OIC visit believed to result in better understanding in Thai far South situation

BANGKOK, May 8 (TNA) - Representatives of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is paying an official visit to Thailand from May 7-13, as Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul says he believes that the OIC will then better understand the situation in the violence-plagued Muslim-predominant Thai far South and the intention of Thai authorities to solve problems in the region. Surapong told journalists Tuesday that he would inform the visiting OIC representatives of the Thai government's solutions, including the assignment of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) to solve the problems, rehabilitation for victims, justice promotion and development projects for the southernmost region. Surapong said he does not think that the OIC is planning to raise issues in the Thai deep South before any international forum, but the OIC delegates only want to visit Muslims worldwide and present recommendations to the Thai government. The Thai government has insisted that the southern Thai border region's issues are internal ones and have nothing to do with religions, and that the situation in the Thai far South has been improving. Meanwhile, Police General Wichean Potephosree, Secretary-General of Thailand's National Security Council, said that he will inform the OIC representatives of the government's policies to solve violence in the southernmost region from 2012 to 2014, and that the OIC is inspecting, not intervening, in the situation in the Thai deep South, which has resulted from insurgency, not religious difference. The NSC chief also acknowledged he hopes that the OIC will better understand the situation in the Thai far South, after the ongoing visit to Thailand by the OIC delegation. (TNA)