Thailand's Foreign Ministry yesterday expressed its disappointment over
the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) resolution on the situation in
the restive South, which said Thailand had made no progress on peace
restoration.
The OIC resolution, issued after
its foreign ministers' meeting from November 15-17 in Djibouti, did not reflect
the efforts made by the government over the past years, said Vice Foreign
Minister Jullapong Nonsrichai, who headed Thai delegation at the meeting.
The resolution for the Muslim
minority in a non-Muslim country raised its concern over "meagre
progress" achieved by the Thai government since issuance of a joint statement
with the organisation in 2007.
The OIC, in the resolution, also
regretted the continued use of the emergency law in most southern areas and the
limited progress in introducing the language of the local population (Malayu)
as a language of instruction in the schools of the south.
The resolution noted the
continued extensive military presence of armed forces throughout the southern
border provinces and its negative impact on the population's normal life. It
expressed concern at the mounting reliance on undisciplined paramilitary
militias accused of committing illegal acts, and warned of its consequences on
increasing ethnic and religious polarisation.
The OIC called on the government
to work vigorously to reach a just and permanent solution to the problem, in
accordance with the 2007 Joint Press Communique. It wanted the authority to
hold a dialogue with the leaders of Muslims to reach a solution allowing the
realisation of the legitimate rights of Muslims in the deep South.
Jullapong, who joined the meeting
on behalf of Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul, said he had spent a lot
of time meeting with key persons of the organisation, including OIC
secretary-general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, to explain the government's plan and
effort to bring peace and development in the predominantly Muslim region.
However, the resolution after the
meeting did not reflect what he had explained and the development of the
situation on the ground, Jullapong said.
Violence in the deep south has
killed some 5,000 people since the beginning of 2004, but the government was
still struggling to contain it. Insurgents have launched indiscriminate attacks
on all, including soft targets such as public schools and teachers.
Nopporn Makkongkaew, the director
of Education Zone 1 in Pattani, said the blaze at the Bang Maruad 1 School in
Bang Maruad village in Pattani's Panare district, would severely affect the
morale of teachers in the Southern province.
Nopporn said the fire severely
damaged a school building and many school equipment were damaged.
He said police had yet to
establish the cause of the fire, whether it was an accident or an arson attack.
The blaze broke out early
yesterday, completely destroying a two-storeyed building housing the director's
office, computer rooms and 11 classrooms.
Ten students and teachers were
camping in the building opposite when fire broke out at around 1am at
Bangmaruet School in Panare district but no one was injured.
Police did not rule out the
possibility that the blaze was caused by an electrical fault, as it reportedly
started in a computer room on the second floor and there was no sign of a
forced break-in.
Initial investigation showed that
20 computers, 10 notebooks and 50 new laptops as well as chairs and tables kept
in the building were totally destroyed.
The Education Zone 1 is in charge
of 140 schools in four districts of Nongchik, Panare, Yaring and Muang. He said
the schools were in dangerous areas and could be attacked by insurgents.
Noppoarn said all sides were
trying hard to rebuild teachers' confidence so that schools in Pattani could be
reopened as soon as possible.
"All sides will evaluate the
situation and will assess security measures to try to protect teachers with all
efforts. The measure will respond to the landscape in each village,"
Nopporn said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra said she has dispatched Deputy Education Minister Sermsak
Pongpanit to the deep south to evaluate the situation after 300 schools in
Pattani were closed following a series of attacks on teachers.
"I have to wait for more
information from Sermsak first," Yingluck said, declining to further
comment on the issue.
News Desk
Business & Investment Opportunities
Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd (SBC) is incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Strategy, Investment and Management, focusing Health care and Life Science with expertise in ASEAN 's area. We are currently changing the platform of www.yourvietnamexpert.com, if any request, please, contact directly Dr Christian SIODMAK, business strategist, owner and CEO of SBC at christian.siodmak@gmail.com. Many thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment