 8) in Ban Aipayae, Tambon Juab of Joh-i-rong district, Narathiwat province, a group of gunmen arrived unannounced in a pick-up truck in front of the Al Furagon mosque and opened fire indiscriminately into the mosque with automatic rifles. After the gunshots died down, ten mosque-goers were found dead and 12 others injured.

By Pradya Toh-e-tae Mr Arziz Pitakkumphol has been elected the 18th Chularatchamontri or Muslim spiritual leader of Thailand. Mr Arziz received 423 votes out of a total of 716 voters representing Muslim committees from 39 provinces throughout the country who showed up on Sunday May 16 at the National Islamic Religious Affairs Administration Centre in Pathum Thani province.

By the News Desk As teachers in Bangkok remain at home after the government decided to postpone the reopening of all schools in Bangkok for a new semester for a week until May 24, their fellow teaching staffs in the three southernmost provinces are already back to schools as of May 17 despite the fact that one of their colleages was shot dead just ten days ago.

By Ekkarat Mukem* Mr Sawart Sumalayasak, Thailand’s 17th Chula Ratchamontri or Islamic spiritual leader, passed away on March 24 this year. He was the first Chula Ratchamontri elected under the Islamic Administrative Organisation Act B.E. 2540 succeeding his predecessor, Mr Prasert Mahamad who died in 1997.