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| Southeast Asia |
| Thai government proposes amnesty for southern jihadis |
| 2007-05-02 |
| Thai government has told head of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) that it will seek an amnesty for people involved in the violence in Thailand's deep south, a gesture welcomed by the OIC. Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram told secretary- general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu of the world's largest Islamic organisation, OIC, who concludes a two-day official visit to Thailand on Wednesday, that Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has made a final decision to grant an amnesty to those involved in the violence in Thailand's Muslim-majority southern border provinces "provided they did not commit an offence under the Penal Code." "I think by announcing the amnesty during my visit, the government is sending a message that it's committed to a peaceful solution," Ihsanoglu told a press conference on Tuesday. "The initiative of the government is appreciated and we welcome that," he said. The Thai government will forward the amnesty bill to the National Legislative Assembly, which acts as Thailand's post-coup parliament, to legislate the act, Nitya said. According to a joint statement released at the press conference, the OIC delegation reiterated that southern unrest in Thailand is "not a religious conflict, but one that is related to political, civil, and socio-economic rights." The delegation also reaffirmed their support for Surayud's reconciliatory gesture and policies towards the Thai Muslim community. On the other hand, the OIC delegation suggests the Thai government entail granting the Thai Muslims in the restive southern region greater responsibility in governing their local affairs within the framework of the Thai law. Earlier on Tuesday, Ihsanoglu, who led the high-level delegation on OIC's first-ever official visit to the Kingdom, made a plea to "fellow Muslims" in Thailand to respect the rule of law, when addressing many prominent Muslim leaders during a meeting at the Foundation of the Islamic Center of Thailand in Bangkok. "We consider Muslim minorities under the Ummah (one Muslim community) doctrine, but the Muslims should be good citizens and respect the laws of their countries," Ihsanoglu was quoted by Thai media as saying. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #4 whimper |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2007-05-02 12:07 |
| #3 Amnesties are like subsidies -- you just get more of what they're directed at. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2007-05-02 09:41 |
| #2 Chop off heads and burn schools, but your forgiven (wink) |
| Posted by: Butch Therese5515 2007-05-02 09:20 |
| #1 Pibulsonggram, don't forget the origami cranes, too! It may provide some fire start-up material for torching more schools. |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2007-05-02 08:49 |