ID :
270039
Mon, 01/07/2013 - 10:54
Auther :

Islamic authorities from Thai far South seek PM’s support

BANGKOK, January 7 (TNA) - Top authorities of the Islamic committees from 15 southern Thai provinces have sought Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's support for narcotic crackdowns and a revision of the hajj law, as well as all-party-cooperation to stop violence in the southernmost Thai region. The chairpersons of the Islamic committees from 15 southern Thai provinces asked for the support when paying a courtesy on Premier Yingluck in Bangkok on Monday morning to extend their New Year wishes to the prime minister. The Islamic authorities sought a state budget to fund the development of southern mosques into drug rehabilitation centers and asked the prime minister to have the hajj law amended so that hajj-related affairs will be under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister’s Office, instead of the Ministry of Culture, for the conveniences of Muslim pilgrims. The southern Islamic authorities also asked the Thai government to convince Saudi Arabia to increase the annual quota of Thai hajj pilgrims from 13,000 to 15,000, to pay meeting allowances to members of provincial Islamic committees and to establish halal kitchens at government places, namely hospitals, prisons and educational institutes, in all provinces. In response, the prime minister said her government has supported the affairs of all religions and cooperated closely with religious leaders, promising that her administration will consider the requests of the southern Islamic authorities. The prime minister acknowledged that all parties are also trying to solve violence in the southern border region. Meanwhile, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung is scheduled to visit neighbouring Malaysia on January 8 to seek cooperation and support for solutions in the Thai far South. (TNA)

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