Thailand has been having trouble with its three southernmost provinces intermittently for the last hundred or so years ever since the Thai-speaking Buddhist kingdom of Siam annexed the Malay-speaking Muslim provinces. Not surprisingly, the southerners, who have more in common with Malaysia, would prefer autonomy, and occasionally rise up against Bangkok.

Things haven’t been too bad, up until a few years ago, when the current Prime Minister came to power, and began following a George Bush-like shoot first and ask questions later policy. Much like Iraq, this stirred up a hornet’s nest.

At a recent protest, the government sent in the troops, forcing people onto the backs of trucks. They piled people on top of each other, and the net result was about 80 deaths. It’s become a bit of a controversy, but the Prime Minister is adept at weaseling out of this sort of thing.

Enter my university. Luckily, they have found the solution to the problem. A sign outside the office proclaims “One crane represents freedom, a million cranes will bring peace to the South.” Below this are instructions on how to make your very own paper crane, and a box to put it in.

The students have embraced the new peace process wholeheartedly, and some have made up to five cranes. During lecture time, of course.

I suppose if it keeps them quiet during class I can’t complain, right?

Read more about the Tak Bai massacre