On 19 October 2017, H.E. Mr. Hazem Elsayed Badawy Eltahry, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Thailand, paid a farewell call on General Prayut Chan-o-cha (Ret.), Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, upon the completion of his term at the Government House. On this occasion, both sides discussed several areas of bilateral cooperation such as trade and investment, development and education as well as exchanged views on the issue of the Southern Border Provinces (SBPs) of Thailand.

 

The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation to the Egyptian side for playing a crucial role in fostering a correct understanding of the situation in the SBPs of Thailand under the framework of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and reiterated that the situation does not stem from religious conflict but rather from economic and development disparity. Furthermore, the perpetrators have not seized and occupied any areas of the SBPs or formed militant groups such as those in other countries. The Royal Thai Government therefore retains actual control of and access to all areas in the SBPs. The Prime Minister reiterated that, in resolving the situation, the Government’s policy was not to use force but rather to implement a development campaign to improve people’s livelihood, together with law enforcement. He also requested the Egyptian side to continue supporting Thailand through providing correct understanding of the situation in the SBPs both in the OIC and other international organizations.

 

The Egyptian Ambassador said that according to his own experience from his three visits to the SBPs, he acknowledged that the situation in the SBPs is not one of religious conflict since people in the area peacefully coexist in harmony in spite of coming from different faiths, cultures and identities. Cultural diversity can thus occur in any country on the condition that all identity groups respect one another. He also stated that the Thai Government’s economic development policy can improve the economic status of the people in the SBPs and will help prevent extremism at its source. Therefore, economic development is a major factor in dealing with the spread of extremism. Furthermore, Islam is subject to different interpretations. Egypt promotes a moderate approach that stresses non-violence. Such an approach will be transmitted to the Thai Muslim students studying in academic institutions such as Al Azhar University.