State Fails To Grasp Nature Of South Violence: Thai Academic

[webfact]

State fails to grasp nature of South violence: academic

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Thai state needs to rethink the issue of separatist-related violence in the deep South, said prominent political scientist Assoc Prof Surachart Bamrungsuk of Chulalongkorn University.

The old way of thinking about the conflict is no longer adequate, Surachart said. The state and society must be aware that Thailand is facing insurgent warfare that is complicated by factors including religious, ethnic, cultural and historical differences, combined with a global surge in Islamic extremism in the aftermath of the September 2001 attack on the United States, he said.

"The old way [of understanding the conflict] doesn't answer the question anymore," Surachart told The Nation.

Today, he said, not only has the state failed to create a safe zone in the deep South in which life can more or less go on as normal, but it has also failed to win the hearts of the people.

People must be prepared to accept that the conflict will drag on for a long time, he said, urging the state to produce strategic successes, instead of tactical ones.

"It won't be solved within 99 days. It's impossible," he said, referring to an old election promise made by one major political party in the past.

A new generation of officials with a different way of looking at the conflict is also needed, said Surachart, who has written extensively about the deep South.

General public should also try to understand

Surachart doesn't blame the public at large, which he said has difficulties understanding this "very complicated" situation.

"They see violence through their own interpretation," he said, adding that many Thais have little grasp of the historical or cultural context of the conflict. "Their perceptions exist without information or understanding."

However, military affairs researcher Colonel Teeranan Nandhakwang thinks neither society nor the Thai media really care about what is going on in the three southernmost provinces, offering little beyond knee-jerk reactions every time violence flares up.

"Thai society has never accorded importance to the southern issue," said Teeranan, adding that earlier this year, the Thai mass media were more preoccupied with the fact that local television stations were failing to broadcast a European football tournament than the violence that was occurring at the same time.

Teeranan said little research has been done about how Thai-Malay Muslims in the deep South think or what their aspirations are, while the so-called experts seem to be all too ready to serve as "talking heads".

"We lack in-depth studies and are too ready to postulate," Teeranan added.

According to General Ekkachai Srivilas, director of the Office of Peace and Governance at King Prajadhipok's Institute, about 600 studies on the deep South have been commissioned by the Thai Research Fund, but only one dealt with the issue of justice.

Media coverage 'very superficial'

Ekkachai criticised the Bangkok-based national media for its superficial coverage and for its failure to present the positive side of life in the deep South, which also exists. The director criticised the government's recent decision to task Burapha University in Chon Buri province to assess how the annual Bt20-billion budget for the deep South is being administered. He said universities in the three southernmost provinces should have been used instead, adding that the move has reinforced a belief among Thai-Malay Muslims that the state does not trust them.

As for Surachart, he thinks there exists no conversation between the majority of people in the deep South and the rest of society, although this is not unusual.

"Does Thai society really have 'conversations' on other issues? Political conversation in Thailand has been shut down for a long time now."

Ekkachai said that although he is for decentralisation in the deep South, nationalist sentiment in Bangkok means it is almost impossible to conceive of having an elected governor in Pattani, Yala or Narathiwat anytime soon. The retired Army general said hope hinges on pushing for elected governors elsewhere in Chiang Mai or Khon Kaen provinces first. Decentralisation in Thailand, said Ekkachai, lags behind Indonesia and even China.

Ekkachai echoed the sentiment of Surachart when he said many Thais look at the issue of the deep South from the superficial point of view of someone who has never been to the region or talked with local people. He also agreed with Ekkachai that a different strategy is really needed to deal with guerrilla, psychological and information warfare.

-- The Nation 2012-08-10

[jerrysteve]

The Professor is correct ! Unfortunately the Thai Governments Low Mentality a Bandaid Mentality.

[cup-O-coffee]

The Thai state needs to rethink...

And that is where the article can end.

If you make them think they are thinking, they will love you. If you really make them think, they will hate you.

It's funny, but to digress a bit, the Thais seem to know how to handle out and out foreigners who live here and conduct real estate buyouts and other offending purshases that affect the nationalistic identity of what Thailand is all about.

What is odd is that they do not know how to deal with Native Thai people with foreign mindsets (fanatical loyalties to non-Thai religious and government thinking) who do the same thing in their hearts and not with their currency.; "winning their hearts instead of winning the currency purchase" so to speak

The foreigners do not strike back because they do not care to defend their right to their purchases. The Southern Thais fight back because they are defending their non-Thai religious views; their hearts and minds; something held more sacred than a thing you purchase with currency. So what you really have is Buddhist and Animist thinking people (who are trained to accept the hearts and minds of others, without exception) fighting against Islamic thinking people (who are trained to win the hearts and minds of others, or aggressively end them). Ah; religion and politics again!

There will never be peace until they agree to disagree and the Buddhist and Animist Thais set-up and enforce martial limits on the growth of Islam in their country. I think this cannot be done with the Islamic people, because the driving force behind their beliefs are to win the hearts and minds of the people, or aggressively end them.

"If you are for us, you will enlist your aid to the cause, and if you are against us we will persist until we either convert you or end you."

The Buddhist and Animist attitude stands no chance against a force like this. Buddhism and Animism is designed to accept at all costs to avoid coming back in another life and suffering for your over-reactions. The fight from these two mentalities will never see a conclusion because to accept means to fight half-assed and without conviction or support from within your heart and mind and the hearts and minds of those back home whom you are supposed to be defending. it's a battle and a war lost until this is realized and action is taken before it is too late.

How can you accept a force that is designed to willfully convert you or aggressively snuff you out; to survive only to perpetuate itself, and to use tactics that go beyond human decency?

Answer? Extreme prejudice, when foreign religious views rise above the views of the Constitution of that governing body and interfere with the well-being of the laws governing that society and interferes with those who live willingly and peacefully under the laws of that constitution.

This is technically a De facto act of war that is happening this moment on Thai soil, yet is not being recognized as such due to the indoctrination of what Buddhism and Animism brings into the minds of its acolytes. In other words, they just don't get it, because to act is to go against their religion. That is why Islam will grow in Thailand to an extent that an all-out civil war is an eventuality and a certainty in the near future, in my opinion.

A person who claims to be upright and decent and of a developed mind simply cannot make friends with a bully. That person will eventually have to answer the challenge that comes to all of us in life, that compels us to fight or flee. You either run from the bully, or make friends with him and let him dominate and degrade you for the rest of your life; or you give the bully a poke in the nose, and be prepared to do it again until he moves on, or you end him. Most of the Thais on this issue are trying the first two options, and only a few enlightened ones see the practicality of survival by entertaining the third option.

The damning thing about this is that Thailand is alone on this one. No one is going to step in and help them win this victory. I am certain their are outside influences that are playing their self-interest cards, but my heartfelt belief is that Thailand has to make a decision soon if they want to remain Buddhist and Animist, or go over to complete Islam in the future by allowing their government seats to be populated by people whose hearts and minds are a foregone conclusion. It is a clever way to win a war for people's minds and hearts without using guns and bayonets; but it seems some Islamist fanatics cannot wait that long for their more peaceful minded brothers and sisters to carry out this psychological certainty.

Edited August 11, 2012 by cup-O-coffee

[simple1]

I'm sure you are familiar with the history of the Deep South, so why do think that the conflict is solely about religion and not about self governance? In a nutshell your post is just yet another anti Islamic rant.

Edited August 11, 2012 by simple1

[Thai at Heart]

Well when the entire Muslim population down there has a derogatory nickname, one would say the entire country doesn't understand it.

[cup-O-coffee]

I'm sure you are familiar with the history of the Deep South, so why do think that the conflict is solely about religion and not about self governance? In a nutshell your post is just yet another anti Islamic rant.

Because the subject of Islam keeps coming up in these articles. If it were about anything else (i.e. self-governance) then Islam or anything related to it would not be used in the text. That's a no-brainer.

In a nutshell, you have the right to oppose my views. Congratulations. And incidentally, yes! I am deeply set against religion.

[hellodolly]

Well the fact that the problem is based in Islam is a no brainer. The solution will in the end rely on the people. If Thailand could help the average citizen improve and enjoy his life it would slowly but surley kick the support out from under the extremists feet.

The only reason they want their own government is so they can impose Sherie law on the population.

Sorry about the spelling of the name for Islam law.

[simple1]

I'm sure you are familiar with the history of the Deep South, so why do think that the conflict is solely about religion and not about self governance? In a nutshell your post is just yet another anti Islamic rant.

Because the subject of Islam keeps coming up in these articles. If it were about anything else (i.e. self-governance) then Islam or anything related to it would not be used in the text. That's a no-brainer.

In a nutshell, you have the right to oppose my views. Congratulations. And incidentally, yes! I am deeply set against religion.

Fair enough if you are against religion. I assume you already know this info, but just in case the reason why Islam/Muslims is referred to is, unlike the rest of Thailand, which is predominantly Buddhist and Thai-speaking, 80% of the 1.7 million who live in the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat are Malay-speaking and many are seeking autonomy. The following article (May 2012), in my opinion, provides a balanced review of the situation and underlying factors for lack of progress in seeking a resolution for the conflict.

Read more:

http://world.time.com/2012/04/23/thailand-insurgency/#ixzz23EdkSsdS

[Thai at Heart]

I'm sure you are familiar with the history of the Deep South, so why do think that the conflict is solely about religion and not about self governance? In a nutshell your post is just yet another anti Islamic rant.

Because the subject of Islam keeps coming up in these articles. If it were about anything else (i.e. self-governance) then Islam or anything related to it would not be used in the text. That's a no-brainer.

In a nutshell, you have the right to oppose my views. Congratulations. And incidentally, yes! I am deeply set against religion.

Fair enough if you are against religion. I assume you already know this info, but just in case the reason why Islam/Muslims is referred to is, unlike the rest of Thailand, which is predominantly Buddhist and Thai-speaking, 80% of the 1.7 million who live in the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat are Malay-speaking and many are seeking autonomy. The following article (May 2012), in my opinion, provides a balanced review of the situation and underlying factors for lack of progress in seeking a resolution for the conflict.

Read more:

http://world.time.com/2012/04/23/thailand-insurgency/#ixzz23EdkSsdS

Autonomy is never going to happen, but Thainess might change

[garrya]

The Thai state needs to rethink...

And that is where the article can end.

If you make them think they are thinking, they will love you. If you really make them think, they will hate you.

It's funny, but to digress a bit, the Thais seem to know how to handle out and out foreigners who live here and conduct real estate buyouts and other offending purshases that affect the nationalistic identity of what Thailand is all about.

What is odd is that they do not know how to deal with Native Thai people with foreign mindsets (fanatical loyalties to non-Thai religious and government thinking) who do the same thing in their hearts and not with their currency.; "winning their hearts instead of winning the currency purchase" so to speak

The foreigners do not strike back because they do not care to defend their right to their purchases. The Southern Thais fight back because they are defending their non-Thai religious views; their hearts and minds; something held more sacred than a thing you purchase with currency. So what you really have is Buddhist and Animist thinking people (who are trained to accept the hearts and minds of others, without exception) fighting against Islamic thinking people (who are trained to win the hearts and minds of others, or aggressively end them). Ah; religion and politics again!

There will never be peace until they agree to disagree and the Buddhist and Animist Thais set-up and enforce martial limits on the growth of Islam in their country. I think this cannot be done with the Islamic people, because the driving force behind their beliefs are to win the hearts and minds of the people, or aggressively end them.

"If you are for us, you will enlist your aid to the cause, and if you are against us we will persist until we either convert you or end you."

The Buddhist and Animist attitude stands no chance against a force like this. Buddhism and Animism is designed to accept at all costs to avoid coming back in another life and suffering for your over-reactions. The fight from these two mentalities will never see a conclusion because to accept means to fight half-assed and without conviction or support from within your heart and mind and the hearts and minds of those back home whom you are supposed to be defending. it's a battle and a war lost until this is realized and action is taken before it is too late.

How can you accept a force that is designed to willfully convert you or aggressively snuff you out; to survive only to perpetuate itself, and to use tactics that go beyond human decency?

Answer? Extreme prejudice, when foreign religious views rise above the views of the Constitution of that governing body and interfere with the well-being of the laws governing that society and interferes with those who live willingly and peacefully under the laws of that constitution.

This is technically a De facto act of war that is happening this moment on Thai soil, yet is not being recognized as such due to the indoctrination of what Buddhism and Animism brings into the minds of its acolytes. In other words, they just don't get it, because to act is to go against their religion. That is why Islam will grow in Thailand to an extent that an all-out civil war is an eventuality and a certainty in the near future, in my opinion.

A person who claims to be upright and decent and of a developed mind simply cannot make friends with a bully. That person will eventually have to answer the challenge that comes to all of us in life, that compels us to fight or flee. You either run from the bully, or make friends with him and let him dominate and degrade you for the rest of your life; or you give the bully a poke in the nose, and be prepared to do it again until he moves on, or you end him. Most of the Thais on this issue are trying the first two options, and only a few enlightened ones see the practicality of survival by entertaining the third option.

The damning thing about this is that Thailand is alone on this one. No one is going to step in and help them win this victory. I am certain their are outside influences that are playing their self-interest cards, but my heartfelt belief is that Thailand has to make a decision soon if they want to remain Buddhist and Animist, or go over to complete Islam in the future by allowing their government seats to be populated by people whose hearts and minds are a foregone conclusion. It is a clever way to win a war for people's minds and hearts without using guns and bayonets; but it seems some Islamist fanatics cannot wait that long for their more peaceful minded brothers and sisters to carry out this psychological certainty.

Just a correction. People down there who are causing this mess are not "native Thai" but native Malay and of a Persian origin.

[mjj]

80% of the 1.7m population in the 3 southern provinces are Malay speaking Muslims!?! Really?

I know that the Thai/Malay border used to be higher up, but that figure seems very high. I have no information to dispute it, but whenever I've been to the border for a visa run it looked very Thai to me.

[cup-O-coffee]

I'm sure you are familiar with the history of the Deep South, so why do think that the conflict is solely about religion and not about self governance? In a nutshell your post is just yet another anti Islamic rant.

Because the subject of Islam keeps coming up in these articles. If it were about anything else (i.e. self-governance) then Islam or anything related to it would not be used in the text. That's a no-brainer.

In a nutshell, you have the right to oppose my views. Congratulations. And incidentally, yes! I am deeply set against religion.

Fair enough if you are against religion. I assume you already know this info, but just in case the reason why Islam/Muslims is referred to is, unlike the rest of Thailand, which is predominantly Buddhist and Thai-speaking, 80% of the 1.7 million who live in the southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat are Malay-speaking and many are seeking autonomy. The following article (May 2012), in my opinion, provides a balanced review of the situation and underlying factors for lack of progress in seeking a resolution for the conflict.

Read more:

http://world.time.co.../#ixzz23EdkSsdS

I read that article, and it is exactly as I stated in my longer post, except it is put into political jabberwocky, and dances around the frank statements in my post. Most Islamic people want us to believe that they only subscribe to their five pillars of faith (and I believe a certain percentage are decent people who would like it to be as simple as that), but for the most part, I do not see these kind Islamic people parading around in protest of their more evil and murderous brothers and sisters who have taken Islam into a reign of terror, that damages the five pillars of faith beyond any ability to reconcile the sincerity of those five, peace-loving "pillars".

It is the same as Christianity; you are either for us or against us. The damned ludicrous thing about all this is that all religions are nothing without having mankind to serve as cannon fodder for their very existence.

There is no future for religion were it to be animals or insects that have to exist with performance-based-acceptance. Whatever made man think that he had fully evolved when he reached the point of controlling others with fear and crisis and stopped in his development at that point is a mistake that some day we will look back on and shake our heads in disbelief at our own stupidity.

When men and women show the same fearful respect towards each other as they demonstrate to a figment of their imagination, then we will truly be able to advance, singularly, as a species, undivided by clever ruses that keep us warring against each other. What I mean is, most wars have been over beliefs, and not over being hungry or cold or unloved. Religion is the stick that keeps things stirred up in the minds of men and women and limits their ability to develop beyond the point of controlling others through fear and crisis.

Incidentally, I see more traits of animism than I do of Buddhism, and the two have marked differences. I believe there is a shift back and forth at whim, but Buddhism gets more attention from a politically and money-driven standpoint. The baser percentage of the population embrace more animistic behavior towards their lives and the things around them than the other, more publicized Buddhist views.

Either way, both make a nice "crutch" to keep one dependent on religion and a major distraction from self-actualization of the human mind and its potential. I learned all this a long time ago and have never regretted it. The freedom of respecting people for how they treat their fellow human beings is far more edifying than being shamed into respecting people because I am afraid of going to Hell.

[simple1]

@cup-O-coffee - As the old saying goes "religion is the opium of the people". Full translated quote from Marx is "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people".

Off topic, but I agree with your comments on Thai Buddhism, whilst in no way do I claim to be a subject matter expert, to me, within Thai society, the message at the core of Buddhism very rarely shows it's face at the leadership level of government, with the resultant outcomes

On a much lighter note, have you been to Vietnam, best coffee I've ever had...

Edited August 13, 2012 by simple1

[cup-O-coffee]

@cup-O-coffee - As the old saying goes "religion is the opium of the people". Full translated quote from Marx is "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people".

Off topic, but I agree with your comments on Thai Buddhism, whilst in no way do I claim to be a subject matter expert, to me, within Thai society, the message at the core of Buddhism very rarely shows it's face at the leadership level of government, with the resultant outcomes

On a much lighter note, have you been to Vietnam, best coffee I've ever had...

Agreed. ...and yes, the coffee is delicious; noodle soup as well.