[Thai army chief] Prayuth warns of Cambodian Muslim threat

Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha

Published: 22/08/2012 

Bangkok Post

Some Cambodian Muslims have joined violent insurgent networks in Thailand in the far South, said army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday. The army chief has asked authorities to closely monitor Cambodian Muslim immigrants to ensure they return to their country when their one-month entry permits expire.

According to Gen Prayuth, not all have returned to Cambodia. [The Nation newspaper reported that Prayuth had said that Cambodian Muslims not involved in South violence].

The army is asking the Immigration Bureau and the Customs Department about the whereabouts of Cambodian Muslims, he said.

The army chief said most Cambodian Muslims who entered Thailand are travelling through to neighbouring countries, particularly Malaysia, to find work.

Gen Prayuth was responding to remarks made by Deputy Prime Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa on Monday that around 1,000 Cambodian Muslims entered Thailand via border checkpoints in eastern provinces each month.

Gen Yutthasak is also concerned the Cambodians could be involved with the violence in the far South.

Gen Yutthasak said yesterday he had ordered the Immigration Bureau to check the numbers of Cambodian Muslims entering and leaving Thailand to monitor their movements.

He said deputy police chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew would provide information from the Immigration Bureau in two days.

Gen Prayuth said the 1st Army has reported about 30-100 Cambodian Muslims entered Thailand in Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces each month and travelled to the far South. The army will work with the immigration police and Customs Department to check the information, he said.

"The main reason [they leave Cambodia] is poverty. They have no jobs in their homeland, so they must work elsewhere," he said. "Most of them do not aim to get involved in terrorism ... but they may give indirect financial support."