Article 81

Queen's help welcomed by torn families

WASSANA NANUAM

The families of victims killed in attacks in the deep South have expressed gratitude to Her Majesty the Queen for instilling hope in their lives through a royally sponsored resettlement project in Narathiwat.

Thai Buddhist and Muslim residents who have lost loved ones in attacks in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, will each be given a one-storey house and two rai of land to grow crops at Rotanbatu village in Muang district, Narathiwat.

The Queen has donated 20 million baht for the purchase of 632 rai of land along the Bang Nara river and 150 houses will be built for Buddhist and Muslim widows and relatives of victims.

The Queen has also accepted victims' children into the royally sponsored education programme.

The housing construction project will be completed in 2006. About 300 rai will be set aside for resettlement and the remaining 332 rai for a demonstration farm and occupational training centre for families of those killed.

Juthamas Chailim, a 45-year-old widow who lost her policeman husband in a gun attack, said life had become very hard after Pol Sgt-Maj Khachorn was killed on May 7. She said she only earned a small income from running Yala beauty salon.

She said things had improved after the Queen provided educational support for her daughter, now a first-year student at Prince of Songkhla University.

``My family is deeply grateful for the Queen's help,'' said Mrs Juthamas, who will move to the new housing site.

The Queen's resettlement programme has given his family hope, said Pvt Pramarn Chailim, 19, her eldest son, who plans to work at the demonstration farm after completing his military service.

Nilnart Arsae, wife of Pol Sgt-Maj Yayah Sapae-ing, a Muslim soldier shot dead in Narathiwat on May 26, said she has been living in fear after her husband was killed.

The 38-year-old widow said she would bring her parents and husband's parents to live in the new house.