Islamic Society in Southern Thailand
Rector of Yala Islamic University, Thailand.
Introduction
Southern Thailand, which includes the provinces of Patani, Yala, Narathiwat and part of Sonkhla, is known as Patani. This region, which is adjacent to Malaysia, has been a focus of international society for almost a decade, because of the various types of violence that have occurred there, such as assaults, bomb explosions, and car bombings.
In this working paper, I would like to focus on several aspects of living in Southern Thailand. This paper does not intend to interfere with the government. Rather, I would like to perform my duties as a citizen.
The Problem of Southern Thailand
As we all know, the issue of violence is not only a problem in countries with a Muslim population. Strangely, however, why Islam and Muslim communities often become scapegoats of violence in every part of the world? As every violent act is always said to be related to Islam, the Muslim community is often regarded as a terrorist group or violent group. Impressions created from this point of view cause widespread hatred against Islam and Muslim. Such hatred is known as Islamophobia.
Islamophobia is a controversial term that creates prejudice and a negative image against Islam and Muslim. This term was used before the 1980s, but became very popular after the attack on the World Trade Center, on September 11, 2001.
Since the event of September 11, the negative image against Islam has increased greatly. The Mass Media, being unfriendly to Islam, also exaggerate reports about violent acts related to Islam and the Muslim community. Consequently, it has molded the opinion in the world that Islam is a religion that encourages its believers to become terrorists.
Islamic Society in Thailand also receives great influence from the US policy known as “the war on terrorism”. This policy causes suspicion in Islamic society. Whereas if it is investigated deeply, we find that ideology of the group known as Ahl Sunna wal Jamaah both inside and outside of the country is very moderate. The form of their struggle is more directed to academic activities aiming to achieve universal peace by holding positive activities such as seminars, discussions, forums, research and so on.
Research has proved that the violence occurring in Southern Thailand was not exploited by hardline Islamists from outside of the country. We find that the tension and violence in Southern Thailand is based on internal conflict, and due historically to the dissatisfaction that people have against the authorities. However the situation in Southern Thailand has become more severe due to the policy against the terrorists, even though they are not in fact terrorists. It evidently makes the atmosphere more violent, rather than more peaceful.
The tension in Southern Thailand in this new era can be traced back to the tragedy of an attack on an army camp, Rachanakarin, in Narathiwat on 4th January 2004. Since this incident occurred, Southern Thailand has been experiencing shootings, bomb explosions, arson attacks on schools, murders and so on.
Several months later, on 28th April 2008, violent acts occurred simultaneously in Patani, Yala and Songkhla. This incident ended with the tragedy at Kruse mosque in Patani, when the government shot and attacked people holding up in the mosque. More than 32 people were killed in the stone mosque built in the early Patani regime.
This incident provoked strong criticism against the government, when several NGOs both inside and outside of the country insisted that the attack on the mosque could be regarded as a serious violation of human rights.
On 25th October 2005, Southern Thailand was again shaken by the tragedy of Tak Bai. It was a peaceful demonstration in front of the police station in Tak Bai, Narathiwat. It demanded that the government release six volunteer soldiers detained several days previously on the charge of plotting a rebellion against the government. The reaction of the government in dissolving the demonstration finally turned into violence.
This heartbreaking incident happened during Ramadan month. More than 88 demonstrators were suffocated to death after being crammed into military trucks that were taking them to an army camp for interrogation more than 100 kilometers away.
The Position of the Muslim Community
Taking a general view of the Muslim Community and development of Islamic education in Thailand, especially in the South, is very important in understanding the relevant problems. Islam is a peaceful religion that loves peace. The presence of Islam in Thailand contributes to peace in the country.
Thailand is a country where the majority of the population follows the way of Buddha, speaks Thai and identifies themselves as Thai (Siamese). Around 10% of the population in Thailand is Muslim. Furthermore, the majority of Muslims live in Southern Thailand (Pat(t)ani). They identify themselves as Melayu and speak Melayu. The major religion and language in Southern Thailand or Patani are Islam and Melayu, respectively. Islam and the Melayu language are two components that cannot be separated from living in Southern Thailand.
There are clear differences between the Muslim community and other Thai communities. Other Thai communities identify themselves as Siamese, speak Siamese, and believe in Buddha while the Muslim community in Southern Thailand identifies itself as Melayu, speaks Melayu and believes in Islam.
Professor Madya Ahmad Omar Chapakia has said that although the Muslim population in Thailand is small, their position can be regarded as very important in the peace solution and in stabilizing national policy. Their position is predominant in the southern part of Thailand, especially in the regions adjacent to Malaysia known as Patani, Yala, Narthiwat and Satun. However, in other regions, they are a minority. Taking the example of Songkhla, the Muslim population is only 20% of the total population in that area. However, they have dominance in four important districts: Chanak, Natawi, Thepha and Sabayoi.
According to data from the Center of National Statistics (2000), the Muslim population in Thailand is 2.8 million, which is 4.6% of the total population. However, most of the Islamic organizations regard these numbers as incorrect. They state that the real figures for the Muslim population differ drastically from those provided by the government. According to Charan Malulim, in 2004, the Muslim population in Thailand was approximately 6 million, or 10% of total population of Thailand.
Factors Sparking Conflict in Southern Thailand
In a draft report of the Committee of King Pradjadipok’s Institute, they concluded that the upheaval in the southern region was the result of a political and cultural conflict that must be dissolved in a peaceful way. However what can be seen from the government reaction is a solution with weaponry. This so-called solution merely pours oil on the flames. In my opinion, the main cause of the tension and violence is the injustice in all sectors. It should be noted that government officers working in Southern Thailand were born outside of the region. Furthermore, they do not understand the local language, and lack knowledge of the religion, traditions and culture of Muslim people.
In a book entitled Islam Agama Penjana Kedamaian Sajagat or Islam the Religion for Peace, I emphasized that Islam is a religion that creates peace. Islam does not prohibit its believers from cooperating with believers from other religions. And the process of peace creation must follow the peaceful principles of Islam. An aim of the book was to highlight facts about Islam, a religion that wishes to create peace for Islamic society and for non-Muslims both in and outside of Thailand.
However, the people involved in the peace creation activities work only for their self-interest. There is no understanding for a peaceful way. This also happens in an effort to enhance the Melayu language.
Still, the problem of Melayu language is no less important in an effort to create peace in Southern Thailand. Regarding this problem, the Melayu community in Pat(t)ani regard the effort to enhance the Melayu language as being conducted by certain groups in order to bury and destroy the language before 2015 when it becomes an important language of communication within the ASEAN community.
The commissary report of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), based on their visit to Southern Thailand from the 8th to 10th May 2012, concluded that:
1. The progress of practice of resolution 2007 (in relation with enhancement of the Melayu language in Southern Thailand) for 5 years (since 2007) is still slow and insignificant.
2. The government of Thailand is still issuing decrees or emergency military laws in Southern Thailand and still deploys many soldiers in the region.
3. Use of the Melayu language in schools in which most of the students are of Melayu ethnicity is not progressing.
4. Establishment of a Civil Defense Force recruiting citizens to participate in military training must be stopped, because the distribution of weapons from armed groups will not stop completely. When these weapons are abused, it causes war between Melayu and Siamese people.
5. OIC praises praise the government of Thailand for her proactive attitude in the peace solution process in Palestine. OIC argues that this attitude also has to be shown in resolving internal problems.
A Possible Solution
What I mentioned above is only a small part of the problem that Muslim community in Southern Thailand currently faces. To resolve these problems, I suggest taking the following steps:
1. Provide freedom and room for the Muslim community in order to let them understand and practice Islamic Law in their daily life.
2. Provide freedom and opportunity to Muslim Melayu people to invigorate their culture and support the Melayu language by the request of ASEAN, in order to develop the language as an important communication language for members of the organization.
3. Seek good understanding between all related sides. In this respect, society has to provide positive and serious cooperation, while the government also has to move in tandem with society. Allow no conflict between civil policy and the military.
4. Assemble an inter-religious cooperation group for the sake of creating peace. This group would cover inter-religious cooperation for dialogue and discussion with religious leaders, members of human rights organizations, intellectuals and like-minded people in an effort to create peace in Southern Thailand.
5. The government also has to make a consistent effort to elevate the quality of citizens’ lives in various aspects in the southern area without ignoring religious factors, language, culture and the way of life in the community.
6. The government has to distinguish between general entrants and unwelcome entrants. Some of the major entrants from the Gulf and other Arab countries often complain about the attitude of government officers. They are considered suspicious and tracked to clarify their connection in Southern Thailand. Some of them visit Thailand in order to expand support for educational institutions, charitable foundations or charities. Some government officers sometimes cannot tell the difference between entrants who bring benefit to the society and those who are harmful.
In line with the efforts to achieve the true peace that is the mission of Islam, Yala Islamic University has established al-Salam (peace) institution. The aim of this institution is to disseminate the concept of peace based on the principles of Islam. This enables all related people to realize peaceful dialogue. Furthermore it can establish a cooperating group with various sides including people both in and outside of the country for the sake of creating social harmony and a peaceful community.
Simultaneously, Yala Islamic University also pioneers a large project tentatively named “Project Pat(t)ani Jaya”. This aims to apply the peaceful principles of Islam to real life in society. This is one of the struggling models of peace.
This project includes establishing a university, hospital, Center of Islam such as Islamic settlement, business center and other institutions. One of the objectives the project is to improve quality of life and promote living within the community with the guidance of Islam.
Conclusion
Islam is a peaceful religion. Islam is against violence in any form. It currently faces various suspicions and a bad global impression that has been disseminated by Western countries. The Muslim community has to be more patient and must take a rational attitude. In al-Quran, it explains that: You shall certainly be tried respecting your wealth and your souls, and you shall certainly hear from those who have been given the Book before you and from those who are polytheists much annoying talk; and if you are patient and guard (against evil), surely this is one of the affairs (which should be) determined upon (Ali Imran (3): 186). This is the principle of peace in Islam and it means all sort of problems should be resolved in a peaceful way first. Using violence before making an effort to find a peaceful way will bring the community to Jahiliyah.
The Muslim community is not allowed to behave or condemn with generalization. In al-Quran, it explains that “And a sinful person will not bear the sins of another person”. It means that every person has a responsibility only for their own mistakes and no obligation for the problems of other people (See verses: al-Anam (6): 164; al-Isra (17): 15; al-Fathir (35): 17; al-Zumar (39): 7; al-Najm (53): 38). Even if the newspaper makes a mistake, the Muslim community is not necessarily hostile to the government and nation in the country. Because of this, emotional actions and behavior bringing damage to the people who have nothing to do with the matter at hand, should be stopped.
The western countries wish to have the perspective that the community outside of them has its own dignity and value. A harmonious relationship between people will be realized when all people respect and appreciate each other. To do so, peoples’ dignity must be respected. Freedom of speech never means to despise and contempt the dignity of others.
The voice and message of the Muslim community should be listened to before they begin to make their point using “language having no words (bahasa yang bukan berupa kata-kata)”. By using peaceful means or diplomacy, the Muslim community in Southern Thailand can rid itself of its tainted image, an image that has been created by people both inside and outside the country.
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Translated from Melayu version, get the original version here : click!.