The southern Thailand city of Yala was named a “City of Peace” by UNESCO; now residents of Yala are leaving because they’re afraid of the Religion of Peace™: 10,000 people flee city of peace in fear of lives.

Yala — Fear for their safety has pushed more than 10,000 people out of Yala, the southern city recognised as a “city of peace” last year by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

In March last year 77,000 people lived in the municipality. But the latest census reveals the city’s population has dropped by 12,000 to only 65,000.

Pongsak Yingchoncharoen, mayor of the Yala municipality, said people have lost confidence in the safety of their lives and property after the arms robbery at a military camp in Narathiwat’s Cho Airong district on Jan 4 last year.

UPDATE at 5/27/05 4:52:05 pm:

More links to information about the jihad in southern Thailand, courtesy of LGF readers:

Rebel attacks wreak havoc in district of Yala
Influx of Cambodian Muslims into Thailand
Islamic schools in the south investigated
Police find al-Qaeda videos in Muslim school in Southern Thailand