Ex-ASEAN chief:Thailand must explain to int'l community on Uyghur issue

BANGKOK, July 14 (TNA) - Former secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Dr. Surin Pitsuwan suggests that the Thai government explain to the international community why it sent ethnic Uyghurs to China last week. Hailing a scheduled visit to China on July 15 by National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Anusit Kunakorn to inspect the livelihood of the 109 repatriated ethnic Uyghurs, Dr. Surin, who is also a former Thai foreign minister, told journalists on Tuesday that it is a positive sign. Dr. Surin said, however, that the Thai NSC chief must be careful, as his upcoming visit might be interpreted as interfering China’s internal affairs. Dr. Surin stressed that the world now focuses on human rights and Thailand must answer the Uyghur issue to the world community. Asked about continual violence in the Thai Far South, even during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan currently, the ex-ASEAN chief assessed that representatives of both the Thai government and insurgent groups should hold their new round of peace talks in the near future as the world community has followed up a solution to persistent violent unrest in the southernmost Thai region. The ex-ASEAN chief expressed his view that peace negotiations should be the best way out for a solution in the Thai Deep South so that peace could be restored in the region. Touching on security at the regional level, the former ASEAN chief noted that Thailand lies between the Pacific and the Indian Oceans, with the Malacca Straits becoming a key point for exports from the Middle East to Japan and South Korea and for exports from the Asian Pacific region to Europe; thus, it is necessary to develop the area in several spheres, especially the military strength. Asked whether it is necessary for the Royal Thai Navy to procure submarines as it has requested, the ex-ASEAN chief mentioned that the Thai military and concerned security agencies need to study the issue thoroughly before buying, proposing that the Royal Thai Navy maintain a balance between conserving marine resources and raising its potential in all areas, including naval personnel, to keep pace with the fast changing global development. (TNA)