Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BANGKOK3854
2005-06-10 10:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

THAILAND: MFA BRIEFS ON OIC DELEGATION VISIT TO

Tags:  PGOV PREL PTER TH 
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UNCLAS BANGKOK 003854 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV. HQ USPACOM FOR FPA HUSO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND: MFA BRIEFS ON OIC DELEGATION VISIT TO
REVIEW SOUTHERN VIOLENCE


UNCLAS BANGKOK 003854

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV. HQ USPACOM FOR FPA HUSO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND: MFA BRIEFS ON OIC DELEGATION VISIT TO
REVIEW SOUTHERN VIOLENCE



1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On June 9, the Foreign Ministry (MFA)
briefed the Diplomatic Corps regarding the ongoing visit of a
delegation from the Organization of The Islamic Conference
(OIC) looking into the Tak Bai incident and unrest in
southern Thailand. The Royal Thai Government (RTG)
emphasized the cooperative and overall positive tone of the
visit and in a joint press statement (faxed to EAP/BCLTV),
the OIC visitors appeared to agree. However, some Thais are
concerned that the OIC's visit will result in unfavorable
comment at the next OIC meeting and bring further unwanted
attention from the Muslim world to the problem in the South.
END SUMMARY


2. (U) On June 9 the MFA briefed the Diplomatic Corps
regarding the ongoing visit of a delegation from the OIC to
Thailand. The OIC delegation, led by former Egyptian
diplomat Sayed El-Masry, is on a fact finding mission from
June 2-13 to look into the ongoing unrest in the Muslim
majority provinces of far southern Thailand. MFA Permanent
Secretary Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn and El-Masry had issued a

SIPDIS
joint statement to the press on June 7 which highlighted the
cooperative and positive atmosphere surrounding the visit.
The MFA briefing, given by Deputy Perm Sec Pisan Manawapat,
mirrored the content of the press statement, with Pisan
emphasizing that the delegation had been granted the full
cooperation of the RTG and had met freely with a wide range
of people concerned with the southern situation -- including
the families of Muslim victims of the violence.


3. (U) Pisan recalled that the RTG invitation to the OIC to
visit Thailand followed an OIC statement issued in February,
2005 which was critical of the RTG's handling of the
situation in southern Thailand. Pisan said that statement,
and previous reports by the OIC, and been unfairly critical
of the RTG's handling of southern violence and did not
reflect the true nature of the situation. Pisan said that
the OIC delegation had promised to replace all previous
reports by their organization about Thailand with the report
generated during this visit. Pisan claimed the new OIC
report would show that conditions for Thailand's Muslims are
"very different from what is negatively portrayed in the
media." Pisan said the delegation understood that the unrest
in the South "does not involve religious conflict." However,
not all Thai officials have been so optimistic that the
report will vindicate the RTG's handling of the conflict.
Deputy Prime Minister Chitchai Wannasathit told the media
that, "whether they say they understand now, but express
negative opinions later, is out of our hands."


4. (U) Pisan acknowledged that the delegation had expressed
concern over excessive force used by Thai security forces --
notably during the October 25, 2004 Tak Bai incident which
resulted in the deaths of over 80 Muslim protesters -- and
had expressed disappointment over the lenient punishment
given to the responsible military officers. Pisan said the
RTG had expressed its regret for this and other "national
tragedies" -- and admitted that "grave mistakes" had been
made -- but hoped that the OIC would see that the RTG is
seriously working on long-term solutions to the conflict.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: At the end of the briefing, Pisan noted
that Foreign Minister Kantathi is considering attending the
next OIC Foreign Ministers' meeting as an observer and said
that Kantathi has been working the phones with OIC member
Foreign Ministers to explain the situation in the South.
While the Thais are hopeful that their openness to the OIC
will win points with the Muslim world, they are clearly
worried that the visit could have the opposite effect and
serve to further highlight the conflict in southern Thailand,
drawing the attention of the larger Muslim world. END COMMENT


6. (U) The text of the MFA-OIC joint press statement has
been faxed to EAP/BCLTV.
BOYCE