Continuing violence in Southern Thailand

Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, expressed deep concern over the reports about continuing violence against Muslims in Southern Thailand.

In a statement issued to 'Islamic News', he said that the recurring wave of violence would deal a severe blow to the ongoing efforts to reach a peaceful settlement of the Muslims' issue in the region.

According to Prof. Ihsanoglu, the continued acts of violence in Southern Thailand have claimed the lives of innocent Muslim civilians and destroyed their properties.
Some villages have been under siege and some families had to migrate.

The OIC chief sees in the recurring wave of violence a strong blow to the efforts being made to reach a peaceful settlement of the legitimate demands of the Muslim Thai citizens, through dialogue which is considered the only way to establish security, peace and stability in the southern part of the country.

Prof. Ihsanoglu stressed that dealing with the problems in the South from a security perspective will lead to continued violence and deterioration and aggravation of the situation. "Peaceful solution lies in addressing the roots of the problem and attempting to settle it through dialogue and positive handling of the legitimate aspirations of the population of the South," he said while adding that this will help Muslims to maintain and express their cultural identity as well as to manage their local affairs through participation guaranteed by the Thai constitution, by respecting territorial integrity of the country.