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Thai Police Force Takes Monkey On The Beat

10:13am UK, Friday April 02, 2010

Tom Bonnett, Sky News Online

A Thai police force has begun taking a monkey dressed in officer's
uniform on patrol each day to help improve relations with Muslim
separatists.

Santisuk, a monkey taken on the beat by a Thai police force

The five-year-old pig-tailed macaque was adopted after policemen in
Yaha province in southern Thailand found him injured with a broken
arm.

Trainers taught Santisuk, which means peace in Thai, to pick up
coconuts and he now lends a hand collecting the fruit with residents.

The monkey also helps supervise a police checkpoint and his boss says
he has made it a much happier place.

Motorists now stop to play with Santisuk, rather than getting angry at
the hold-up.

Other forces are now considering introducing monkeys to better their
image in the troubled province.

Separatists are blamed for most of the attacks in Thailand's
predominantly Muslim deep south.

Buddhists and Muslims associated with the Thai state - such as police,
soldiers, government officials and teachers - are often targeted.