Sonthi briefs Thai envoys to OIC nations

Junta chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin yesterday urged Thai envoys to Muslim countries to explain how the military is handling the crisis in the South to their host governments, as well as convince Thais studying in the countries to pursue secular education.

The chairman of the Council for National Security spoke on the situation in the three border provinces and the provinces' links to foreign countries to 29 Thai diplomats working in countries belonging to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

During a two-hour meeting, he explained how the military was dealing with the situation in the South and asked them to explain this to their host governments.

"I told [the diplomats] that there is still much to be done and that we need to join hands to work for the country," Sonthi told reporters afterwards.

Asked about rumours that some Thai students in Islamic countries were being trained to become militants, Sonthi said the problem no longer existed. "Now, the training takes place in Thailand only."

However, the diplomats had been asked to encourage Thai students in Islamic countries to pursue secular education, he added.

Sonthi has also asked the Foreign Ministry to draft answers to questions left unanswered by the previous government regarding several notorious incidents in the South, such as Tak Bai and Krue Se.

Sopaporn Kurz

The Nation Thailand
Sunday January 28, 2007