Members of the media have been briefed on
cultural diversity in the southern border provinces for better understanding
about local residents and the southern situation.
The briefing was given by the Secretary-General
of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center, Police Colonel Tawee
Sodsong, at the center in Mueang district, Yala province, on 20 February 2014.
The 30 media representatives came from seven
upper southern provinces, namely Krabi, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat,
Phang-nga, Phuket, Ranong, and Surat Thani. They joined a press tour of Yala
and Pattani provinces, organized by the Public Relations Office, Region 5,
under the Government Public Relations Department.
Police Colonel Tawee said that the press tour
offered a good opportunity for the media to experience the local way of living
in the deep South. More importantly, they would get first-hand information and
see that the southern situation was not fearful, as stated in some news
reports.
He explained that the southern border provinces
of Thailand make up a multi-cultural society, with unique identities in terms
of language and culture different from other parts of the country. Around 80
percent of local residents in the three southernmost provinces of Yala,
Pattani, and Narathiwat are Muslims of Malay descent, and local Malay is widely
spoken in their daily life.
Aware of cultural values and ethnic identity,
Police Colonel Tawee said that the Southern Border Provinces Administrative
Center has promoted the use and learning of the Malay language for
communication. As the ASEAN Community will go into full effect in late 2015,
the Malay language will play an important role in connecting Thailand with the
Melayu world.
The Center is promoting the learning of other
foreign languages at all education levels, as well, in preparation for the
ASEAN Community. Apart from supporting radio programs in Malay, it has also
established the Melayu Thailand Language Institute and “TV Melayu,” a
Malay-language television station. These projects reflect efforts to promote
better understanding among local residents.
The media representatives were also briefed
about the operations of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center,
which focuses on the adoption of His Majesty the King’s royal advice to
“understand, reach out, and develop” as the central strategy to ease problems
in the southern border provinces and carry out local development.
Emphasis is also placed on public participation
and communication in order to win the hearts and minds of local residents. In
handling the southern situation, the Internal Security Operations Command is in
charge of security matters and the Southern Border Provinces Administrative
Center is responsible for development work. They are working together in the
same direction.
(thailand.prd.go.th)