The residents who fled their homes for the safety of the temple said they were unhappy living there and at their rising expenses.

However, they are too scared to return home.

Village leader Charan Kliangsriphrom said they would return to their homes "when peace is restored in the region".

"If the government cannot provide us safety in our homes we want loans for expenses and capital for everyday living. Everybody has expenses such as our children's education," he said.

Buddhists from three Yala villages in Than To and Bannang Sata districts fled their homes and sought refuge at the nearby temple last month when insurgent violence escalated.

Villager Thongchai Iamhiran said they would rally in Bangkok if they did not receive an answer from the government within 15 days. He added that "Buddhists in these three provinces have been neglected for too long".

Government agencies have been encouraging the villagers to leave the temple. Yala governor Theera Mintarasak reported 54 villagers had returned home.

The province has been providing the villagers with daily necessities.

Security personnel have been assigned to their villages and more were being sent to "sensitive areas" of the province for the coming New Year.

Nakarin Shinworakomol

The Nation