Kasit: Opportunities for Arabic-speaking Thai students in Mideast

Kasit did not spelled out in details as to how this would be achieved, or what kind of concession the government is willing to make to the highly contested region.

Kasit told the students, most of whom are of ethnic Malay from the three southernmost provinces, that responsibility for the conflict in the deep South will lie directly on the political leaders.

He said a mini Cabinet of economic ministers for the deep South has been set up, thus, suggesting that development would be the key for change in the restive region.

He added that a team of Islamic experts will be dispatched to the Middle East to study the extent of Islamic law, especially in the area of family affairs and heredity.

Speaking to a group of student leaders during his stop over in Cairo, Kasit urged the students here to absorb as much as knowledge that could possibly while in Egypt, saying the cultural diversity and peaceful coexistence among ethnic groups in the country could be an important source of knowledge for Thai citizens.

Kasit pointed to prominent Muslim families and figures, including Surin Pitsuwan and Sonthi Boonyaratklin, as examples of how Muslims can excels in Thailand.

Muslims in the deep South, including the students here, said the conflict has to do with the legitimacy of the Thai State in the Malay historical homeland and not so much about whether one is a Muslim or a Buddhist.

During his meeting with the students, Kasit encouraged them to put their Arabic language to use by applying for a position with the Foreign Ministry as either a local staff at various embassies in Arab countries or as officials at the ministry.

He said they can enter the ministry by taking examination using Arabic language but if they wishes to excel beyond mid-ranking level they would have to know English.

Kasit said the ministry is planning to upgrade the embassy to a regional centre with more staff to promote Thailand's position and opportunities in the country for Arab and African countries.