Bangkok--Jun 30--MFA
Opening Remarks by Mr Virasakdi Futrakul Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Evening Talks on the Situation in the Southern Border Provinces Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Friday 27 June 2008
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to this Evening Talks on the Situation in the Southern Border Provinces.
Over the past few years, this topic has drawn growing interest from our friends — both abroad and here in Thailand.
Our friends have asked us — what is happening in the once-peaceful region, and what steps the Thai Government is taking to bring back peace and well-being to fellow Thais in the Southern Border Provinces.
I myself was also asked these questions during my overseas trips to the United States, Europe and Asia. And I am glad to have heard from our friends — which include those in the Organization of Islamic Conference — that they understand and support Thailand’s efforts.
So, at the outset, let me stress to you — once again — that addressing the situation in the Southern Border Provinces is a national priority for the Royal Thai Government.
Now, to the first question about what is happening there, our answer has been, and still is, that this unrest is not a religious conflict.
Thai Muslims across the country enjoy the freedom of worship as any other Thais do. That freedom is guaranteed by law as well as in practice.
The root causes lie in the people’s feelings of injustice and of being left behind economically; while at the same time they also demand greater recognition of their unique local culture and ways of life. However, those legitimate desires have been exploited by ill-intentioned people to justify violence against their fellow Thais — be they government officials or their neighbours.
To the second question, the Government has adhered to His Majesty the King’s gracious advice of “to understand, to reach out, and to develop”. This is the basic tenet of the Thai Government’s policy in addressing the root causes of the local discontent and mistrust against the state.
We have used a two-pronged strategy:
Firstly, we work to ensure the safety and security for innocent people; and,
Secondly, we are accelerating social and economic development to bring prosperity and development to the region.
In recent months, the Government has successfully arrested individuals involved in criminal activities as well as confiscated a large number of weapons. Those charged with criminal activity are being brought to justice according to our laws.
As for our development efforts, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre, or the SBPAC, has been working hand in hand with the local people. An Advisory Council, comprising local dignitaries as well as community and religious leaders, have helped to ensure that the SBPAC’s work is consistent with local traditions, culture, and way of life.
Here, I wish to stress that the local people are already in charge of local governance. Like any Thai citizen, the people in the Southern Border Provinces have engaged in their local governance through their legitimate and democratic representatives in the Parliament. Moreover, chairmen and members of the Provincial and Subdistrict Administration Organizations are all locally elected.
I also wish to add that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also been doing our part.
In addition to informing our friends of Thailand’s policy, we have been working to promote development and expand opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship for the people in the area.
Concretely, we have launched a pilot project this year to provide 23 scholarships to Thai Muslim students to study in Malaysia, Singapore, India, Egypt and Australia. We have organized field trips for younger students taking them to Malaysia to experience first hand multi-cultural environment there. And we have 42 projects undertaken by our Embassies worldwide to provide skills training to Thai Muslim students to enhance their prospects of finding jobs when they return home.
To this end, we are gratified to receive good cooperation from our neighbouring countries — Malaysia and Indonesia — as well as other friends.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In order to give you a clearer picture of the current situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thought it would be timely to invite high-level officials directly in charge of the Southern Border Provinces to give you a presentation on the implementation of government policy.
We want you to hear directly from key players who are working closely with the local people, and who have, at times, put their lives at risk to bring peace back to the Southern Border Provinces.
Therefore, we are honoured to have with us today two key officials who are responsible for implementing the government policy in the Southern Border Provinces.
The first key official is Mr. Pranai Suwanrath, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Interior and Director of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre, who is in charge of the civilian administration of the area.
The second key official is Major-General Jumlong Kunsong, Deputy Commander of the Joint Civilian-Police-Military Task Force, responsible for the security situation in the Southern Border Provinces and bringing the perpetrators of violence to justice.
Additionaly, we have Colonel Acra Tiproch, Royal Thai Army Spokesman and Director of Information Operations Division of the Internal Security Operations Command 4th Region.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs appreciate very much their being here.
We all know that they have difficult and challenging tasks ahead of them.
I personally believe that we are already on the right path. But we will need time and sustained efforts to bring peace and prosperity to our fellow Thais in the South.
We therefore hope that this evening’s talk will help our friends in the international community have a better understanding of the situation and continue to support Thailand’s efforts.
After this talk, I would like to invite you all to a small informal reception so that Thai officials and you, diplomats, can network with each other and continue discussion on this interesting and important topic.
Thank you for your attention.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-
Opening Remarks by Mr Virasakdi Futrakul Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Evening Talks on the Situation in the Southern Border Provinces Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Friday 27 June 2008
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to this Evening Talks on the Situation in the Southern Border Provinces.
Over the past few years, this topic has drawn growing interest from our friends — both abroad and here in Thailand.
Our friends have asked us — what is happening in the once-peaceful region, and what steps the Thai Government is taking to bring back peace and well-being to fellow Thais in the Southern Border Provinces.
I myself was also asked these questions during my overseas trips to the United States, Europe and Asia. And I am glad to have heard from our friends — which include those in the Organization of Islamic Conference — that they understand and support Thailand’s efforts.
So, at the outset, let me stress to you — once again — that addressing the situation in the Southern Border Provinces is a national priority for the Royal Thai Government.
Now, to the first question about what is happening there, our answer has been, and still is, that this unrest is not a religious conflict.
Thai Muslims across the country enjoy the freedom of worship as any other Thais do. That freedom is guaranteed by law as well as in practice.
The root causes lie in the people’s feelings of injustice and of being left behind economically; while at the same time they also demand greater recognition of their unique local culture and ways of life. However, those legitimate desires have been exploited by ill-intentioned people to justify violence against their fellow Thais — be they government officials or their neighbours.
To the second question, the Government has adhered to His Majesty the King’s gracious advice of “to understand, to reach out, and to develop”. This is the basic tenet of the Thai Government’s policy in addressing the root causes of the local discontent and mistrust against the state.
We have used a two-pronged strategy:
Firstly, we work to ensure the safety and security for innocent people; and,
Secondly, we are accelerating social and economic development to bring prosperity and development to the region.
In recent months, the Government has successfully arrested individuals involved in criminal activities as well as confiscated a large number of weapons. Those charged with criminal activity are being brought to justice according to our laws.
As for our development efforts, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre, or the SBPAC, has been working hand in hand with the local people. An Advisory Council, comprising local dignitaries as well as community and religious leaders, have helped to ensure that the SBPAC’s work is consistent with local traditions, culture, and way of life.
Here, I wish to stress that the local people are already in charge of local governance. Like any Thai citizen, the people in the Southern Border Provinces have engaged in their local governance through their legitimate and democratic representatives in the Parliament. Moreover, chairmen and members of the Provincial and Subdistrict Administration Organizations are all locally elected.
I also wish to add that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also been doing our part.
In addition to informing our friends of Thailand’s policy, we have been working to promote development and expand opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship for the people in the area.
Concretely, we have launched a pilot project this year to provide 23 scholarships to Thai Muslim students to study in Malaysia, Singapore, India, Egypt and Australia. We have organized field trips for younger students taking them to Malaysia to experience first hand multi-cultural environment there. And we have 42 projects undertaken by our Embassies worldwide to provide skills training to Thai Muslim students to enhance their prospects of finding jobs when they return home.
To this end, we are gratified to receive good cooperation from our neighbouring countries — Malaysia and Indonesia — as well as other friends.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In order to give you a clearer picture of the current situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thought it would be timely to invite high-level officials directly in charge of the Southern Border Provinces to give you a presentation on the implementation of government policy.
We want you to hear directly from key players who are working closely with the local people, and who have, at times, put their lives at risk to bring peace back to the Southern Border Provinces.
Therefore, we are honoured to have with us today two key officials who are responsible for implementing the government policy in the Southern Border Provinces.
The first key official is Mr. Pranai Suwanrath, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Interior and Director of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre, who is in charge of the civilian administration of the area.
The second key official is Major-General Jumlong Kunsong, Deputy Commander of the Joint Civilian-Police-Military Task Force, responsible for the security situation in the Southern Border Provinces and bringing the perpetrators of violence to justice.
Additionaly, we have Colonel Acra Tiproch, Royal Thai Army Spokesman and Director of Information Operations Division of the Internal Security Operations Command 4th Region.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs appreciate very much their being here.
We all know that they have difficult and challenging tasks ahead of them.
I personally believe that we are already on the right path. But we will need time and sustained efforts to bring peace and prosperity to our fellow Thais in the South.
We therefore hope that this evening’s talk will help our friends in the international community have a better understanding of the situation and continue to support Thailand’s efforts.
After this talk, I would like to invite you all to a small informal reception so that Thai officials and you, diplomats, can network with each other and continue discussion on this interesting and important topic.
Thank you for your attention.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-