The visit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) delegates to Thailand sporadically helps remind the government to treat the eight million Thai Muslims, particularly in the far South, impartially although there are still lingering issues.
The OIC delegation will be led by Ambassador Sayed Kassem El-Masry, adviser to the OIC secretary-general and special envoy of the OIC secretary-general on Thailand. Starting from Monday, the delegation will spend a week in Thailand during May 7 to 13 to gather facts concerning the latest developments in the southern region.
The results of the visit will be included in the OIC report during the Conference of Foreign Ministers this November in Djibouti.
Nine years have passed since the violence in the three southernmost provinces of Thailand first erupted and the OIC has still to pay attention to it.
Surapong Jayanama, a former Thai Ambassador who worked on the southern problem for four years from the Surayud Chulanont government to the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration, said the government should use this visit to urge the OIC and the Muslim world to put more pressure on responding to violence by non-state actions.
"We were always condemned by the OIC when violence was caused by the state such as the cases of Tak Bai, Kru Se and the disappearance of Muslim lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit," said Mr Surapong.
However, this was the first time in which the OIC issued a statement to condemn such terrorist acts as the four explosions that hit southern Thailand last April, causing many casualties among civilians.
"The OIC expressed its grave concern over the massive loss of lives and injuries and denounced the indiscriminate violence against civilians from any quarter,’" said the statement.
While separatist groups like PULO or BRN were trying to cause misunderstanding of Thailand within the OIC, Thailand has sought a constructive strategy by not trying to set conditions for the organisation, said Mr Surapong.
Thailand still has to report the progress on resolving the southern problem and accept its faults to the OIC, he added.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said the OIC seems to have more understanding of Thailand because the country has let the OIC meet academics and civil society.
"Nonetheless, the violence still persists, and the OIC will pay attention to it because it is a matter of the protection of Muslim minorities around the world,"’ he said.
Angkhana Neelapaijit, widow of Muslim lawyer Somchai, expressed disappointment that the Thai government has not given her the chance to meet the OIC delegation.
"It’s a pity that the Thai government has not invited non-government organisations to meet them. I think the government doesn’t want to recall old issues" said Ms Angkhana.
She believes the visit of the OIC delegation will benefit the Thai government as it could act as a mediator for peace negotiations between the government and terrorist groups which trust the OIC.
The government should persuade the OIC to help on this issue too, she added.
Ms Angkhana said if she had a chance to meet the OIC delegation, she would like to raise the issue of human rights violations and unfairness in southern Thailand.
"I believe these are the causes of increased severity as my husband's case as well as the Tak Bai and Kru Se cases have made no progress," she said.
Mr Surapong said drugs, inequality and unfairness are all compounding the southern problem, making it even more complex and difficult for outside countries to help as happens elsewhere.
He also believes some local politicians are profiting from the lingering problems.