from http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/si/2005/Feb/croissantfeb05.asp

Thailand’s ethnic-Malay Muslims traditionally practice a moderate and syncretic variant of Islam, Sufism — Sunni Islam with a mystical moderate edge. Over the past few decades, however, purist Salafi (and more specifically Wahhabi) teaching has been gaining ground — propelled by donations from charities and benefactors in the Middle East and fostering a greater orthodoxy in many of the increasing number of religious schools.[40]

According to the Ministry of Education, there were more than 500 private Islamic schools in south Thailand in 2004, covering more than 2,000 teachers and 25,000 students.[41] While most are registered with the Ministry of Education, some are beyond official supervision. Funded by private donations and in many cases founded by teachers (ustaz) who themselves have done religious studies in Pakistan and the Middle East, some ponoh became breeding grounds for potential radical Muslims. Separately, according to Thai government sources, in the past 15 years, 2,500 Thai-Muslim students graduated from religious schools in Saudi Arabia, 2,500 more from various Islamic universities in the Middle East and South Asia.[42]

Upon returning home, few of these young graduates were able to find a job and were at the mercy of aid donors from Islamic countries in the Middle East. They ended up as religious teachers in local communities, thereby contributing to the growth of more orthodox and radical versions of Islam, such as Wahhabi and fundamentalist Islam. Politically radical young ustaz and their students became protagonists of the movement of Umna-ism in southern Thailand. This resulted in an expanded pool of disconnected youth that became prime targets for recruitment by the extremists.

****

A crucial difficulty in combating Muslim insurgency in the south is to convince the moderates that the internal dynamics of counterinsurgency won’t put civil rights, the democratic process and cultural rights at risk. If the Muslim population stops believing in the political process in recently democratized Thailand, the government will lose the fight on the political front, leaving only military options available. Thailand’s own experience with the communist insurgency in the 1970s and 1980s proves that successful counterinsurgency is to a large extent economic and political, whereas military solutions are secondary at best.

The Thai government, however, may feel encouraged by the insurgency in the south to extend already existing internal security arrangements and emphasize the military response to the separatist movement. The net outcome of southern unrest, thus might, benefit authoritarian tendencies in the new democratic regime as the government could feel tempered to use the counterinsurgency to shift the political agenda to state security and away from democracy and human rights, as already has happened in some Southeast Asian countries.[58] Concerning the political dynamics of the “Thaksinization” of Thai politics[59] since 2001, the presumption that unrest in the south may drive the already faltering consolidation of democracy into the direction of a “semi-” or “illiberal democracy” is not groundless.[60] Two possible scenarios of democratic regression can be outlined. According to the first scenario, the ruling TRT and Thaksin choose a strategy of vote-seeking for the upcoming parliamentary elections of February 2005, that attempts to stoke fears and nationalist reactions among the Buddhist peasants, farmers, city-dwellers and working class in other regions of the country—groups that provided the TRT the bulk of its support in the elections of January 2001. On the other hand, surveys conducted in the past couple of months suggest that TRT’s support is rapidly eroding because of rising concerns about the economic and political situation.[61] If the TRT-dominated government fails to restore security, peace and law in the south, the party will run the risk that her legitimacy in governing the country diminishes. A crisis of government and the further worsening of the security situation in the south may provoke an authoritarian backslash in the political system, either in form of the restoration of authoritarian tendencies within the government or by provoking elements outside of the government to attempt the extra-constitutional ousting of the sitting government.[62]

References:

40. Cf. Vincent J. H. Houben, “Southeast Asia and Islam,” Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 534 (2000), pp. 149-170; Barry Desker, “Islam in Southeast Asia: The Challenge of Radical Interpretation,” Cambridge Review of International Affairs16 (2003), pp. 415-428.

41. Numbers are taken from Kavi Chongkittavorn, “Thailand: International Terrorism and the Muslim South,” in Southeast Asian Affairs 2004 (Singapore: ISEAS, 2004).

42. Jane’s Intelligence Review, August 1, 2004 and November 1, 2004.

58. International Herald Tribune, November 21, 2001; Far Eastern Economic Review, April 18, 2002.

59. Duncan McCargo, The Thaksinization of Thailand (Copenhagen: NIAS, 2004).

60. Cf. Duncan McCargo, “Democracy Under Stress in Thaksin’s Thailand,” Journal of Democracy, 13 (2002), pp. 112-127; T Pogsudhirak, “Thailand: Democratic Authoritarianism,” Southeast Asian Affairs2003 (Singapore: ISEAS, 2003), pp. 277-291.

61. The Strait Times Interactive, September 25, 2004.

62. In the past couple of weeks some Muslim leaders and Buddhist social activists have appealed to the King to appoint a royal administration or care-taker government, modeled after the one that rule the country between February 1991 and March 1992 and, again, from May 1992 to September 1992; see The Bangkok Post, October 29, 2004.

* “Hijacking Planes, terrorizing innocent people and shedding blood
constitute a form of injustice that can not be tolerated by Islam,
which views them as gross crimes and sinful acts.” Shaykh Abdul Aziz al-Ashaikh (Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the Senior Ulama, on September 15th, 2001)

* “The terrorists acts, from the perspective of Islamic law, constitute the crime of hirabah (waging war against society).” Sept.
27, 2001 fatwa, signed by: Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi (Grand Islamic
Scholar and Chairman of the Sunna and Sira Countil, Qatar), Judge Tariq
al-Bishri (First Deputy President of the Council d’etat, Egypt), Dr.
Muhammad s. al-Awa (Professor of Islamic Law and Shari’a, Egypt), Dr.
Haytham al-Khayyat (Islamic scholar, Syria), Fahmi Houaydi (Islamic
scholar, Syria), Shaykh Taha Jabir al-Alwani (Chairman, North America
High Council)

* “Neither the law of Islam nor its ethical system justify such a crime.” Zaki Badawi, Principal of the Muslim College in London. Cited in Arab News, Sept. 28, 2001.

* “It is wrong to kill innocent people. It is also wrong to Praise those who kill innocent people.” Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai, Pakistan. Cited in the New York Times, Sept. 28, 2001.

* “What these people stand for is completely against all the principles that Arab Muslims believe in.” King Abdullah II, of Jordan; cited in the Middle East Times, Sept. 28, 2001.

* Ingrid Mattson, a professor of Islamic studies and
Muslim-Christian relations at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, said there
was no basis in Islamic law or sacred text for Mr. bin Laden’s remarks. “The basic theological distortion is that any means are permitted to
achieve the end of protesting against perceived oppression,” said Dr. Mattson, a practicing Muslim.

* “Islamic law is very clear: terrorism is not permitted,” she added. “Even
in a legitimate war — even if Osama bin Laden were a legitimate head of
state, which he’s not — you’re not permitted to indiscriminately kill
civilians, just to create terror in the general population.” (“Experts Say Bin Laden is Distorting Islamic Law“, NY Times, Oct. 8, 2001)

Mustafa Mashhur, General Guide, Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt; Qazi
Hussain Ahmed, Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Pakistan; Muti Rahman
Nizami, Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, Bangladesh; Shaykh Ahmad
Yassin, Founder, Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Palestine; Rashid
Ghannoushi, President, Nahda Renaissance Movement, Tunisia; Fazil Nour,
President, PAS – Parti Islam SeMalaysia, Malaysia; and 40 other Muslim
scholars and politicians:
“The undersigned, leaders of Islamic movements, are horrified by the
events of Tuesday 11 September 2001 in the United States which resulted
in massive killing, destruction and attack on innocent lives. We
express our deepest sympathies and sorrow. We condemn, in the strongest
terms, the incidents, which are against all human and Islamic norms.
This is grounded in the Noble Laws of Islam which forbid all forms of
attacks on innocents. God Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an: ‘No bearer
of burdens can bear the burden of another’ (Surah al-Isra 17:15).”
MSANews, September 14, 2001
Arabic original in al-Quds al-Arabi (London), September 14, 2001

Shaykh Yusuf Qaradawi, Qatar; Tariq Bishri, Egypt; Muhammad S. Awwa,
Egypt; Fahmi Huwaydi, Egypt; Haytham Khayyat, Syria; Shaykh Taha Jabir
al-Alwani, U.S.:
“All Muslims ought to be united against all those who terrorize the
innocents, and those who permit the killing of non-combatants without a
justifiable reason. Islam has declared the spilling of blood and the
destruction of property as absolute prohibitions until the Day of
Judgment. … [It is] necessary to apprehend the true perpetrators of
these crimes, as well as those who aid and abet them through
incitement, financing or other support. They must be brought to justice
in an impartial court of law and [punished] appropriately. … [It is]
a duty of Muslims to participate in this effort with all possible
means.”
Statement of September 27, 2001. The Washington Post, October 11, 2001,

Shaykh Muhammed Sayyid al-Tantawi, imam of al-Azhar mosque in Cairo, Egypt:
“Attacking innocent people is not courageous, it is stupid and will be
punished on the day of judgement. … It’s not courageous to attack
innocent children, women and civilians. It is courageous to protect
freedom, it is courageous to defend oneself and not to attack.”
Agence France Presse, September 14, 2001

Abdel-Mo’tei Bayyoumi, al-Azhar Islamic Research Academy, Cairo, Egypt:
“There is no terrorism or a threat to civilians in jihad [religious struggle].”
Al-Ahram Weekly Online, 20 – 26 September 2001

Muslim Brotherhood, an opposition Islamist group in Egypt, said it
was “horrified” by the attack and expressed “condolences and sadness”:
“[We] strongly condemn such activities that are against all humanist
and Islamic morals. … [We] condemn and oppose all aggression on human
life, freedom and dignity anywhere in the world.”
Al-Ahram Weekly Online, 13 – 19 September 2001

Shaykh Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah, spiritual guide of Shi’i Muslim
radicals in Lebanon, said he was “horrified” by these “barbaric . . .
crimes”:
“Beside the fact that they are forbidden by Islam, these acts do not
serve those who carried them out but their victims, who will reap the
sympathy of the whole world. . . . Islamists who live according to the
human values of Islam could not commit such crimes.”
Agence France Presse, September 14, 2001

‘Abdulaziz bin ‘Abdallah Al-Ashaykh, chief mufti of Saudi Arabia:
“Firstly: the recent developments in the United States including
hijacking planes, terrorizing innocent people and shedding blood,
constitute a form of injustice that cannot be tolerated by Islam, which
views them as gross crimes and sinful acts. Secondly: any Muslim who is
aware of the teachings of his religion and who adheres to the
directives of the Holy Qur’an and the sunnah (the teachings of the
Prophet Muhammad) will never involve himself in such acts, because they
will invoke the anger of God Almighty and lead to harm and corruption
on earth.”
Statement of September 15, 2001

‘Abdulaziz bin ‘Abdallah Al-Ashaykh, chief mufti of Saudi Arabia:
“You must know Islam’s firm position against all these terrible crimes.
The world must know that Islam is a religion of peace and mercy and
goodness; it is a religion of justice and guidance. . . Islam has forbidden
violence in all its forms. It forbids the hijacking airplanes, ships
and other means of transport, and it forbids all acts that undermine
the security of the innocent.”
Hajj
sermon of February 2, 2004, in “Public Statements by Senior Saudi
Officials Condemning Extremism and Promoting Moderation,” May 2004

Shaikh Saleh Al-Luheidan, Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, Saudi Arabia:
“As a human community we must be vigilant and careful to oppose these
pernicious and shameless evils, which are not justified by any sane
logic, nor by the religion of Islam.”
Statement
of September 14, 2001, in “Public Statements by Senior Saudi Officials
Condemning Extremism and Promoting Moderation,” May 2004

Shaikh Saleh Al-Luheidan, Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, Saudi Arabia:
“And I repeat once again: that this act that the United states was
afflicted with, with this vulgarity and barbarism, and which is even
more barbaric than terrorist acts, I say that these acts are from the
depths of depravity and the worst of evils.”
Televised statement of September 2001, in Muhammad ibn Hussin Al-Qahtani, editor, The Position of Saudi Muslim Scholars Regarding Terrorism in the Name of Islam (Saudi Arabia, 2004), pages 27-28.

Shaykh Muhammad bin ‘Abdallah al-Sabil, member of the Council of Senior Religious Scholars, Saudi Arabia:
“Any attack on innocent people is unlawful and contrary to shari’a
(Islamic law). . . . Muslims must safeguard the lives, honor and property
of Christians and Jews. Attacking them contradicts shari’a.”
Agence France Presse, December 4, 2001

Council of Saudi ‘Ulama’, fatwa of February 2003:
“What is happening in some countries from the shedding of the innocent
blood and the bombing of buildings and ships and the destruction of
public and private installations is a criminal act against Islam. . . . Those who carry out such acts have the deviant beliefs and misleading
ideologies and are responsible for the crime. Islam and Muslims should
not be held responsible for such actions.”
The Dawn newspaper, Karachi, Pakistan, February 8, 2003 ; also in “Public Statements by Senior Saudi Officials Condemning Extremism and Promoting Moderation,” May 2004, page 10

Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, chairman of the Sunna and Sira Council, Qatar:
“Our hearts bleed for the attacks that has targeted the World Trade
Center [WTC], as well as other institutions in the United States
despite our strong oppositions to the American biased policy towards
Israel on the military, political and economic fronts. Islam, the
religion of tolerance, holds the human soul in high esteem, and
considers the attack against innocent human beings a grave sin, this is
backed by the Qur’anic verse which reads: ‘Who so ever kills a human
being [as punishment] for [crimes] other than manslaughter or [sowing]
corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind,
and who so ever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved
the life of all mankind’ (Al-Ma’idah:32).”
Statement of September 13, 2001 Arabic original at http://www.qaradawi.net

Ayatollah Ali Khamene’i, supreme jurist-ruler of Iran:
“Killing of people, in any place and with any kind of weapons,
including atomic bombs, long-range missiles, biological or chemical
weapons, passenger or war planes, carried out by any organization,
country or individuals is condemned. . . . It makes no difference whether
such massacres happen in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Qana, Sabra, Shatila,
Deir Yassin, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq or in New York and Washington.”
Islamic Republic News Agency, September 16, 2001

President Muhammad Khatami of Iran:
“[T]he September 11 terrorist blasts in America can only be the job of
a group that have voluntarily severed their own ears and tongues, so
that the only language with which they could communicate would be
destroying and spreading death.”
Address to the United Nations General Assembly, November 9, 2001

League of Arab States:
“The General-Secretariat of the League of Arab States shares with the
people and government of the United States of America the feelings of
revulsion, horror and shock over the terrorist attacks that ripped
through the World Trade Centre and Pentagon, inflicting heavy damage
and killing and wounding thousands of many nationalities. These
terrorist crimes have been viewed by the League as inadmissible and
deserving all condemnation. Divergence of views between the Arabs and
the United States over the latter’s foreign policy on the Middle East
crisis does in no way adversely affect the common Arab attitude of
compassion with the people and government of the United States at such
moments of facing the menace and ruthlessness of international
terrorism. In more than one statement released since the horrendous
attacks, the League has also expressed deep sympathy with the families
of the victims. In remarks to newsmen immediately following the tragic
events, Arab League Secretary-General Amre Moussa described the
feelings of the Arab world as demonstrably sympathetic with the
American people, particularly with families and individuals who lost
their loved ones. “It is indeed tormenting that any country or people
or city anywhere in the world be the scene of such disastrous attacks,”
he added. While convinced that it is both inconceivable and lamentable
that such a large-scale, organised terrorist campaign take place
anywhere, anytime, the League believes that the dreadful attacks
against WTC and the Pentagon unveil, time and again, that the cancer of
terrorism can be extensively damaging if left unchecked. It follows
that there is a pressing and urgent need to combat world terrorism. In
this context, an earlier call by [Egyptian] President Hosni Mubarak for
convening an international conference to draw up universal accord on
ways and means to eradicate this phenomenon and demonstrate
international solidarity is worthy of active consideration. The Arabs
have walked a large distance in the fight against cross-border terrorism
by concluding in April 1998 the Arab Agreement on Combating Terrorism.”

September 17, 2001, http://www.leagueofarabstates.org/

Dr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz, Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference:
“Following the bloody attacks against major buildings and installations
in the United States yesterday, Tuesday, September 11, 2001, Dr.
Abdelouahed Belkeziz, secretary-general of the 57-nation Organization
of the Islamic Conference (OIC), stated that he was shocked and deeply
saddened when he heard of those attacks which led to the death and
injury of a very large number of innocent American citizens. Dr.
Belkeziz said he was denouncing and condemning those criminal and
brutal acts that ran counter to all covenants, humanitarian values and
divine religions foremost among which was Islam.”
Press Release, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, September 12, 2001

Organization of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers:
“The Conference strongly condemned the brutal terror acts that befell
the United States, caused huge losses in human lives from various
nationalities and wreaked tremendous destruction and damage in New York
and Washington. It further reaffirmed that these terror acts ran
counter to the teachings of the divine religions as well as ethical and
human values, stressed the necessity of tracking down the perpetrators
of these acts in the light of the results of investigations and
bringing them to justice to inflict on them the penalty they deserve,
and underscored its support of this effort. In this respect, the
Conference expressed its condolences to and sympathy with the people
and government of the United States and the families of the victims in
these mournful and tragic circumstances.”
Final Communique of the Ninth Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, October 10, 2001

Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, Head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs of Turkey:
“Any human being, regardless of his ethnic and religious origin, will
never think of carrying out such a violent, evil attack. Whatever its
purpose is, this action cannot be justified and tolerated.”
Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, “A Message on Ragaib Night and Terrorism,” September 21, 2001

Harun Yahya (Adnan Oktar), Turkish author:
“Islam does not encourage any kind of terrorism; in fact, it denounces
it. Those who use terrorism in the name of Islam, in fact, have no
other faculty except ignorance and hatred.”
Harun Yahya, “Islam Denounces Terrorism”

Shaikh Muhammad Yusuf Islahi, Pakistani-American Muslim leader:
“The sudden barbaric attack on innocent citizens living in peace is
extremely distressing and deplorable. Every gentle human heart goes out
to the victims of this attack and as humans we are ashamed at the
barbarism perpetrated by a few people. Islam, which is a religion of
peace and tolerance, condemns this act and sees this is as a wounding
scar on the face of humanity. I appeal to Muslims to strongly condemn
this act, express unity with the victims’ relatives, donate blood,
money and do whatever it takes to help the affected people.”
“Messages From Shaikh Muhammad Yusuf Islahi,”

Abdal-Hakim Murad, British Muslim author:
“Targeting civilians is a negation of every possible school of Sunni
Islam. Suicide bombing is so foreign to the Quranic ethos that the
Prophet Samson is entirely absent from our scriptures.”
“The Hijackers Were Not Muslims After All: Recapturing Islam From the Terrorists”

Syed Mumtaz Ali, President of the Canadian Society of Muslims:
“We condemn in the strongest terms possible what are apparently vicious
and cowardly acts of terrorism against innocent civilians. We join with
all Canadians in calling for the swift apprehension and punishment of
the perpetrators. No political cause could ever be assisted by such
immoral acts.”
Canadian Society of Muslims, Media Release, September 12, 2001

15 American Muslim organizations:
“We reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of the crime committed on
September 11, 2001 and join our fellow Americans in mourning the loss
of up to 6000 innocent civilians.”
Muslim American Society (MAS), Islamic Circle of North America
(ICNA), Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Muslim Alliance
of North America (MANA), Muslim Student Association (MSA)

Press statement from Council for Islamic American Relations

U.S. MUSLIMS CONDEMN TERRORIST ATTACKS (9/11/2001) –

Muslims in USA today condemned the apparent terrorist attacks in New
York and Washington and offered condolences to the families of those
who were killed or injured.
In a statement, local Muslim representatives said:

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible what are apparently vicious
and cowardly acts of terrorism against innocent civilians. We join with
all Americans in calling for the swift apprehension and punishment of
the perpetrators. No cause could ever be assisted by such immoral acts.”

All members of the Muslim community are asked to offer whatever help
they can to the victims and their families. Muslim medical
professionals should go to the scenes of the attacks to offer aid and
comfort to the victims. Muslim relief agencies should contact their
counterparts to offer support in the recovery efforts. Individual
Muslims should donate blood by contacting the local office of the Red
Cross. They should also send donations to those relief agencies that
are on the scene of the attacks.

“We further call on media professionals to exercise restraint and not
draw premature conclusions as to who was responsible for the apparent
attacks.”

The Islamic Circle of North America declares Friday, September 14, 2001, a day of mourning and prayers

The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) is extremely horrified and
saddened by the tragedy in New York and Washington D.C. Our hearts and
prayers are with the families of the victims of this horrible and
despicable crime. We condemn this heinous act and call upon our
political leaders and the media to act responsibly, and not generalize
when speculating about the perpetrators. Islam does not permit such
unjust actions. Muslims are not terrorists and we condemn any terrorist
attack against all people.

There were several hundred Muslims working in the World Trade Center.
And, a large number of Muslims used to offer Friday prayer in the World
Trade Center. There are many Muslims, who are still among the missing.

We appreciate and thank President Bush for acknowledging that American
Muslims and Arab American are also saddened by this terrorist attack
and by making it clear that any hate crime against Muslims will not be
tolerated.

Our hearts are with those who have lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy and our prayers are with the departed souls.

The Islamic Circle of North America declares Friday, September 12,
2001, a day of mourning and prayers. All the Muslims are requested to
make special prayers for the dead and the injured and also for the
suffering families.

Scholars of Islam speak out against terrorism; clarify position of Islam

Monday, September 17, 2001

Scholars of Islam issued a statement today, condemning the violent attacks of September 11th.

“We are grief-stricken at these horrifying events,” they wrote; “the
murder of innocents can never be justified and must not be tolerated.”

In a lengthy statement, professors from major colleges and universities
throughout the country expressed their compassion for grieving family
members while also decrying the increase in violence against American
Muslims this past week. “Anger and frustration are completely
understandable and shared by us all,” they wrote “yet that anger must
not be directed at individuals utterly innocent of these terrible
crimes.”

In recent days, verbal and physical attacks against Muslims (and people
who were thought to be Muslims) have been reported from California to
Vermont. Muslims have been warned to stay home or to avoid wearing
traditional dress. “Particularly distressing is the fact that many
American Muslims have fled to the United States, seeking a haven from
intolerant regimes in Kosovo, Afghanistan or Iraq. For them now to face
intolerance and violence here is an abuse of our Nation’s most deeply
cherished beliefs” they said.

The co-signers of the statement are members of many scholarly societies in the United States and Canada. They include:

Professor Asma Afsaruddin, of Notre Dame University
Professor Vivienne Sm. Angeles, La Salle University
Professor Ghazala Anwar of the University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Professor Jonathan Brockopp, Director of the Religion Program at Bard College
Professor Patrice C. Brodeur of Connecticut College
Professor Arthur Buehler of Louisiana State University
Professor Amila Buturovic of York University
Professor Juan E. Campo of the University of California, Santa Barbara
Professor Vincent J. Cornell of University of Arkansas
Professor Frederick M. Denny Chair of Islamic Studies and the History of Religions, University of Colorado
Professor Abdullahi Gallab of Hiram College
Professor Behrooz Ghamari of Georgia State University
Professor Alan Godlas of University of Georgia
Professor Hugh Talat Halman, of University of Arkansas
Professor Pieternella (Nelly) Harder Vandoorn,, of Valparaiso University
Professor Marcia Hermansen of Loyola University, Chicago
Professor Valerie J. Hoffman, of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Professor Qamar ul-Huda, of Boston College
Professor Aaron Hughes of the University of Calgary
Professor Amir Hussain of California State University, Northridge
Professor John Iskander of Georgia State Univeristy
Professor Ahmet Karamustafa of Washington University in St. Louis
Professor Tazim Kassam of Syracuse University
Professor Zayn Kassam of Pomona College
Professor Ruqayya Khan of University of California at Santa Barbara
Professor Kathryn Kueny, of Lawrence College
Professor Jane Dammen McAuliffe, Dean of the College, Georgetown University
Professor Richard C. Martin, Emory University
Professor J.W. Morris, Chair of Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter
Professor Gordon D. Newby, Executive Director, Institute for Comparative and International Studies at Emory University
Professor James Pavlin of Rutgers University
Professor Jack Renard of St. Louis University
Professor Omid Safi of Colgate University
Professor Walid Saleh of Middlebury College
Professor Zeki Saritoprak of Berry College
Professor Michael Sells, Haverford College
Professor Laury Silvers-Alario of Holy Cross University
Professor Alfons Teipen of Furman University

Above: Morning market
in Yala. Policemen and villagers have been shot here
and a bomb was found near the market.

From the Thai-language
press: 80-day plan to form Pattani state – Betong to
be new capital city – translated
and summarized by Wisarut Bholsithi with further editing
by Asiper – from Manager
Online, February 20, 2005
More
on Troubles in the South
and Nationalism and Right-wing
Politics

[You will not read this in the English-language papers,
but this is what many Thais are reading and discussing.
Is this a real plan or a ploy to build support for the
government's plan to withhold funding to some areas--or
both?
This article also demonstrates what we have mentioned
before--while in English the government generally insists
the separatist movement has nothing to do with foreigners,
in the Thai-language press, foreign elements are openly
blamed. This type of article is also why most Thais
will probably support the PM's hard line despite the
impression given by the English-language press that
the PM is undergoing a firestorm of criticism for his
handling of the South.]

Hat Yai News Center: The Intelligence
office found a new piece of a plan to establish Pattani
state in five southern border provinces in 80 days.
The capital would be Betong and the state would cover
Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, three amphur (districts)
in Songkhla (Tepa, Sabayoi and Jana), and two districts
(Kuandone and Chalung) in Satun.

The HQs for this insurgency are in Pattani, Yala, and
Narathiwat and they plan to set up a new capital city
in the Betong district of Yala while drafting an Islamic
constitution based upon the Iranian Constitution. They
will demonatarize the Thai baht. This struggle will
run for 80 days before being raised into an international
struggle and invite UN inspectors to handle this in
the same way Palestine and Free Ache Organization are
doing right now.

Foreign forces such as JI, al Quada and Malaysia will
not join at this time, but will support the operation
once it is finished. They have disguised themselves
as tourists as well as the illegal labors from Indonesia.
They are trying to marry with Thai women including Thai
prostitutes from Hat Yai to Sugei Golok to form new
generations. They also invited Muslim Missionaries (Dah
Wah) and those Muslim Burmese from Arakan to join the
struggle. If the operation does not succeed in 80 days,
there will be a suicide in a mosque. They will set up
a suicide squad to plant human bombs at Masjid every
Friday afternoon during Friday prayers.

The plan to form a Pattani state was made in 1992 and
first tried in 1993. The plan was modified in 1994 and
came to a deep crisis on its tenth anniversary in 2004.
The former plan was to rob guns at Battalion No. 4,
Amphur Jorai Rong, Narathiwat using commandos and having
a protest at Takbai, Nartivat. For that protest it was
forbidden to bring weapons and was supposed to stop
at 6pm, but it did not go as planned.  The situation
went out of control causing damage, but an advantage
was that [the resulting deaths of protesters] will continue
to incite future generations. Other protesters disguised
themselves as reporters to broadcast news and blame
government officers.
          
It is found that in 2005 they plan to attack the police
and military checkpoints and kiosks–to be done by a
bomb squad (3-4 men). They are also going to plant big
bombs in Bangkok, Chang Mai and Phuket (3 bombs for
each targets) to distract the armed forces from concentrating
on one area.

However the case of April 28, 2004 [the mosque shootout
where over 100 separatists were killed]–it was unconventional
plan by commander Uttaz Sohlae. He was blamed by the
movement and ordered to drink urine. However the two
events benefit the separatists by allowing them to blame
government officers.

In 2005, they decide to plant bombs at police and military
checkpoints and kiosks–to be done by a bomb squad (3-4
men). They are also going to plant big bombs in Bangkok,
Chang Mai and Phuket (3 bombs for each targets). This
will distract the armed forces. They also plan to kidnap
one district officer from each district to be a hostage
to exchange for their members in jail.

A D-day is planned. 10-15 days before D-day, commandos
who stay in the mountains of Thambon Ayer Wong, Betong
district of Yala will go to the villages that are organized.
Weapons will be transferred to each village in the day,
because there is less inspection than nighttime. On
D-day, commandos and PEMUDA will attack battalions,
destroy, steal weapons, and seize high-level government
officers as hostages. After that they will withdraw
back to forest and wait for the next attack. They will
continue attacking in many places combined with planting
flags in every village. This operation will be not concentrate
on causing damage, but on killing a great number of
people in order to get foreign support and have a dialogue
for a referendum for self-rule such as in East Timor.

At the same time, 100 commandos in Yaha district of
Yala will operate at Yaha Police Office and get cooperation
from Muslim students in many universities who will protest
to make trouble. 3500 commandos were trained by 50 trainers
for 6 months. The members in the villages are organized
PEMUDA which is 70-100% composed of local supporting
groups. They have collected M-16 and HK 33 rifles and
5000-6000 shotguns. These weapon were collected over
40 years and are in Amphur Bannunagstar, Betong, Yala.
They will distribute 2000-3000 rifles to members in
five provinces along with funds collected daily and
monthly since 2002. Funds will also come from foreign
supporters in Sweden, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Philippines,
and Malaysia (Banling district of Kota Baru, Kelantan).

The Ponoh who are involved will be in Yaha and Kabang
District of Yala. They have relationships with these
groups: GMIP, BRNCO, PULO, and BRN Congress. However,
the Wahabi Group will have a dialogue when the mission
is finished while foreign terrorists will also join
the big event.

Exclusive report from one of our sources in the deep south: A series of threats from a southern separatist.

September 13, 2006

At 10:22am on September 13, 2006 the separatist called
my mobile phone. The conversation was in Yawi [the local Malayu
language]. Here is the conversation:

Separatist: Are you the director of [withheld] school?

E: Yes, I am.

Separatist: Are you [withheld]?

E: Yes.

Separatist: Tell the Thai Buddhist teachers.

E: What?

Separatist: Watch themselves. If we are arrested or surrounded, we will shoot all of them. Let
me talk to a Thai Buddhist teacher.

E: The Thai teachers are busy. They are practicing sports with students.

Separatist: Tell the Thai teachers… You must tell them. If you don’t tell, you will be harmed.

E: If you want me to tell, what’s your name?

Separatist: You don’t have to know. I am the one who shot the officer
at Bannangkuwae Bannangkuwae Mu 4, Thambon Bannangsatar, Amphur
Bannangstar, Yala.

E: I was a teacher there.

Separatist: I am not Bannangkuwae resident. I come from the north.
[This likely means the north of Amphur Bannangstar.] I am Yuwae. [A
group that wants a 
Pattani state.] You have to tell them because I know your house. You
stay in [withheld], drive a [withheld] car, resister no. [withheld]. I
know you and know teacher [withheld] and teacher [withheld].

E: O.k. I’ll tell them. But may I ask… are you Muslim?

Separatist: Yes, I am.

E: If you are Muslim. Does Muslim do like this? And why here?

Separatist: Muslim don’t kill Muslim. I kill Thai Buddhists… who corporate with officers.

E: O.k. I ‘ll tell them. So, that’s it?

Separatist: You must tell Thai Buddhists teachers.

While I was talking with the separatist:, the protecting
teacher volunteer was there also. After the conversation, the volunteer
called to the Deputy Sheriff of [withheld] who responsible all
volunteers and I discussed with the rest of the volunteers in order to
analyze the situation. Then I walked to the house of the education
committee chairperson. His wife said he went to a meeting so I told her
the story and went back to the school.

At 10:45 I called to the Sheriff of [withheld], he said
he knew already and told me to check the original place of phone
number. I checked [withheld]. The officer said it was the number of a
canteen in a vocational education school in Yala.

At 11:20 The sheriff of [withheld] and police came to
the school asking about the incident and have a meeting to make a new
plan with more protecting teacher volunteers.

At 12:30 After teachers finished lunch, I asked them to
have meeting and tell them my conversation with Separatist to the
teachers and tell about the procedures of safety.

Mostly the teacher cannot accept with the incident. Some got sweaty ,
some were shivering. So I told them to be calm. For traveling from home
to school, not to worry because the safety volunteers are a good safety
system. But I am worried when people stay at home because if the
Separatists target us it is dangerous for us. But it can happen to
anyone, not us only. But we must not forget that in three southernmost
provinces all areas are red. No matter if we move or not, it is not
different… but I will not move, I will be here.

September 14, 2006

Today at 12:20 the same separatist called to the religious lecturer of [withheld] about what he talked to the “E” yesterday.

The separatist repeated what he talked about on the 13th and said this
must be told to Thai teachers. He also asked if Thai Buddhists were
there. The religious lecturer replied that the Thai teachers did not
come today.

At 14:20 the separatist called the school again.

Separatist: Tell all Thai Buddhists teachers to resign
and move from the area. At present we are pressured. We will kill all
teachers from [withheld].

Religious lecturer: Umm…

Separatist: You say “yes.” You must tell them. If you don’t, I will not guarantee of your safety. I will shoot you all.

Religious lecturer: I don’ t have power to decide. I will tell the director.

Separatist: Umm… Ok.

The separatist used phone number [withheld].

At 16:00 pm I was informed from the director of [withheld] that the
separatist called and said “Watch yourself, I will shoot you to death.”
The separatist called to teachers at [withheld - at least three more
schools in the amphur].

September 15, 2006

Today the school is closed while authorities to decide how to handle this situation.

POST REPORTERS

The majority of people and religious leaders in the lower South are
confident that the coup will ease the political pressure valve and ease
the insurgency. Abdulrosak Ali, chairman of the Islamic committee in
Narathiwat, said yesterday that efforts to restore peace in the
southern border provinces should be more united. Previously,
anti-insurgent policies were ineffective because security forces,
especially soldiers, were reluctant to carry them out as there had been
too many orders from different agencies.

Chid Banluesil, chairman of the Songkhla chamber of commerce,
agreed the change of national administration would mean a welcome
respite.

He urged the ruling Council for Democratic Reform to get an
election organised as soon as possible to restore investor confidence.

Somchart Pimthanapoonporn, president of the Association of Hat
Yai-Songkhla Hotels, said the coup had satisfied southerners because
the Thaksin Shinawatra government had neglected the region’s problems.

Chamras Sriprasom, director of Southern Region Investment and
Economic Centre 1, said southern people and investors welcomed the coup
because they had had enough of the conflicts of interest plaguing the
Thaksin government as well as Mr Thaksin’s favouring of the North and
the Northeast and simultaneous ignorance of the South.

Waedueramae Mamingji, chairman of the Pattani Islamic
committee, said the coup should prevent confrontation between groups of
Thai people.

Solutions to southern violence should be more effective as Gen
Sonthi, in charge of restoring peace there, would not have to bow to
intervention by politicians

Thaksin’s out, so will peace come to South?

Sanitsuda Ekachai

Will the southern violence ease up now that the most-hated man in the
deep South is out of power? In contrast to Thaksin Shinawatra’s hawkish
policies towards the deep South, Army Commander-in-Chief Sonthi
Boonyaratkalin, himself a Muslim, has shown willingness to build
bridges with instigators who consider themselves Pattani freedom
fighters. Now that Gen Sonthi is the man of the hour, his openness to
political solutions should be a reason for hope in the southernmost
region, shouldn’t it?

Don’t hold your hopes too high. The political wounds wrought by
the Thaksin administration during the past two years are probably too
severe to be done away with merely by Mr Thaksin’s political departure.

It is understandable why people in the Muslim-dominated deep
South jumped with joy to see Mr Thaksin’s political career in disgrace.
His war on drugs led to many killings and kidnappings that aggravated
the locals’ anger towards central control and state violence. And with
the Krue Se and Tak Bai tragedies, Mr Thaksin pushed many young people
into the terrorists’ open arms.

To create a tough-guy image for his voters in other regions, Mr
Thaksin’s scornful remarks and use of state media to blast the southern
Muslims also made the majority of the southern Muslims burn with anger
while feeling more alienated. The state of emergency which allowed
security officials to detain anyone for questioning and re-education
has also plunged the communities in deep fear and mutual suspicion.

Meanwhile, the ethnic Malay Muslims feel their natural
resources _ be it the coastal seas, forests or farmland _ are being
stolen by the central government to enrich outsiders, leaving them
steeped in poverty and hardship.

Now that Mr Thaksin has been ousted, they hope that the seafood
bank project which will give their coastal seas to seafood
entrepreneurs, will come to an end. So will the destruction of their
seas by big trawlers and the taking away of their farmland and orchards
by National Park officials.

Despite the upbeat atmosphere in the deep South, their hopes
may not materialise easily. For if Mr Thaksin could win wide public
support for his violent ways in the deep South, our problem is not with
Thaksin, but with our society as a whole. His money-first belief and
central control ideology is also much the same with officialdom, which
refuses local communities, both Muslim and Buddhist, to have a say over
the use of their natural resources.

The military takeover may lead to better coordinated policies
in the South, yet many still doubt if the military’s old
counter-insurgency approach will still work in today’s age of modern
terrorism.

The military wants to talk. But now no one really knows who to
talk to. Nor how many different organisations are involved and what
conflicts they have among themselves. In modern terrorism, even the
members of each cell do not know information and other people beyond
their immediate assignment.

And even if we know who to talk to, that is no guarantee for
peace. Just look at Sri Lanka and other countries where violence rages
on despite peace talk attempts.

If we don’t want bomb blasts to reach Bangkok, we must
seriously think not only of political decentralisation, but also what
it takes for peace to be possible in a pluralistic nation. It takes
mutual respect and willingness to learn about other beliefs and
histories. It takes a new definition of nationhood that is not tied to
ethnicity and religion. It takes the courage to apologise, make amends
and start anew. It takes an ability to forgive.

All this does not require a talk with separatist movements. It
requires a serious talk with ourselves.

We are now free of Mr Thaksin, but peace in the deep South
won’t come about unless we free ourselves of Mr Thaksin’s mindset that
fosters violence.

Sanitsuda Ekachai is Assistant Editor, Bangkok Post.

Email: sanitsudae@bangkokpost.co.th