What can Thailand do to solve its problem with Muslims in southern Thailand?
May 26th, 2010 | by admin |According to a recent Los Angeles Times article: “The insurgency flared in early 2004 in Thailand’s three southernmost provinces, the only Muslim-majority areas in the predominantly Buddhist country. Since then, drive-by shootings and bombings have become an almost daily occurrence, killing more than 3,300 people.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-thailand-southern-violence,1,506303.story
The problem I have with granting autonomy to everyone is that if you go down the ladder of autonomy far enough we end up back with a tribal society. It’s modernization in reverse!
9 Responses to “What can Thailand do to solve its problem with Muslims in southern Thailand?”
By nomad on May 26, 2010 | Reply
Muslim problem can never be solved,
until and unless they majority are all educated
and gain a stake in modern way of life.
By IceCube on May 26, 2010 | Reply
This is a timely and interesting question, if you ask me, because just yesterday there were three Muslims claimed to be leaders of all the underground Muslim united front (something like that) came out in a pre-recorded tape saying they will stop all violence in Thailand. The video tape was speaking in two different languages; Yawee (which is northern Malay, widely spoken in the three southern most provinces, and Thai). Two leaders claimed to have controlled something like 11 insurgent groups who have been doing all the violence. It said (and I’ve watched the film) that those who are not abide by this order will be punished (as strong as terminated). The three leaders claim to want to end all the activities, pledged their royalty to Thailand and the King, and so on. The video tape seemed to be a prepared written speech that some guy might being holding it besides the camera, and according to the newspaper, it was made in Germany.
The Thai ex-army commander came out and gave interview that the armed forces need to follow up whether the insurgence will make good out of this announcement, and care needed to be given to this as it may be another trap.
My (personal opinion) on the approach toward solving the problem is the Thai armed forces should move a couple of their army, and air force divisions into the three province (similarly to occupied territories). I think by moving something like 200,000 soldiers into the area will surely regenerate the economy of the provinces. Probably some shopping malls can be set up to accommodate the military personnel as well as their families. A special local television station should be set up as well as tourist attractions.
On the economic front, tax incentive should be given to factories moving into the area. And if security is still the issues, I would recommend moving additional 200,000 armed forces personnel into the area. Perhaps, setting up a navy base would also help. Local should also be drafted or recruited to join the armed forces as well.
K. Bob: I really mean 200,000 armed forces. Well, I’m a student of political science. When Turkey moved toward occupation of Cyprus, it was with sheer number of people migrated to occupied territory (just political side of occupation). One correction though, the southern part of Thailand (with border being in dispute) were integrated into Thailand (Siam, then) during the third King of the Sukhothai dynasty (King Ramkamheang to be precise: I’ve seen the stone inscription from King Ramkamheang after the attack on Srivijaya (jointly with Javanese and Indian Prince) some 700 years ago saying land above Malaga belong to me: แผ่นดินเหนือมาลักกา เป็นของกู) It was Thailand that lost four provinces in the south during the British rules early 19th century, and some on the east side under French rules (1908 Franco-Siamese treaty), and northwest to the British. The notion that three southern most Thai provinces were Sultanate might be true, but so did most parts of Thailand and in fact practically everywhere in the world (take a look at 14th century Italy, Britain, Germany, Austria-Hungary, etc: all were city states and countries were just formed; in case of Germany as late as 1868. Well, the US may be the last city states to have been united: i.e. 13 states, whereby each state would have to give up their sovereigns to join a larger entity; so did Thailand (i.e. Sukhothai, Nan, Prae, Lopburi and so on. Chiang Mai was the last Kingdom to join Siam.)
By lestermount on May 26, 2010 | Reply
Since Muslim extremists are true believers in converting others to their faith, there is no solution.
They will either kill you or you will kill them, maybe you can imprison them.
They do not use logic or reasoning and “normal” processes can not work.
Look at Muslim terrorists in other parts of the world, there is no reasonable solution since they do not want any solutions other than their own.
By James B on May 26, 2010 | Reply
fix the problems within fundamental islam, and you fix the problem with islamists.
What can Thailand do? not much. Thailand is not causing the problem.
Muslims do not live peacably anywhere in the world, except in Indonesia, and that is because everyone is Muslim there.
By Khun Bob on May 26, 2010 | Reply
Agree with Ice Cube except send PAD and all it’s protesters down there in place of the Army. You may need the Army at the Cambodian border soon. However 200,000 is a little large, the US doesn’t have that many troops in Iraq. Maybe you mean 20,000.
By gavin S on May 26, 2010 | Reply
It was peaceful in southern Thailand untill Thailand sent troops to Iraq as part of the UN force,, Thats what started it. Now they want to suceed from Thailand. That area was historically a Malay sultanate,till the British handed it over to Thailand.
By Michael F on May 26, 2010 | Reply
The problem is not solely a religious one.
That part of Thailand was originally a seperate independant country which was occupied by the Malayans (sultans of the nothernmost states) and British, and then “sold” to the King of Siam. The original indigenous occupants are striving for geographical, not religious, independence.
What Thailand can do is recognize the root cause of the unrest and talk about some degree of adminstrative autonomy.
By Gerald J on May 26, 2010 | Reply
Here’s the latest on the “cease fire,” it appears the announcement a couple of days ago was either a hoax or a meaningless statement by a low-level spokesman. As evidenced by other Muslim insurgencies and conflicts around the world, there is no solution until the separatist’s demands are agreed to, and that’s not going to happen:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=128928
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/07/19/headlines/headlines_30078463.php
By josflachs on May 26, 2010 | Reply
What sensible solution do you suggest yourself for people who do this (see the link)? Sit together and debate freedom of (their) religion over a cup of tea?
BEWARE!
THE LINK CONTAINS EXTREMELY SHOCKING PHOTO’S
NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN