No proof of Thai schools’ links with terrorists, says ministry

BANGKOK: The Foreign Ministry has cautioned against any rush to link four Thailand-based schools to a terrorist organisation just because they have a handful of foreign shareholders.

The Turkish embassy in Bangkok said in a statement on Wednesday that Pan-Asia International School, Chindamanee School English Programme, Siriwat Wittaya English Programme and Wichai Wittaya English Programme in Thailand were connected to the Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organisation (FETO).

“We have been in touch with the embassy to request legally recognised and reliable evidence. But we have not received any additional information to date,” ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee, who is also the Information Department’s director-general, said yesterday.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, meanwhile, said yesterday he has ordered security agencies to investigate the Turkish embassy’s claim. He said the probe was intended to determine if there was ground to believe the claim.

But he cautioned against enlarging upon this issue out of proportion.

“A domestic problem should be solved internally. We should not involve foreign countries to create a conflict on our soil. Our country has enough problems already,” he said.

Sek said a preliminary check showed that Turkey had targeted these schools only because of some of their foreign shareholders.

“But these shareholders have not held any executive position in the schools. They have not had any policymaking power, either,” he pointed out.

Thai authorities are discussing the matter and might release a statement later, he added.

These four schools are legitimate entities in Thailand and the interests of their students and parents should be protected, he stressed.

In its statement, the Turkish embassy announced that starting from the school year 2016-17, the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Turkey will not accredit the diplomas issued by the FETO-connected schools operating outside of Turkey, and certificates of equivalence will not be issued by the ministry for the diplomas given by these schools.

“The move will not affect students in Thailand. But we are discussing whether it will affect the accreditation of the schools’ graduates in other territories,” Sek said.

Education Minister General Dapong Ratanasuwan said he had already assigned Adinan Pakbara, secretary-general of the Office of Private Education Commission, to investigate the alleged link between the schools and the alleged terrorist organisation.

Adinan, meanwhile, said he planned to look into the allegation, and would also contact the Turkish embassy to discuss further action.