Visit to Thai far South by OIC envoys considered successful

BANGKOK, February 2 (TNA) - Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul says that a visit to the southern Thai region earlier this week by diplomats from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries is considered successful. Surapong told reporters today that he first led the OIC envoys to visit illegal Rohingya Muslim migrants from neighbouring Myanmar in Songkhla province, after which the OIC delegation praised the Thai government for taking good care of the Rohingya ethnics. Surapong revealed that he later led the OIC envoys to inspect and listen to briefings on the updated situation in the violence-plagued Thai far South, claiming that the trip was successful, as it allowed the OIC diplomats to better understand how the Thai government has tried to resolve insurgency in the Thai deep South although it needs more time. According to the deputy premier, the OIC diplomats also advised that the Thai government provide justice and resort to negotiations in order to restore peace in the troubled southern border Thai region. (TNA)