DPM opposes OIC chief's planned visit to Thai far South

BANGKOK, September 7 (TNA) - Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa has opposed a planned visit to Thailand's violence-plagued far South by Secretatry General of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, from September 18-19, insisting that the internal problem should be solved by Thai authorities. General Yuthasak told reporters on Friday that the OIC has informed it wants to inquire about the situation in the Thai restive South from the 4th Army Area Command's chief, but the Thai government considers the 57-member OIC should, instead, contact Thai authorities at the central government. Earlier, Thai Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha also expressed his disagreement with the OIC chief's planned visit to the Thai deep South, saying that the OIC secretary-general should seek information from top Thai policymakers and should not get deeply involved in the Thai internal issue.(TNA)