KUALA LUMPUR â In a direct reference to the plight of Thai Muslims, Malaysia's foreign minister has said that his country, as a chairman of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), has a responsibility to express its views if Muslims' safety were threatened. Syed Hamid Albar said while Malaysia was concerned about the on-going crisis in southern Thailand, it was also careful in handling the delicate issue, Malaysiaâs official Bernama News Agency reported Tuesday, September 6.
"Malaysia is the chairman of OIC and one of the roles of OIC is to ensure the safety of Muslim minorities living in non-Muslim countries are guaranteed and their security is not threatened," he told reporters after opening a seminar Monday. "Thailand is not very far from Malaysia and what happens in south Thailand has a direct impact on us, so we just cannot keep quiet." | A suspious person might consider that a veiled threat |
The half-day seminar, entitled "Reform of the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Conference: Impact on the Muslim World in the 21st Century", was organized by the International Islamic University's Department of Political Science.
The government âwill do what it takesâ to ensure what is happening in a neighboring country will not adversely affect Malaysia, The Star quoted him as saying. While Malaysia has no intention of meddling in its neighborsâ internal affairs, the government could not remain silent when scores of people from across the border enter the country, Syed Hamid said. âWe need to ask why,â he said. | Boomings, shooting, head-choppings, etc..oh, that's not what you meant by "why", was it. |
âIn all bilateral matters, interaction and understanding is important. In the case of Thai nationals crossing our border, we need to find out why they are seeking shelter here. We canât just deport them. The Immigration Department has been given the task to find out the situation from the fleeing Thais and we will have to look at the findings before we make any decision,â he said.
"As a friend and Asean member, we have to give our views without interfering with their internal affairs. In the current world, nobody can keep quiet if something happens but this should not be construed as teaching them (Thais)," he added. Some 131 Thai Muslims, including 43 children, have fled to Malaysia 's northeastern state of Kelantan last week, saying they left their villages in Narathiwat province after the army arrived. The incident has set the stage for a possible row between the Malaysia and Thailand, although diplomatic contact has been intense. The two countries will hold a special meeting Saturday to discuss the issue, Bernama reported.
Chief of Armed Forces Laksamana Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor said Monday he would head the Malaysian team to the talks with the Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces General Chaisit Shinawatra and his delegation. Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist nation but Muslims make up about five percent of the population and mostly live in the five southern provinces bordering Malaysia. The Thai government has declared emergency rule across the predominantly-Muslim south, once an independent Muslim sultanate, under a decree rubber-stamped by a hastily convened cabinet meeting on Friday, July 15. The controversial measure grants Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra the power impose curfews, censor news, ban public meetings, tap phones and hold suspects without charge for up to 30 days. The new sweeping powers drew fire from the press and activists as dictatorial and a recipe for more violence and has prompted strong reactions from civic groups which argue that it violates many basic rights.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) stressed Thursday, May 19, that the Thai government's failure to address injustices and open a genuine dialogue with Muslim leaders in the south is the real reason behind unrest in the country. Thailand 's national rights watchdog also accused the army of "violent breaches of human rights" against Muslims in the south. Nik Mat warned that more unrest would follow unless Thailand addressed the grievances of its southern Muslims.
Meanwhile, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said its officers will interview the 131 Thai Muslims currently being sheltered in northern Malaysia, The Nation reported Tuesday. Volker Turk, the Malaysia-based representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said in a statement that the agencyâs officers would be sent to Kelantan this week to meet with the Thais in cooperation with local authorities. âIt is standard practice for the UNHCR to have access to, and to interview, any group of people who claim refuge in a particular country,â he said.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister, on the other hand, urged the UN's refugee agency not to take up the case of the 131 Thai Muslims. Surakiart Sathirathai said that foreign ministers of both countries are discussing the case. "These people are not refugees, and it's unlikely the UNHCR needs to get involved," he said. "This is a case of illegal entry. Many people go back and forth across the border, this just happens to be a large number of them," he said. Thaksin had denied accusations that the 131 villagers had fled because they were afraid of the Thai authorities, The Nation reported Sunday.
Reports from the border area said the Thais fled after a tense standoff between residents of Narathiwatâs Ban Rahan and security forces, following the shooting death of a local imam. The villagers accused the police of killing the imam and protested by blocking the entrance of the village to security forces wishing to investigate the incident, The Nation reported. After being threatened with charges of obstructing justice, many decided to flee their homes for Malaysia. Others from nearby districts joined them in the exodus.
A UN human rights committee and local and international rights groups have condemned the decree for its sweeping powers, while lawyers argue its powers are vaguely defined and allow for possible power abuses.
Nik Aziz Nik Mat, spiritual leader of the Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party and Kelantanâs chief minister, warned last week that more unrest would follow unless Thailand addressed the grievances of its southern Muslims, according to The Nation. Muslims have long complained of discrimination and of being made to feel they are not equal to other Thai citizens. 
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