The Federation of Patani Students and Youth (PerMAS) issued a statement calling for the immediate release of those arrested and for the junta to remove the ‘continuing’ martial law in Patani, Yala and Narathiwat, commonly referred to as the Muslim-majority “deep south”.
The southern provinces have been wrecked by insurgency, poverty and heavy militarization over the past decade. The conflict has affected the lives of many civilians who are often accused by government troops of sympathizing with or supporting the rebel force.
Meanwhile, Free Voice, a media program coordinated by Patani students, informed Global Voices that the students were arrested in a military crackdown at several student dormitories in Hospital Narathiwat Rajnakharin, Kampong Tako', Polytenic College, and Lorong Narakul.