Thailand's Smart Move

Thai Muslim villagers pray at a cemetery on the day of Eid ul-Fitr celebrations in Thailand
Photo: AFP

A tin-roof structure with no wall around stands near a narrow concrete road that runs through the plain land between two small hills at a remote hamlet of Gettree district in Satun province of Thailand. Several Muslim women in traditional attire sit proudly at its entrance of the centre were displaying different types of homemade food items like cookies, coffee and many other products mostly made of coconuts, on a table.
These women have prepared these food items after receiving training from the centre housed in the structure. The women gathered from different nearby hamlets receive training on different subjects like farming of land, fishing etc. The Thai government has been facilitating such training to different other areas in the region on varied subjects so that the community people can sell their products among them and earn money for a better livelihood.
The training centres operate under the government's direct patronage and assistance. This is one of many steps the government has taken to improve the lives of the people of five southern most provinces of Thailand. Many private and Islamic schools have been given sufficient allocation for the promotion of Islamic education. Moreover, there are some schools run under the Royal patronage to give modern education to the students of the region which is lagging behind comparing with other parts of Thailand in education.
Such steps have been taken alongside tight security measures as a solution to violence perpetrated in the five southern border provinces of Thailand that is known for its unique “Thai Malay Muslim” cultural identity. The provinces are: Narathiwat, Pattani,Yala, Songkhla and Satun where five million Muslims live.
Thai foreign ministry officials have said the government does not believe that military means is the solution.
"The Thai government believes that to communicate with people of different faiths dialogue is the best way,” Mongkol Sinsomboon, director, office of Foreign Affairs of Southern Border Provinces Administrative Council (SBPAC), told a group of visiting journalists recently.
According to media reports, rebels in Thailand's Muslim-majority south recently called for the army to return to their bases over Ramadan in exchange for a ceasefire during the holy month, a condition swiftly rejected by the kingdom's government. More than 5,500 people have died in the near decade-long insurgency in Thailand's south but optimism for peace has flickered recently after talks between authorities and some rebel groups including the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN). Near-daily attacks on security forces and civilians have continued despite a successful round of talks on June 14, which saw both sides agree to work towards curbing violence over Ramadan.

Police stand guard during a suspected attack by insurgents at a military base in Southern Thailand. The government is now trying to opt for more diplomatic solutions to stop the violence. Photo: AFP

The five Southern Border regions known for its unique “Thai Malay Muslim” cultural identity have been witnessing violence perpetrated by several insurgent groups since 2004, causing loss to lives and properties, besides the psychological trauma of the people in the affected area.
"This region is now threatened by instigators who use cultural difference to claim legitimacy in using violence to further their cause,” says Mongkol.
The violence has been eroding investigators' confidence and leaving its devastating repercussion on the local economy and society, affecting people's life and education, all of which lead to more social problems, he adds.
He says the Thai government recognises that the root cause of the problem lies in the Southern Border Provinces' (SBPs) unique history and cultural identity, and the grievances of the local population on the perceived social and economic injustices, poverty and most importantly, a desire for respect and for a better understanding of local traditions and way of life and culture.
"The situation is neither a religious nor an inter-communal conflict,” said Mongkol at a briefing of the foreign journalists on SBPs situation at Satun city hall on June 27.
Journalists from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, Bahrain, Morocco and Senegal visited Thailand from June 23 to 30. The trip labelled ‘Muslim media familiarisation trip to Thailand’ was arranged by the Thai Foreign Ministry.
Thailand's constitutional guarantee of religious freedom is a practical reality; and there is no legal basis for religious discrimination. In fact, Thai Muslims elsewhere in the country live in harmony with the Thais of other faiths. The government provides regular support for Thai Muslims, such as facilitating the annual Hajj pilgrimage and supporting other Islamic activities, students, teachers and other Muslims.
"The violence in SBPs perpetrated by a small group of people is to create social divisions where none have previously existed,” Mongkol Sinsomboon said.
To date, no group has claimed responsibility for any of the attacks, nor have they made their demands known publicly, he added.
For centuries Thailand has been known for its diverse culture. Today Thailand is a modern nation, where all Thais, regardless of their ethnicity or religious faith live in peace, harmony and equality in a vibrant parliamentary democracy.
"The area is the poorest part of the country. Local people believe that the previous government did not show proper attention for which no substantial industrial and economic development could take place there,” Vijavat Isarabhakdi, deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, told the visiting journalists.
"The government's approach is peaceful, with full participation of the people in resolving the problem,” Mongkol Sinsomboon claimed.
He further said the approach focuses on, firstly improving the quality of life by accelerating development efforts, ensuring fairness and justice and secondly, ensuring the safety and security of the people in the SBPs by reinforcing security presence and measures, which are necessary as long as the situation so requires.
The government has a clear policy to promote the cultures and traditions of local communities, including the Thai Malay Muslim culture.
As demanded by local community, the government has been facilitating use of local Yawi language in the SBPs providing interpreters. Since March 2010, 150 Thai-Malay interpreters were appointed in state hospitals, district offices, police stations.
There have been other measures taken by the government to promote interfaith tolerance. It has provided support for Islamic Studies in all educational and religious institutions. Registered private Islamic Schools receive subsidies to students of lower and upper secondary levels per year, support for textbooks, equipment and learning materials. Religious instructors also receive honorariums from the state.
Moreover, 'Pondok' (Islamic schools) and Tadikas (Islamic Schools attached to mosques) also receive similar facilities. There are around 373 registered 'pondoks' in the SBPs.
State schools generally give students no less than two hours per week of Islamic institution. Around 303 state schools opt for a more focused mode of religious instruction, and these give no less than 10 hours per week of Islamic instruction.

The writer is Deputy Chief Reporter, The Daily Star