Key Differences Between Thailand's Deep South And The Moro Rebellion

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

Key differences between Deep South and the Moro rebellion

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The truce in the Philippines between Moro Muslims and authorities in Manila might spark hope among peace-lovers in Thailand to put more effort into seeking a similar solution for Malay Muslims in the Deep South.

However, there are differences in the fundamental characteristics of both movements as well as the response from central governments in the two countries, which suggest it would be very hard to achieve a similar resolution.

Former Malay separatist leader Wan Kadir Che Man, in his PhD thesis, indicated that there were similarities between Moro and Malay separatists that provided legitimacy for them to resist domination from Manila and Bangkok respectively.

Being conscious of their respective historic and culturally coherent communities provided legitimacy and inspiration to their struggles, Che Man said in his thesis "Muslim Separatism: the Moros of Southern Philippines and Malays of Southern Thailand".

Historically, communities of Moro and Malay Muslims existed long before their annexation by predominantly Christian states - in case of the Philippines - and the Buddhist state, in the case of Thailand. Resistance movements arose around the same period, between the early to mid-twentieth century, after their regions were incorporated into greater states.

Similarly, according to Che Man, political and religious leaders were often involved in the struggle. There were some religious elements in their struggles at the beginning. A combination of ethno-religious notions made strong sense for the struggle.

Other external factors, such as intervention by neighbouring countries, western countries, as well as international Islamic movements, also contributed to resistance in the Philippine south and Thailand's Deep South over recent decades.

The fundamental difference - which is key for success, as Che Man put it in his thesis, was the ability of the two movements to pose a threat to central authorities in Manila and Bangkok. Leaders of the Malay movement in southern Thailand were less able to pose a serious threat to Bangkok, he said.

However, Che Man conducted his research in the 1980s and published it in 1990, when the separatist movement in southern Thailand was about to decline. The current wave of Malay struggle is a bit difference from his time. Links between old and new generations of fighters in southern Thailand are very weak, while the Moro have had a continuity of movement.

The head of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (<deleted>), Murad Ebrahim, who sat to talk with the Philippine President Beningo Aquino, is a man from history. In the same generation of Che Man, Ebrahim joined the separatist movement in 1972, at the start with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which later split and became the <deleted>.

The Malay struggle in southern Thailand these days is a faceless movement. They have no declared manifesto but simply create violence to hurt and make trouble. The current wave of insurgency erupted in early 2004 and has seen some 5,000 people killed, mostly Malay Muslims, but nobody knows exactly what objectives and goals they really want to achieve.

It is very hard to establish peace talks between these fighters and the authorities in Bangkok, given this. Thai governments since 2004 have not really known who they are fighting. Attempts to establish talks have failed several times in the past, as the authorities were not able to contact the right people. Senior officials from Bangkok met so-called separatists in the same generation as Che Man several times in Malaysia, and elsewhere, but these have not yet led to real peace talks.

More importantly, even if Bangkok was able to contact the "right people", they may not dare to offer any form of autonomy, as Manila has done with the Moro. The Thai elite maintain a strong belief - which might be wrong - that the Malay Muslims will assimilate into Thai monoculture, and that entities should work to restore peace in the region.

-- The Nation 2012-10-17

[jerrysteve]

There may be in fact key differences, like a line out of an early Bod Dylan song goes, "you ain't got nothing when got nothing to lose."

They ain't got nothing now, so what the hell does the Thai Government has to lose by using a different paradigm,,,,coz the historical strategy

they are still using has produced zero results..

People are stil being killed on both sides of the line.

Edited October 17, 2012 by jerrysteve

[toybits]

I find it amusing that no mention was ever made of the Annexation of the southern provinces about a century ago... Was this a deliberate exclusion?

[asiawatcher]

The crux of the problem is well summarised.

The Malay struggle in southern Thailand these days is a faceless movement. They have no declared manifesto but simply create violence to hurt and make trouble. The current wave of insurgency erupted in early 2004 and has seen some 5,000 people killed, mostly Malay Muslims, but nobody knows exactly what objectives and goals they really want to achieve. It is very hard to establish peace talks between these fighters and the authorities in Bangkok, given this.

It goes way beyond the excuse regarding the Bangkok and the elitists. If the agenda cannot be established, then the violence will continue and no solution can be created and introduced. But is this not what the Islamists want? The Muslims don't but the hard core Islamist don't want a solution - or they would not have a purpose in life, i.e. to make everyone else's life miserable and drag them down to their own existence through fear and intimidation. They could start by Muslims identifying Islamists and renouncing them.

[khunron13]

"However, Che Man conducted his research in the 1980s and published it in 1990". Kind of outdated, isn't it?

[sunshine51]

Yes..Che Man's theseis is out dated by a long ways. However, not having read

his thesis in it's entirety it appears some history was left out of it; namely the fact

that when Islam spread to the Southern Philippines via Indonesia and Malaya to

include parts of Southern Siam the Muslims were met by the Spanish who managed

to stop them by armed conflict and contain them mainly on Mindanao. Spain had

the Philippines for over 300 years. Then as a result of the Spanish-American War

the Americans were given the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam. Then the brutal

but short Philippine American war started. General John pershing ended up in

Command of US forces in the Philippines and pretty much put the Moro's (Muslims)

in their place in the ground. This ceased their advances outside of Mindanao and also

led to a new handgun being developed to stop the drug crazed Moro's in their tracks;

The Colt model 1911 in .45 caliber. Tested and confirmed to be effective in the

Philippines prior to adoption into service by the US Army in 1911.

All that said...the MAIN difference is that the <deleted> has had definable leaders

throughout it's history whereas the problems in Thailands South has no

definablke leadership.

[lemonjelly]

I find it amusing that no mention was ever made of the Annexation of the southern provinces about a century ago... Was this a deliberate exclusion?

Historically, communities of Moro and Malay Muslims existed long before their annexation by predominantly Christian states - in case of the Philippines - and the Buddhist state, in the case of Thailand. Resistance movements arose around the same period, between the early to mid-twentieth century, after their regions were incorporated into greater states. (paragraph the fifth) Edited October 17, 2012 by lemonjelly

[55Jay]

All or nothing. The cause is reversal of annexation and forced assimilation.

There are factions already splitting off from <deleted> due to this agreement, which is a compromise, thus <deleted> is seen as weak. It'll still be The Philippines.

Even if Bangkok did similar, S. Thailand won't be solved until there's an immigration border check point to enter Southern Thailand. Pretty clear what the aim is when they fly Malaysian flags down there.

Be useful if the Malaysian Gov released a statement along these lines:

"Dear S. Thailand Brothers and Sisters. We don't support you. If you win total separation from Thailand, you will not be a part of Malaysia (again). We will not support you financially or with government services, and will not protect you militarily. You are on your own. Good luck.

PS: Please stop flying our Flag, make your own"

A normal, sane monkey doesn't let go of one branch until he's got a grip on the next one.

Edited October 17, 2012 by 55Jay

[bigbamboo]

The crux of the problem is well summarised.

The Malay struggle in southern Thailand these days is a faceless movement. They have no declared manifesto but simply create violence to hurt and make trouble. The current wave of insurgency erupted in early 2004 and has seen some 5,000 people killed, mostly Malay Muslims, but nobody knows exactly what objectives and goals they really want to achieve. It is very hard to establish peace talks between these fighters and the authorities in Bangkok, given this.

It goes way beyond the excuse regarding the Bangkok and the elitists. If the agenda cannot be established, then the violence will continue and no solution can be created and introduced. But is this not what the Islamists want? The Muslims don't but the hard core Islamist don't want a solution - or they would not have a purpose in life, i.e. to make everyone else's life miserable and drag them down to their own existence through fear and intimidation. They could start by Muslims identifying Islamists and renouncing them.

I once looked up the definition of 'silent majority' and it just showed an image of a billion Muslims.

[55Jay]

The headline should read: "Deep South and Moro Rebellion - Fundamentally the Same"

Not sure if the author or the editor should be sacked for actually printing this article. Maybe both.

[indyuk]

Thank you to all contributors to the topic and quotes. I am not well informed of this topic and enjoyed reading it :-)

[Rancid]

If the Thai Elite actually do believe that Muslims will eventually assimilate they are as blind as Western govrenments that still foolishly allow Muslim immigration to gather the PC votes. Muslims do not integrate into any non-Muslim culture in any way shape or form, they simply set up a violent sub group that constantly pushes for Sharia Law, honor killings and female genital multilation are now common in the west.

As to Malaysia, as if they would want that substantial land area and its recources joined into Malaysia, being a country that actively discriminates against non-Muslims no doubt they are delighted with Buddhist Thailand as the current owner, political talk means nothing. Thailand seems to have no actual policy to the South that they make public, they should either let it go or seriously wipe them out, the current situation may profit the usual gangs of connected crooks, but how long do innocent Thais have to be cold bloodedly murdrered by those animals?