Posted on 12/25/2004 4:44:16 PM PST by nickcarraway
DATUK Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday chided Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for making "sensational" allegations, saying he was sad that Thailand had made light of existing diplomatic channels.
The Prime Minister questioned the motive behind Thaksin's claim that Thai separatist guerillas were being trained in Kelantan.
Thaksin had on Friday said that some separatists had received training at a jungle camp in Kelantan without the knowledge of the Malaysian Government.
Two core members of the separatist movement in southern Thailand, Thaksin had said, had fled to Malaysia where, he claimed, the guerillas had received training.
Thaksin also warned that the insurgency would persist for some time since hundreds of young men had received military training in Thai Muslim schools and in Kelantan.
"I am shocked over the allegation. We don't do such things. We have never and will never condone such a practice.
"Malaysia is not a base that can be used by whichever party to plan acts of terror against other countries. If they say we are, then give us the information," said Abdullah, who is on a working visit to Dubai.
He said he was disappointed that Malaysia had to ask Thailand to explain the statement.
"They should use the proper channels. If Thaksin has clear and specific evidence that Thai separatist guerillas are receiving training in Kelantan, then he should give us the information." "It is not right to make a statement in the media and then wait for us to reply to court sensational publicity." "The matter should have been brought to our knowledge, either through our respective embassies or from their Foreign Ministry to ours." He said Wisma Putra would ask Thailand to explain the allegation. <
Abdullah said he was prepared to co-operate with Thailand if it wanted assistance to detain the two separatists who had allegedly fled to Malaysia.
Isn't Malaysia the muslim nation that is home of the now-world's-tallest twin towers?
Just a thought.
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