February 9, 2005

Muslims urged to help restore peace in South

 On the occasion of the Islamic New Year tomorrow, Sawasdi Sumalayasak,

the Chularatchamontri, asks Muslim people in Thailand to be good and

join forces to help restore peace in the deep South.

``I would like Thai Muslims to help one another to make this year a

good and peaceful year. Start the new year by doing good,'' the

90-year-old Muslim spiritual leader said in a statement to mark the

arrival of the Hijrah year 1426.

Citing great damage in terms of both life and property from the Dec 26

tsunami disaster, Mr Sawasdi said the nation had problems so he urged

for quick cooperation among Thai Muslim people for their own good.

Samarn Korpitak, public relations chief of the Chularatchamontri's

office, said the Muslim spiritual leader was concerned about the

southern unrest and was monitoring the situation there closely. The

leader will visit the deep South again if the situation so demands.

In another development, the government's rehabilitation committee

headed by Rung Kaewdaeng, former assistant to the education minister,

will arrive in Narathiwat province today to meet relatives of the people

killed in the Tak Bai protest demonstration on Oct 25 last year.