ID :
143062
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 20:34
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http://m.oananews.org//node/143062
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First batch of Thai Muslim pilgrims receive Saudi visas to make Hajj
BANGKOK, Sept 21 – Saudi visas have been granted to the first batch of
392 Thai Muslim pilgrims to make the Hajj religious pilgrimage to Mecca, according to Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat.
However, he said the visas for the first batch of pilgrims was ready as the request was submitted last week, but visas for the second batch could not be processed due to a shortage of staff at the embassy, he said.
When embassy staff who are currently on leave return to work, the embassy will inform the Department of Religious Affairs, which is in charge of submitting the visa requests for Thai pilgrims.
The minister asked the embassy to inform the department immediately when it is able to process more visas. If the embassy can begin handling the documents tomorrow, it will be very good because there will be only 12 working days left as the first group of pilgrims is set to leave Thailand on October 8. One thousand visas per day can be processed, according to embassy sources.
Mr Nipit said he is worried as the number of Thai pilgrims may total 13,000 persons. The ministry will ask for cooperation from the embassy to grant
more visas than the limited number of one thousand daily.
Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya on Tuesday ruled out rumours on the possible closure of the Saudi embassy in Bangkok and a halt to visa services for Thai Muslim pilgrims intending to make the Mecca pilgrimage for the Hajj.
Mr Kasit, now attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, was interviewed by Thai News Agency. He said he spoke with the Saudi Charge d’Affaires in Thailand Nabil Hussein Ashri by telephone.
The Saudi envoy denied the rumours, the foreign minister said, adding that there may have been a misunderstanding at the operational level. He reaffirmed that there is no problem
The rumour of the possible closure of the Saudi embassy and stopping the issuing of visas came after Saudi Arabia expressed concern about the recent
promotion of Pol Lt-Gen Somkid Boonthanom from Commissioner of Provincial Police of Region 5 to assistant national police chief.
The Saudi concern arose due to the general's alleged involvement in the unsolved case of disappearance of Saudi businessman Mohammed al-Ruwaili in Bangkok 20 years ago. (MCOT online news)
392 Thai Muslim pilgrims to make the Hajj religious pilgrimage to Mecca, according to Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat.
However, he said the visas for the first batch of pilgrims was ready as the request was submitted last week, but visas for the second batch could not be processed due to a shortage of staff at the embassy, he said.
When embassy staff who are currently on leave return to work, the embassy will inform the Department of Religious Affairs, which is in charge of submitting the visa requests for Thai pilgrims.
The minister asked the embassy to inform the department immediately when it is able to process more visas. If the embassy can begin handling the documents tomorrow, it will be very good because there will be only 12 working days left as the first group of pilgrims is set to leave Thailand on October 8. One thousand visas per day can be processed, according to embassy sources.
Mr Nipit said he is worried as the number of Thai pilgrims may total 13,000 persons. The ministry will ask for cooperation from the embassy to grant
more visas than the limited number of one thousand daily.
Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya on Tuesday ruled out rumours on the possible closure of the Saudi embassy in Bangkok and a halt to visa services for Thai Muslim pilgrims intending to make the Mecca pilgrimage for the Hajj.
Mr Kasit, now attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, was interviewed by Thai News Agency. He said he spoke with the Saudi Charge d’Affaires in Thailand Nabil Hussein Ashri by telephone.
The Saudi envoy denied the rumours, the foreign minister said, adding that there may have been a misunderstanding at the operational level. He reaffirmed that there is no problem
The rumour of the possible closure of the Saudi embassy and stopping the issuing of visas came after Saudi Arabia expressed concern about the recent
promotion of Pol Lt-Gen Somkid Boonthanom from Commissioner of Provincial Police of Region 5 to assistant national police chief.
The Saudi concern arose due to the general's alleged involvement in the unsolved case of disappearance of Saudi businessman Mohammed al-Ruwaili in Bangkok 20 years ago. (MCOT online news)
