On October 25, 26 and 27, 2004, a tragedy occurred in Thailand’s southern provinces when Thai security forces clashed with demonstrating Muslim youth. Several youth were killed during the clash and many arrested. The arrested youth were stacked into army trucks “like bricks” for a long journey over rough roads to a military detention camp. When the trucks arrived, more than 70 of the detainees in the trucks were dead. They had suffocated because of lack of sufficient air. This tragedy has shocked the Thai people. You can read more details about this horror on our blogger page, as well as on our Urgent Issues page.

After hearing of these tragic events, J. Christy Femila of India penned the following poem.

Wailing Mother

I am wailing, I am a mother
Wailing at the scenes of suffocating children
Suffocated to death for demonstrating strength
Strength against oppressive forces of humanity

I am wailing, I am a mother
Wailing at the scenes of lost lives
Lives lost in a matter of minutes like animals of slaughter
It took years for me to bring them to life

I am wailing, I am a mother
Wailing at the brink of violence
Lost lives and memories question our future
Why not live and let live forever