Libya steps back into the South

Today's Top Stories - Thursday December 13, 2007

Libya steps back into the South

The son of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who supported and helped to train Thai separatist bandits in the 1970s, visited Bangkok and "expressed concerns" about the government's treatment of Muslims.

Saif al-Islam, the son and heir-apparent of Gadhafi, was in Bangkok on Tuesday as a guest of the government.

Officials said he "sought clarification" from former coup leader and Deputy Prime Minister for security Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin about the situation in the troubled South.

Many of the groups in the South were fomented and supported by Gadhafi during the 1970s, especially the dominant anti-government group Patani United Liberation Organisation, known as Pulo. Al-Islam's father gave sanctuary to Pulo leaders when they were first wanted for murder and terrorism.

Reports said that the Libyan asked Gen Sonthi if Thai-Muslims, who make up 80 per cent of the population in the deep South, comprising Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces, had been properly treated, according to an official who attended the meeting.

General Sonthi, the former army commander-in-chief who led last year's coup d'etat against ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, assured al-Islam that the conflict had nothing to do with religion.

"Of the 1.7 million Muslims in the southernmost provinces, only a few sought separation from Thailand. The majority play a significant role in local administration," Sonthi was quoted as saying.

Gadhafi's son, who heads the Gadhafi Development Fund, told Sonthi he was seeking clarification from senior officials because he had been "misinformed" that Thailand, a predominantly Buddhist country, discriminated against Muslims, and disturbances stemmed from this.

Al-Islam will be reporting Sonthi's comments to members of the Organisation of Islamic Conference, the world's largest Muslim grouping.

He is also to visit the Philippines, where he will meet with the Muslim separatist group the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. (BangkokPost.com, dpa)

Bangkok Post