Thailand commenced efforts [...] for declaring the draft recommendations on implementing the declaration. We support the recommendation that governments have the primary responsibility for implemetnting hte declaration andother minority rights standards and instruments. We agree that our population be they belong to minority and majority groups should enjoy the same equal rights that ensured by the international human rights instruments in particular article 27 of the ICCPR, regardless of the ethnic religion or language. As for our experience, the Thai population comprises of diverse ethnic groups, 75% ethnic Thais, 14% Chinese, 3% Malay representing 1.7 million people, predominately Muslims living in the three southern most provinces. Being a mutliethnic society one of Thailands priorities is to ensure that all people in Thailand have proper legal status which will facilitate their access to various rights and public services. Laws and policies have been revised and put inplace to better accord the rights of minorities in the country. All over the country including southern border provinces, the Thai government has undertaken policies and measures based on his majesty the kings approach of understand, reach out and develop. We believe that education represents future opportunities for minorities. The Thai government supports students from the southern border provinces predominately Muslims who are furthering their studies abroad. In the same vain minorities can freely profess and practice each own religion without discrimination. Moreover we facilitate pilgrimages of Thai Muslims to Mecca and Medina including setting up of [...] offices in both cities to enable Muslims around the country. The enforcement of special security laws in certain southern areas has been undertaken with extreme caution and fairness to ensure that it does not lead to human rights violations against the population from of any community. Efforts are underway to reduce the use of special laws in areas where violence has declined. Thank you Madam Chairperson.