Article 115

Muslim leader says oil mafia hires killers, sows unrest

CHAKKRIT WAEWKLAIHONG

Trat _ The ongoing violence in the three southern border provinces has many causes, but is mostly due to the trade in smuggled Persian Gulf oil and other illegal pursuits, the Chularatchamontri, Sawasdi Sukumalayasak, said yesterday.

The country's Muslim spiritual leader spoke at a ceremony to welcome former drug addicts back to society at Laem Thong Lang village in Laem Ngop district.

The ceremony was also attended by Trat governor Boonchuay Kerdsukhon and provincial administration organisation chairman Wichian Sapcharoen.

The Chularatchamontri said influential people, their actions suppressed by authorities, often hired drug addicts to shoot government officials so Muslim people would be blamed.

Muslims were scapegoats in many cases, leading to religious conflicts.

To solve problems in the Muslim-dominated provinces, the government must concentrate on creating jobs and easing racial and religious tension.

Mr Sawasdi said all Thais are entitled to protection under the constitution, and authorities should make sure they get it.

He said people in the three southernmost provinces were regarded by state officials as second-class citizens because they speak the Yawi dialect and are Muslim, while ethnic minority Kha and Karen people in the North are more acceptable.

To be Thai, he said, it is not necessary to be Buddhist.

Mr Sawasdi also said the government should treat people equally under article 38 of the constitution which guarantees the right of religious choice.

Her Majesty the Queen's recent call for peaceful co-existence should be implemented.

The Chularatchamontri also asked the news media to be more considerate.

The media should not create hard feelings by resorting to labels such as ``Muslim bandits'' and insulting Muslim people by referring to them as khaek or dark-skinned foreigners.