Thai group firm on independence

Thai group firm on independence

THAILAND: A Muslim separatist group operating in Thailand's south
has vowed to pursue its independence struggle despite three of
its leaders being sentenced to life in prison, a report said on
Thursday.

The Pattani United Liberation Organization (PULO) has been
largely inactive since the arrests of three of its top leaders in
1998.

The group also reportedly said it "considers the Thai
Constitution illegitimate in the area and its members are not
under Thai jurisdiction", and that it "deserves the right to
react accordingly".

On Wednesday, PULO cell leader Daoh Thanam, chairman Bueto
Betong and operative Samaae Thannam were sentenced to life
imprisonment for treason following a three-decade terror campaign
in the south. --AFP