Source: Yahoo! News
Wire Service: AFP
On March 10, 2005 Agence France-Presse reported, "Eight Islamic teachers accused of masterminding separatist attacks in southern Thailand have pleaded innocent to charges of treason and terrorism, prosecutors told AFP.
The eight, all Thai nationals, were arrested in December and January in Yala province, one of three southern provinces near the Malaysian border that have been rocked by Islamic separatist attacks since January 2004.
'All eight suspects denied the charges at Criminal Court this morning, and the judges set April 11 as the opening date for the trials,' attorney general's spokesman Sirisak Tiyapan told AFP.
The eight were charged with treason, terrorism, and assembling men to start a guerrilla war. They could face execution if convicted.
Authorities believe the eight have masterminded attacks from the start of the insurgency, but have not charged them with specific incidents."