OIC leaders to visit Thailand
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High-ranking officials from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will make an official visit to Thailand from May 7-13 to receive an update on the latest situation and the government's efforts and policies on the deep southern provinces.
Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said the OIC delegation will be led by Ambassador Sayed Kassem El-Masry, the OIC secretary general’s adviser and Special Envoy of the OIC Secretary General on Thailand.
The delegation will meet with the foreign minister, the secretary general of the National Security Council, the secretary general of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) and Army Commander Region 4, amongst others.
They are also scheduled to visit the southern provinces in order to meet with local agencies and with Thai-Muslim communities and academics to have a better understanding of the situation on site.
Thani said the OIC will meet in Thailand to discuss issues relating to the Thai-Muslim identity, participation in events, negotiations of Thai-Muslims in local communities and impunity.
Thai army chief Gen Prayuth Chanocha said the related agencies have worked together in an integrated manner on the southern violence, implementing measures that focus on safety, security and quality of life development.
Gen Prayuth said he has ordered Region 4 soldiers and officials to monitor safety while the OIC delegation is in Thailand, and confirmed he will clarify information regarding the border region and the performance of the military there. The army chief reaffirmed that all violence in the southern border provinces was not created by the army.
He asked the media not to present violent images to the public, saying this would help reduce the violence in the South.
