Thai Security Agency Dismisses Allegation about Thai Muslim Students Abroad

Bangkok, 13 Ramaan 1437/19 June 2016 (MINA) – Thailand’s Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) has dismissed an allegation regarding the inclination among Thai students in several Muslim countries towards the separation of its three southernmost provinces.

Its spokesman Col Peerawat Saengthong said, intelligence reports had not indicated an inclination towards separation as claimed by its National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general Gen Thawip Netniyom recently.

“It’s just a thought (of separation) by some people but from intelligence monitoring by security agencies and ISOC, we have not found such (separation) behaviour from the Muslim students aboard,” he told reporters here.

He said, the government gave opportunities to all to pursue education excellence but warned if anyone threatened the security of Thailand, they would be subjected to the same rule of law.

Also Read:  INDONESIANS ENTHUSIASTHICALLY WELCOME SHARIA INVESTMENT

Thawip made the allegation after attending NSC’s meeting which was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, who was also in charge of Thailand’s national security, thesundaily.my reported, quoting Bernama.

Also attending the NSC meeting were armed forces’ top brass.

According to Thawip, more than 100 Thai Muslim students studying in several Middle Eastern countries as well as in Pakistan and Indonesia backed the separation of southern Thai’s Muslim-majority provinces.

In the meantime he also said, there had been no information of any Thai Muslim students studying in war torn Syria joining terrorist organisation, Daesh.

More than 5,000 Thai Muslim students are currently studying in the Middle East and several other countries, using personal funds as well as scholarship granted by the host countries.

Also Read:  Corona Virus Death Toll Increase to 259 People

ISOC is a unit under the Thai military devoted to internal security. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)