Prime Minister Advocates Islamic Law For Far South

[Jai Dee]

Thai Advocates Islamic Law for Far South

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, in another significant gesture to Muslim insurgents in the far south, said Tuesday that Islamic law should be given a bigger role there.

He also said the only condition his post-coup government would impose for talks with the insurgents was that there should be no discussion of separation.

Mr. Surayud told the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand that Shariah, or Islamic law, should be allowed in the area, where 80 percent of the people are ethnic Malay and Muslim.

“They should have the Islamic law in practice, Shariah, because the way they are dealing with the normal practice in their society, in their life, is completely different from us,” said the former army chief of predominantly Buddhist Thailand.

“So that’s the way we are trying to say, that you can live with your own group, own morals,” he said in reply to a question without giving other details.

Last week Mr. Surayud went south to make a public apology for past hard-line government policies blamed for stoking unrest in a region that was an Islamic sultanate until it was annexed by Thailand a century ago.

His apology was followed by the dropping of charges against 92 Muslims involved in a 2004 protest after which 78 protesters were crushed or suffocated in army custody.

The gestures and the statements on Tuesday were a striking contrast with those of his predecessor, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup by the military on Sept. 19 and who opposed any form of talks with insurgents.

Mr. Surayud said he wanted to “establish a constructive dialogue with all concerned parties” as long as they did not demand independence. “No separation: that’s the only condition that we have,” he said. “In the Thai Constitution, we cannot separate our land any more. This is the rule of this land, that we are not going to be divided any more.”

In another show of good will in hopes of ending nearly three years of violence in which more than 1,700 people have been killed, the government agreed Tuesday to pay families of the Muslims who died in army custody, their lawyer said.

Source: Reuters - 8 November 2006

[britmaveric]

islamic law????

[Explorer]

hope he knows what he is getting into down there

Explorer

[Jai Dee]

Thai PM will not allow southern provinces to split

Thailand's military-backed Prime Minister, Surayud Chulanont, says he will not allow the predominantly Muslim southern provinces to separate.

During a keynote speech to the foreign media in Bangkok last night, General Surayud said he wanted to see an end to the divisions in his nation, particularly in the south, where separatist and other insurgent groups carry out daily violent attacks.

While he ruled out allowing separation from Thailand, he says his Government would consider a model of self autonomy for the predominantly Muslim provinces.

Gen Surayud reassured the crowd he was keen to restore democracy as quickly as possible.

He has also asked the generals of the Council for National Security to consider ending martial law in some parts of the country.

Last week Gen Surayud apologised for the Tak Bai massacre of 2004, in which 80 protesters died while in military custody.

The families of the dead have also been offered compensation, while charges have been dropped against other protesters.

Source: ABC Online - 8 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

Thai junta may allow Shariah in south

A fundamental shift in government policy

BANGKOK: Thailand's military-installed government announced a flurry of initiatives Tuesday, including a proposal to introduce Shariah law in the restive Muslim southern provinces, a demand that the family of Thaksin Shinawatra, the prime minister deposed on Sept. 19 coup, pay billions of baht in back taxes; and the restoration of the right of assembly.

Speaking to foreign correspondents for the first time since taking office, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont refused to set a firm timetable for elections but said he hoped he would no longer be in power in 2008. "I don't want to be around for too long," he said. The government would try to speed up the process of writing a new Constitution, he said.

Surayud vowed "far-reaching and drastic reforms" of the judicial system, the police and the anti-corruption agencies, saying that restoring "the rule of law" was one of his government's priorities.

Surayud, a former general, has won plaudits for his calm demeanor and his conciliatory gestures, a welcome change for many Thais from the frenetic, divisive personality of Thaksin.

Last Thursday, Surayud, who at one point headed the country's special forces, traveled to the southern provinces to apologize for the government's handling of the Muslim insurgency that has left more than 1,700 dead since 2004, including 4 deaths Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Surayud said Muslims in southern Thailand should be allowed to have their own legal system, a fundamental shift in policy from previous governments.

"They should have the Islamic law in practice - the Shariah," Surayud said. Muslims in southern Thailand have different values from Buddhist Thais, he said. "You can live with your own rules, your own laws," Surayud said. Some family matters are already adjudicated using Muslim principles but nothing resembling a Shariah law.

Surayud argued Tuesday that his government could make difficult decisions precisely because it was not democratically elected.

"I am not a politician and I'm not bound by special interests," Surayud said. "I have the authority and the power that comes with being an appointed prime minister to act quickly and decisively."

The Bangkok elite, which so vociferously opposed Thaksin, has been somewhat impatient with Surayud, especially the slow pace of investigations into alleged corruption carried out by Thaksin and the military's refusal to lift martial law.

The government addressed both of these points Tuesday. Surayud said

Tuesday that martial law could be lifted in "some areas," but he said the final decision would be made by the coup leader, Sonthi Boonyaratglin, a sign that this government was still beholden to the generals who installed them.

Source: International Herald Tribune - November 8, 2006

[lukamar]

hope he knows what he is getting into down there

To have Islamic law, wouldn't you need an Islamic court?

[britmaveric]

hope he knows what he is getting into down there

To have Islamic law, wouldn't you need an Islamic court?

Islamic police as well.....

[Steph1012]

hope he knows what he is getting into down there

To have Islamic law, wouldn't you need an Islamic court?

Islamic police as well.....

Let em have it. Maybe when any fun that they have in their lives is clamped down on by old men in beards they will fight against the Islamists. Try a late night experimental contrast between Thai TV and Al Jazerra!!

It'll ensure an almost total tourist boycott of the area for all time... more for us.

Edited November 8, 2006 by Steph1012

[womble]

Sharia is a great idea for the region.

Let the hardliners control the area, the old men in beards will soon put a stop to all the fun they have been having down there! The northern Malaysian states have sharia, so too can deep south.

Devolution is most definatley something that has a chance to work and should be acceptable to both sides.

Edited November 8, 2006 by womble

[adad]

In fact the Syariah law applies to all Muslims throughout the country, and though enforced, co-exists with the Malaysian Federal law.

It's always been that way in Malaysia - and nope, being governed by islamic law does not stop tourists from going to Malaysia. [though the recent harrassment of a non-muslim and married farang couple in Langkawi for 'close proximity' baffles everyone].

I believe Syariah will not replace the normal Thai law that applies to every Thai citizen, but govern their daily lives as Muslims.

Just my two baht.

[TAWP]

Jeez, someone really dropped the ball on this one...

[Nemo.]

hope he knows what he is getting into down there

Explorer

most likely follow Malaysia's system of civil law for non-Muslims and Islamic law for Muslims. mostly it covers family law (marriage/divorce/inheritance) NOT criminal law. It works well enough and wouldnt effect non-Muslims (the majority so no worries)

[PhilHarries]

hope he knows what he is getting into down there

Explorer

most likely follow Malaysia's system of civil law for non-Muslims and Islamic law for Muslims. mostly it covers family law (marriage/divorce/inheritance) NOT criminal law. It works well enough and wouldnt effect non-Muslims (the majority so no worries)

Yes, it all seemed to work fairly well when I was working in Terrengannu a few years back. Certainly we westerners (men) didn't experience any hassles and I don't remember the women having any problems save covering up arms and legs when they left the resort.

The main oddities seemed to cover the demon alchohol obviously. You could only drink canned beer at the lobby bar, draft beer and wine in the restaurant but anything you liked at the beach bar. The muslims there were a pretty pragmatic lot and realised that tourism was their number one income so didn't mess with westerners. It is to be hoped that their southern Thai comrades are from the same mould should this proposal come into being.

[Scott]

I find it rather scary that they would do this. I mean is this one of the things the insurgents are asking for? I don't remember this being a bargaining point. It doesn't make sense to give something that no one is asking for.

This might be seen more as a sign of weakness.

[Jai Dee]

Hope for the Future

The Irrawaddy speaks with Sunai Phasuk, Thailand consultant for New York-based Human Rights Watch, on the prospects for peace in Thailand’s violence-racked southern provinces.

Question: Thai media and much of the population has renewed hope for peace in the South since Thaksin’s ouster. How realistic is this hope?

Answer: People there—Muslim and Buddhist—have every right to be hopeful. But it remains unclear how soon and how serious the new government can make an overhaul of its policy to deal with the escalating insurgency. Equally important is whether or not those militants responsible for daily attacks will cease their attacks because of the political change in Bangkok. I am not very optimistic about both aspects.

Q: The military leadership in Bangkok has made several promises to undo Thaksin’s mistakes in the South, and it will talk with insurgent groups. Does this mean anything?

A: General Surayud Chulanont acknowledged the southern insurgency as a pressing national crisis in his inaugural speech. Surayud even said that problems in the South are rooted primarily in injustice in the society. Well, General Surayud has talked the talk. Now we need to see some concrete actions from the interim prime minister and the military authority that put him in power. When Thaksin was in office, his decisions and policies exacerbated the situation, giving insurgent groups the motivation to carry out attacks and recruit new members.

Thaksin often set unrealistic deadlines for security personnel to solve cases in the South, which pressured officials to resort to extrajudicial means and human rights violations. In efforts to identify and capture those responsible for many insurgent attacks, a number of Muslim people were arbitrarily arrested, disappeared or killed by the security forces. Promises of investigation and justice appear to be only rhetorical, aiming to defuse criticisms and political pressure. To date, there have still been no criminal prosecutions in the Krue Sae Mosque (April 28, 2004) and Tak Bai (October 25, 2004) incidents, in which nearly 200 Muslims were killed by security forces.

By addressing those cases seriously and following up by criminal investigation to bring those responsible for the abuses to justice, General Surayud can make a difference. This should happen in tandem with the establishment of administrative, security and judicial mechanisms to ensure that the conduct of government officials will be checked and balanced, and that they will be held accountable for any wrongdoings. Both measures will become an important step in creating confidence among the Muslim population that the government’s call for justice is real. With this much-needed trust and confidence earned, then the prospects of peace dialogues will be more promising than what we are seeing now.

Q: How have insurgent groups reacted to the Thai Army’s peace dialogue proposals?

A: Thai security personnel have been engaged in informal meetings and consultations with exiled leaders of PULO and BERSATU, two of the most prominent insurgent groups, including sessions called by former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, on the island of Langkawi. But apparently, those talks have not led to an improvement of the situation in the South.

The National Revolution Front-Coordinate (Barisan Revolusi Nasional-Coordinate, or BRN-C), particularly its youth wing, Permuda, and guerrilla units Runda Kumpularm Kecil (RKK), have reportedly said that they will never give up their armed struggle to carve out the independent territory of Pattani. In this connection, members of other groups that have communicated their willingness to settle for limited autonomy or special administrative arrangements under the Thai constitution have been seen as stepping outside the “true cause” and can be subject to reprisal from BRN-C.

It is disturbing to note that those groups and individuals responsible for insurgent violence seem to believe that all means—planting bombs in public places—are legitimate to liberate the South. Not only should insurgent groups in the South cease such attacks, but political and religious leaders in the South and elsewhere who may have expressed support for the insurgency should condemn the targeting of civilians and all acts that put civilians unnecessarily at risk. In short, I do not see any promising prospects for the end of violence from the insurgent side of the equation either.

Source: The Irrawaddy - 8 November 2006

[bkkandrew]

In fact the Syariah law applies to all Muslims throughout the country, and though enforced, co-exists with the Malaysian Federal law.

It's always been that way in Malaysia - and nope, being governed by islamic law does not stop tourists from going to Malaysia. [though the recent harrassment of a non-muslim and married farang couple in Langkawi for 'close proximity' baffles everyone].

I believe Syariah will not replace the normal Thai law that applies to every Thai citizen, but govern their daily lives as Muslims.

Just my two baht.

Well it will hardly help the tourism industry, being hard on the heals of the coup, new visa laws, proposed drinking restrictions, bird flu, insurgency, bombings, etc. etc.

[Jai Dee]

PM pledges justice for people in deep South

YALA, Nov 8 (TNA) - Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont promised on Wednesday that the government is committed to resolving the ongoing insurgency in far South by peaceful means and will give fair treatment to all persons suspected of any insurgency-related action.

In his second visit to the region in a week, the premier met students at Yala Rajabhat University to listen to their opinions about the southern unrest and visited teachers. Even as the visit took place, however, more violence continued to rock the region.

Welcomed by teachers and students at the Islamic Dhammawitthaya school, the prime minister said the government is focusing on using peaceful means to tackle the unrest.

Speaking in reference to the Muslim system of private religious schools, he said he would ask his Malaysian counterpart to allow Thai educators to visit and observe the school system in Malaysia, particularly in regard to arranging religious classes.

The prime minister also said the government will give justice to teachers who are suspected of involvement in the insurgency. The 'blacklists' of persons suspected of support for the insurgency will have their names removed.

The premier last week met religious leaders and local people from all sectors of Pattani province. In an attempt to extend the spirit of reconciliation, he apologised for the hardline policies of the previous administration.

Speaking about schools recently burned by suspected insurgents, Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn said the Department of Vocational Education will help rebuild 10 schools in Yala with non-flammable materials.

Meanwhile, the violence continued today when about seven unidentiified assailants dressed in black sprayed bullets at a temporary military base located in Tantip school in Yala's Bannang Sata district.

After a 15-minute exchange of gunfire, one soldier was killed and a private was wounded. Officials seized two assault rifles which had been carried by the insurgents.

In the nearby province of Pattani, two Thai Army soldiers were wounded in the bombing of a construction site belonging to the government's Fish Marketing Organisation.

The estimated 5-kg bomb was activated by mobile phone. The two soldiers were rushed to hospital.

Meanwhile, police arrested a suspected insurgent hiding at a house in Narathiwat's Ruso district. Police raiders detained Haseng Payor after serving him with an arrest warrant

The suspect is allegedly involved in insurgent incidents and is being questioned as a possible mastermind behind unrest.

Source: TNA - 8 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

Thai PM presses peace bid in Muslim south

YALA, Thailand (Reuters) - New Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, pressing hard to bring peace to the rebellious Muslim far south, went to a school founded by an insurgent leader on Wednesday to appeal for an end to the violence.

On his second trip to the region in less than a week -- his first was to issue a public apology for the hard line policies of his ousted predecessor -- Surayud promised justice at a school security forces believe is a breeding ground for insurgents.

"The blacklists must be torn up and burned," he said at the Thamma Wittaya School founded by most-wanted insurgent leader Sapaeing Bazo after a teacher complained of frequent raids on it by security forces armed with blacklists of suspected rebels.

"Investigations must start again to give everyone justice," he said at the private school of more than 6,000 students, whose founder has a 10 million baht ($275,000) price on his head.

Surayud, a day after saying "no separation" was his only pre-condition for peace talks with rebels in a region which was a Muslim sultanate until annexed by Bangkok a century ago, also went to a college suspected of producing insurgents.

"I am an ageing man who wishes to see the country progress in the hands of youths like you," Surayud told thousands of students and teachers at Yala college, from which security forces say several suspected bomb makers are on the run.

The comments by Surayud, a retired army chief appointed after a bloodless Sept. 19 coup, reinforced his policy U-turn from elected predecessor Thaksin Shinawatra's hardline approach to an insurgency in which more than 1,700 people have been killed.

APOLOGY

After he apologised for Thaksin's iron-fist policies blamed for stoking unrest in the region, the new government dropped charges against 92 Muslims involved in a 2004 demonstration and agreed to pay compensation for the deaths of 78 protesters.

Southern Muslims, an ethnic Malay minority in overwhelmingly Buddhist Thailand, deeply resented Thaksin's refusal to apologise for the deaths of the 78 crushed or suffocated in army custody and Surayud's peace offensive is showing signs of hope.

Several armed groups had responded positively to the offer of talks, Army chief and coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin told reporters in Bangkok.

"We are at a stage of opening up a channel to communicate openly and constructively, but they have not stated any demand. Eventually, involved officers will have a chance to meet them," said Sonthi, the first Muslim to head the Thai army.

Surayud also appears to have advanced his cause by saying Thailand's three southernmost provinces where most of the violence has occurred could have Islamic Sharia law.

"The government is showing its sincerity in trying to understand the Muslim way of life, which should bring better understanding and cooperation from the Muslims," Pattani Islamic Council chief Waedueramae Maminchi told Reuters.

"We don't want to see Sharia implemented at its extreme like amputating hands of thieves, but the Islamic law should be accepted widely when it comes to family affairs like inheritance or divorce," he said.

Still, despite all the government's gestures, insurgent attacks on security forces and civilians alike continue.

On Wednesday, two insurgents and a soldier were killed in a clash in a village in Yala, 60 km from the town Surayud was visiting, police said.

Source: Reuters - 8 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

No more blacklist: Surayud

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said the government has instructed the government agencies to do away with the compilation of "blacklist" of suspected trouble makers in the deep South.

"Regarding the blacklist, I have asked the authorities to tear it up and burn them," Surayud told a pack crowd at the Yala's Thammawithya Foundation School, whose principle Sapaeing Baso is on the run from the police who accused him of being one of the mastermind behind the violence in the region.

Surayud is currently on a oneday trip, his second to the the restive region where more than 1,800 people have been killed since January 2004.

He made his first trip to the region last week when he publicly apologised for the Tak Bai massacre and the harsh measures of the previous government.

The cancellation of the blacklist, as well as the public apology, was deemed as gesture of goodwill to the region. But in spite of these gestures, insurgent violence continue unabated.

Source: The Nation - 8 November 2006

[taxexile]

“So that’s the way we are trying to say, that you can live with your own group, own morals,”

if it can work in areas with large numbers of muslims then perhaps this will lead to the adoption of western philosophies and laws ( no more shakedowns , fair and proper evidence gathering in criminal cases , a fair deal for foriegners , justice according to law in cases involving westerners , a more western approach to guilt , responsibility and face saving and no more of "this is thailand .... you do as we say" )in areas that have a large western population , such as pattaya , samui and phuket.

[Plus]

I thought farangs go to Pattya to escape this kind of laws.

Government has given up on insurgents for a moment. They are trying to win over the rest of the population hoping that the actual bombers/killers would find themselves isolated.

Witout community support, or at least tacit approval, the insurgency will slowly die out.

[MiG16]

most likely follow Malaysia's system of civil law for non-Muslims and Islamic law for Muslims. mostly it covers family law (marriage/divorce/inheritance) NOT criminal law. It works well enough and wouldnt effect non-Muslims (the majority so no worries)

you need to study a number of incidents taht have taken place in malaysia in the past and you might re-evaluate your assessment that the islamic sharia law used really does not affect the non-muslim. i have seen lots of situations where this became a problem. inter marriages, divorces, child custody, up to even things like burial rites.

introducing islamic law would be like opening pandora's box.

if it is to be considered, i believe it should not be the mandate of the current government (who did not come from election)

they came in citing specific reasons, corruption by thaksin admin, division in country (pro and anti thaksin mob, les majeste by thaksin. then they should concentrate on proving /bringing out those issues. and not try to implement new policies that will have long term effect. leave that to the next government who will come from electoral process.

ohh and perhaps once they do that, they can concentrate on putting in place the elections process even sooner rather than postponing that further.

hope this is not regarded as critical of the CNS

[cmsally]

“They should have the Islamic law in practice, Shariah, because the way they are dealing with the normal practice in their society, in their life, is completely different from us,” said the former army chief of predominantly Buddhist Thailand.

Oh come on Mr Prime Minister! There are a number of religions in this country; does that mean we should all have our own law. Where is the level of consensus going to lie. I might be breaking one persons law and not the others'. Who will be the decision maker?

In a healthy society the state is seen as having sufficient competence and legality, in order to create the laws and enforce them. Surely if a section of that society/state rejects the rule of law they also are rejecting the legality of the state and its competence in setting up a rational set of rules. This would be the case in any country not only Thailand .

This rejection of the rule of law (which seems inherent when you have your own sectors rule of law) is fundamental in the rejection of the legality of the state. Where do we go from there?

[kenk3z]

The devil, of course, is in the details.

What is the "south" of Thailand? Nobody is going to agree or be satisfied on that point.

I expect at some point the Islamics will say the "south" is everything south of Chiang Rai.

kenk3z

[Plus]

Oh come on Mr Prime Minister! There are a number of religions in this country; does that mean we should all have our own law. Where is the level of consensus going to lie. I might be breaking one persons law and not the others'. Who will be the decision maker?

If you bring barbeque to a vegetarian club meeting and they kick you out, state laws are not going to help you. If you want to be a member of a particular society you have to accept its rules.

Buddhist monks have very strict rules, too, and they are recongnised by the state. However, at worst you uget disrobed/excommunicated.

Rules like this are meant to keep the purity of the tradition, not supercede state laws. Muslims who follow Shariya do so voluntarily.

[Thaddeus]

“No separation: that’s the only condition that we have,” he said. “In the Thai Constitution, we cannot separate our land any more. This is the rule of this land, that we are not going to be divided any more.”

Well, not since we changed the name of the country ...... and.... what constitution? .... it's being re-written isn't it!!!!

Give that parcel of land back to Malaysia, permit the Thais that don't want to be there to relocate a bit further north, fund it with the tax money from some wealthy offspring (no names need to be mentioned)...... and then forget about it.

It will be less trouble in the long run.

Pride, Face, ...... rubbish.... you couldn't drag them into the 20th century, let alone the 21st.

[opothai]

too much too quickly

they will give shariya law for domestic related problems but thai law will be the main rule LOL

what happens when a woman is accused of adultery is she stoned?? as this will be domestic.

we would all like to see an end to these problems down south, but i am pessimistic as the troubles are still ongoing with what i consider MAJOR concessions given.

only time will tell

[thatguy]

re:

"if it can work in areas with large numbers of muslims then perhaps this will lead to the adoption of western philosophies and laws ( no more shakedowns , fair and proper evidence gathering in criminal cases , a fair deal for foriegners , justice according to law in cases involving westerners , a more western approach to guilt , responsibility and face saving and no more of "this is thailand .... you do as we say" )in areas that have a large western population , such as pattaya , samui and phuket."

Don't forget, in the south they are talking about Thai citizens. In the areas mentioned above, you are talking about guests in the country.

[dog412]

an unbelievably bad idea. so much for the so-called MODERATE islam of the south.

[bkkandrew]

Oh come on Mr Prime Minister! There are a number of religions in this country; does that mean we should all have our own law. Where is the level of consensus going to lie. I might be breaking one persons law and not the others'. Who will be the decision maker?

If you bring barbeque to a vegetarian club meeting and they kick you out, state laws are not going to help you. If you want to be a member of a particular society you have to accept its rules.

Buddhist monks have very strict rules, too, and they are recongnised by the state. However, at worst you uget disrobed/excommunicated.

Rules like this are meant to keep the purity of the tradition, not supercede state laws. Muslims who follow Shariya do so voluntarily.

Hmmm.

Try telling that to the UK citizen on death row in Pakistan, aquitted by the State Court, but the aquittal overturned and changed to a death sentance by a Sharia Court.

Check your facts before offering foolish similies. Sharia Law is no joke..