Human Rights Watch: Muslim rebels in Thailand kill 115 teachers

Bangkok: A human rights group says Muslim insurgents in southern Thailand must stop the "sickening trend" of attacking teachers, 115 of whom have been killed since the outbreak of the separatist rebellion five years ago.

The US-based Human Rights Watch said Friday that as part of a general recent escalation of violence, 5 teachers have been killed since the beginning of the new school term in May.

The insurgency in Thailand's three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat has led to the deaths of more than 3,500 people, both Buddhist and Muslim, since early 2004.