Thai anniversary passes calmly

Thirty-two suspected militants were killed inside Krue Se mosque

The anniversary of a series of attacks in southern Thailand which left 113 people dead has passed peacefully.

The atmosphere in the predominantly Muslim area was reportedly tense, as low-key ceremonies and prayer services were held.

An independent report has criticised the security services for their heavy-handed approach to the violence.

In one notorious incident, security forces killed 32 people holed up in Krue Se mosque in Pattani.

The siege at Krue Se followed co-ordinated attacks on police checkpoints throughout the south by suspected Muslim militants.

In one village, Sabayoi in Songkhla Province, people organised Koran readings to remember 19 local youths who were killed in the incident.

TROUBLED SOUTH Home to most of Thailand's 4% Muslim minority Muslim rebels fought the government up to the mid-80s Suspected militants have upped attacks this year, targeting Buddhists Security forces' response criticised by rights groups Thailand's restive south

But the Thai government urged people not to dwell on the memory.

"Don't attach [much importance] to the anniversary," Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told reporters.

Krue Se report

Investigations into the Krue Se mosque incident were conducted by independent panels last year, and the government this week made some of their findings public.

The report found that while the police who took part in the mosque killings did need to use weapons to protect themselves, they did not give discussions a chance to work.

"Surrounding the mosque together with negotiation efforts could have led [the militants] to surrender," the report said.

Instead security forces resorted to a disproportionate use of force, according to the Bangkok Post.

The investigation also identified several senior officials who were involved in the siege.

The unrest in the Thai south shows no sign of abating

Two security officers died on Sunday when a bomb went off at checkpoint in Narathiwat province, near the Malaysian border.

More than 600 people have been killed in violence in Thailand's largely Muslim south over the past year, and the government has been criticised for its heavy-handed tactics towards the insurgents.