Islamic spiritual leader: Negotiations could solve violence in Thai South

BANGKOK, July 6 (TNA) - Chula Ratchamontri or Islamic spiritual leader Aziz Phitakkumpon says the Thai government is following the right path in holding talks with militant movement, aimed at ending bloodshed in the three southern restive provinces. Newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister Police General Pracha Promnog, who is responsible for security affairs, told journalists after an hour meeting with the Chula Ratchamontri that the latter advised him on how state officials should treat Muslims in the three southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat during the fasting month of Ramadan, starting from July 9 and ends on August 7. Police General Pracha said the Chula Ratchamontri also gave him advice on how officials should treat the Muslims after the Ramadan ends. Regarding peace talks between the Thai government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) militant movement, the deputy prime minister quoted the Muslim spiritual leader as saying that violence in every country could end with negotiations. Although no suggestions were given on which groups of militant movement that the government should talk to, Pol. Gen. Pracha said he was told that the government is following the right path. Thai delegation and BRN members held their third round of peace talks, the latest of its kind on June 13 in the Malaysia capital of Kuala Lumpur. The date for the next round of peace talks has not been fixed. On the fate of about 2,000 Rohingya people who is now being detained in Thailand, the Chula Ratchamontri suggested that the government ought to give proper care to them since five people have died of diseases and overcrowding in detention centres. The Rohingya ethnic migrants have fled Myanmar in wooden boats across the Andaman Sea to the kingdom. They are being detained in several southern and northeastern provinces, awaiting return to their country of origin or resettlement in third country. (TNA)