Article 49

Chavalit wants fatwa on killing
YUWADEE TUNYASIRI

Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has renewed his call for Islamic organisations to issue a fatwa _ religious pronouncement on a specific issue _ to all Muslims that killing and hurting others is against the principles of Islam.

Gen Chavalit said Muslim youths became involved in the southern violence because they had been misled by some Islamic teachers, and they must be guided back to the right course.

``We have repeatedly said the use of violence is wrong but they never listen. We now need their spiritual leaders to give a ruling that what they are doing is religiously wrong,'' Gen Chavalit said.

Last month, Gen Chavalit asked the Chularatchamontri _ the country's Muslim spiritual leader _ and Islamic clerics to issue a fatwa telling Muslim militants in the deep South to stop killing and hurting other people.

Gen Chavalit said he did not know why nothing has h! appened.

``Carrying guns and shooting at people is definitely wrong. I don't understand why a fatwa on that has not yet come out,'' Gen Chavalit said.