Paper birds released as sign of peace

AROUND 50 Thai Air Force planes yesterday “bombed” the largely Muslim south with paper birds as a symbol of peace for the restive region where nearly 500 people have been killed since January.

Villagers stared into the sky awaiting the deluge of an estimated 100 million paper birds, one of which was signed by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and carried the promise of a scholarship or a job for the finder.

Children ran around in excitement in one village as the plane appeared several thousand feet overhead at the time promised but, unfortunately, the wind blew the paper birds beyond the village.