June 01, 2013
YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia – Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali announced plans Thursday (May 30th) to send Islamic preachers to Thailand in July to help address the insurgency in the Deep South provinces, local media reported.
The minister held a meeting in Yogyakarta with a delegation of 65 Islamic leaders from south Thailand. "Established co-operation ... in the education sector and preaching ... will bridge the two nations towards creating peace among the South Thailand society," Suryadharma said, according to the Antara news agency.
His ministry also announced plans to provide scholarships for 50 Thai Muslim students to study in Islamic universities in Indonesia, Republika reported.
Before wrapping up their trip Friday, the delegation visited an Islamic boarding school in Krapyak, Yogyakarta and the state Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga.