THE NATIONAL CONFLICT IN THREE PROVINCES SOUTHERN OF THAILAND (A CASE STUDY ON THE SOCIAL CONFLICT IN PATTANI, YALA, NARATHIWAT AND SOME DISTRICTS OF SONGKHLA)

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THE NATIONAL CONFLICT IN THREE PROVINCES SOUTHERN OF THAILAND

(A CASE STUDY ON THE SOCIAL CONFLICT IN PATTANI, YALA, NARATHIWAT AND SOME DISTRICTS OF SONGKHLA)

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

BY:

Mr.Suprawat U-mar

20130510528

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS


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STATE OF ORIGINALITY

This is certify that to the best of my knowledge, the content of this thesis is my own work. This thesis has not been submitted for any degree or other purpose.

I certify that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work and that all the assistance received in preparing this thesis and source have been acknowledged.

Yogyakarta, 20 December 2016

Suprawat U-mar


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This thesis dedicates to my beloved parent

Ayah Sumait U-mar,Mom Masittah U-mar


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MOTTO

ل لْيبس ىفوهف مْلعْلا بلط ىف ج رخ ْنم

“Barang siapa keluar untuk mencari Ilmu maka dia berada di jalan Allah”

Bermimpilah setinggi langit jika engkau jatuh engkau akan jatuh di antara bintang bintang.

The happiness people don’t have the best of everything they just make the best of everything.

The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Praise and thank to Allah SWT for all of the helps, blessings, and gift. I have received during and until I can finish my undergraduate thesis. This undergraduate thesis which entitled “The National Conflict in Three provinces Southern of Thailand (A case study on the social conflict in Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and some districts of Songkhla)” was written in order to understanding the main causes of the emerging conflict in Southern of Thailand and to finish my study in the faculty of Social and Political Science within the International Relations Department in Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta Indonesia.

This undergraduate thesis is finished by helps from various parties and people. Therefore, I would like to extend my deep gratitude to:

1. Dr. Surwandono, S.Sos, M.Si as my supervisor. Thank you very much for your advices, guidance, and suggestion to help me finish my undergraduate thesis.

2. Dra. Mutia Hariyati H.,M.Si as the first examiner. Thank you for examining me suggestion helped and always kindness with me to make this undergraduate thesis better.

3. Dra.Djumadi M. Anwar,.MSi as my second examiner. Thank you very much for your interesting in my thesis suggestion and helped me to finish this undergraduate thesis.

4. Prof.Tulus Warsito, M.Si as my lecturer and first proposal examiner. Thank you for your suggestion on my research question to make it specific and easy for understanding.

5. Grace Lestariana W.,S.IP.,MSi as my second proposal examiner. Thank you for asked and suggestion me to make my thesis hypothesis better.

6. To all lectures and staff in the International Relation Department of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta.

7. To all of my friends who came to my life give me many lesson in my life and always beside me even some of them staying far away from me.


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TABLE OF CONTENS

COVER PAGE………i

ENDORSEMENT PAGE………..ii

STATE OF ORAGINALLY………iii

MOTTO………..v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………..vi

ABSTACT……….vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS………...viii

LIST OF PICTURE………...x

CHAPTER I THE INTRODUCTION OF RESEARCH BACKGROUND A. Background………1

B. Research question………...7

C. Theoretical framework………...8

D. Hypothesis………12

E. Scope of research……….12

F. Method of research………...13

G. Operational definition.……….13

H. System of writing……….14 CHAPTER II DESCRIPTION OF GENERAL CONDITION IN THREE PROVINCES SOUTHERN THAILAND


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A. The political history of Patani kingdom………...15 B. The structure of Socio – Culture in three provinces southern of

Thailand………19

C. The Economic structure of three provinces southern Thailand……...21 CHAPTER III THE DYNAMIC OF EMERGING SOCIAL CONFLICT IN THREE PROVINCES SOUTHERN OF THAILAND AND THE POLICY OF THAI GOVERNMENT TO MANAGE THE CONFLICT

A. The history of emerging social conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand………..23 B. The policy of Thai government to manage the conflict in three provinces

southern of Thailand………..33 CHAPTER IV THE FACTOR OF SOCIAL CONFLICT EMERGING IN THREE PROVINCES SOUTHERN OF THAILAND

A. The Discrimination in diversity……….39

B. The Discrimination in Politics and Economic……….………..41

C. The existence of separatists and opposition groups………...…44 CHAPTER V

CONCLUTION………..47 REFERENCES………..……….51


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LIST OF PICTURE

Picture 1.1: Map of Three Provinces Southern of Thailand……….7

Picture 1.2: Structure of ABC conflict triangle………9 Picture 1.3: Peace triangle Johan concept……….11


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ABSTRACT

The purposes of this study was to understand the emerge of the main causes and the solutions of the social conflict problem in three provinces southern of Thailand that becomes the part of interesting issue in Asia region to figure out about the reasons why Thai government did not successfully to manage the problem in three provinces southern of Thailand including Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and some district of Songkhla.

This undergraduate thesis is trying to analyze the basically of the real situation and the main causes of social conflict problem in three province and some districts of southern Thailand that will include 3 factors (1) the factor of diversity were consists of cultures, attitude, language and religions (2) the factor of government management structures including the policies form, laws, and economic system (3) the factor of opposition or individuals group such as group of violence or discrimination, interest group, interference for benefit group. The social conflict problem in three provinces southern of Thailand is solved by peaceful ways, which does not use violence, but using intellectual, analysis, confrontation and understanding each other for sustainable and permanent solution and giving opportunity to both parties combination to solve the problem together.

Key word: The main causes of the social Conflict, The real conflict situation, The Conflict resolution.


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1 CHAPTER I

THE INTRODUCTION OF RESEARCH BACKGROUND

A. BACKGROUND

The social conflict problem in three provinces southern of Thailand is a long history since the Patani Kingdom or Fatoni Darussalam is colonized by Siam (Thailand) or early of Rattanakosin era, the last era of Siam before changed the name to Thailand by prime minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram in 1939, the Malay-Muslims was under direct controlling by Siam in 1902. The conflict problem in three provinces southern of Thailand is a complicated conflict involving politics history, cultures, and social development. Thai Government had a strong policy to assimilate all ethnic minorities into Thai culture, but it was unsuccessful for Melayu ethnic.

Thailand is a state with the majority Thai ethnic and minority ethnic including Chinese Malay-Patani (Muslim people in southern border region) etc. There are Buddhist 95%, Islam 4%, Christian1%, and other 0.1%. The southern provinces conflict area of Thailand includes Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and four districts in part of Songkha Province, namely Thepha, Jana, Saba Yoi, and Natawee district the population majorities in these areas is Muslim. The issue of the conflict usually takes place in Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and occasionally in


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part of Thepha, Jana, Saba Yoi, and Natawee district which are near to Pattani and Yala provinces.1

In 1939, Plaek Phibunsongkhram era, he did some efforts and clamp down to Melayu People to use Malay language, dress Malay and do religious activity like Friday praying, because those were inversed with Thai constitution in his era. However those things are resisted by Muslims people and religious leaders and then were to protect the culture by Muslim society. These were reasons of the conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand. The form of policy and operation of government officials were not understood by Thai Muslims and led to conflicts between the Thai government and Melayu ethnic. They did injustice to Thai Muslims, corruption, and lack of political participation. Those things made the Thai Muslims unsatisfied to Thai Government. In the early 1938 opposition was led by the ousted royal families and charismatic Islamic leaders. The frequency and intensity of the conflict varied with the extent to which governments in Bangkok. Moreover, it was sought to impose Thai cultural norms and social policies of the state on the region. The ultra-nationalistic policies of the first Plaek Phibunsongkhram government (Prime Minister, 1938 to 1944) caused bitter clashes, and thousands fled to neighboring Malaysia.2

In April 1947, the charismatic religious leader Haji Sulong bin Abdul Kadir, issued his famous seven demands (the government at that time did not

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The o fli t history of Three provi es souther Thaila d

http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/asia/south-east-asia/thailand/241-thailand-the-evolving-conflict-in-the-south.aspx (Access on 25-05-16)

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Do esti poli y syste of Phi u so gkra


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accept demand of Haji Sulong) regarding the devolution of power to Melayu-Muslims in the four southern provinces. The seven demands of Haji Sulong, were essentially a request to re-establish an autonomous region for the Muslim in four provinces southern Thailand, including Satun, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat.

The contents of the demands:

1.

The government of Siam should have a person of high rank possessing

full power to govern the four provinces of Patani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Satul, and this person should be a Muslim born within one of the provinces and elected by the populace this person in this position should be retained without being replaced.

2.

All of the taxes obtained within the four provinces should be spent only

within the provinces.

3.

The government should support education in the Malay medium up to the

fourth grade in parish schools within the four provinces.

4.

Eighty percent of the government officials within the four provinces

should be Muslims born within the provinces.

5.

The government should use the Malay language within government

offices alongside the Siamese language.

6.

The government should allow the Islamic Council to establish laws


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4 the (above noted) high official.

7.

The government should separate the religious court from the civil court

in the four provinces and permit (the former) full authority to conduct cases.3

These seven demands were published on 24th August 1947 by Haji Sulong to the government in that time. After Haji Sulong published and presented seven demands to the government, he and some of his compatriots were arrested by the Plaek Phibunsongkhram government and jailed for four years and eight month. Haji Sulong was released in 1952, but disappeared under police custody in August 1954. The popular belief related to histories of Haji Sulong, and a rallying point for Malayu Muslim grievances, is that Haji Sulong was drowned by Thai police.4

The coup led by Sarit Thanarat (Prime Minister) in 1957 offered no respite. Sarit continued with assimilations policies, trying particularly to assert state control over traditional Islamic learning institutions or Pondoks. In response, the Malayu-Muslims organized a number of covert separatist organizations with military units attached. Three major separatist groups were established namely First, Barisan Nasional Pembebasan Patani (BNPP, 1959). Second, Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN, 1963) and third, Patani United Liberation Organization (PULO, 1968) or is called Pertubuhan Pembebasan Patani Bersatu. Those

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The history of the Malay ki gdo of Pata i By I rahi “yukri ( A ess o -05-2016)

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Ask for spe ial treat e t poli y i three “outher provi es of Thaila d y HJ. “ulo g http://kaekae.oas.psu.ac.th/rlej/include/getdoc.php?id=2079&article=745&mode=pdf (Access on 30-05-16)


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organizations looked forward all split and were re-organized.5 In the 1980 and 1990 in parallel with the expansion of democracy throughout Thailand and election of governments that showed greater sensitivity to Muslim cultural needs. As well as the appointment of some Muslim politicians from the region to the ministerial portfolios, conflicts in the region decreased considerably.

Prem Tinsulanonda era (prime minister) established Southern border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC) in 1981 to provide better communication between the restive minority region and the central government, and to improve intelligence gathering and coordination among security agencies. Therefore, there are three special security laws that had been done by Thai Government under counter-insurgency in the Southern provinces. First, Martial Law Act in 1914, second, Executive Decree on Government Administration in States of Emergency (or emergency decree) in 2005 and third, Internal Security Act (ISA) in 2008, Those enforce in all or parts of the conflict zone. Thus, in conclusion the past Thai Government attempted to resolve the conflict problem, but the method applied violence and military power and was not the point of conflict resolution.6

Yingluck Shinawatra era in 2011-2014, the Thai Government has determined the particular policies under the ministry of justice to solve the

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A tive group i o fli t

https://books.google.co.id/books?id=cAE- bxSXayMC&pg=PA126&lpg=PA126&dq=pulo+brn+bnpp&source=bl&ots=o5hd5Q7-

w5&sig=O4z00CQdzJA0BHQ6xP-mzHkqqS8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwijztr9mpfNAhUGKJQKHZwaDrgQ6AEIKDAC#v=onepage& q=pulo%20brn%20bnpp&f=false (Access on 30-05-16)

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e ter of gover e t i souther Thaila d http://www.sbpac.go.th/index.php/2014-11-27-03-45-40/2014-11-27-03-47-29 (Access on 02-06-16)


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problem in three provinces southern of Thailand. First, to remedy those who got the impact from the violence situation such as the bombing, the clash between Thai military and separatist group at Krue Seh Mosque, the protesters arrest at Tak Bai district, Naratiwat provinces. Second, resolve the violence situation in three provinces southern of Thailand by using peaceful ways. Third, to support and develop education system in southern and improve the infrastructure such as communication in three provinces southern Thailand.

In the past it was clear that, the failure to resolve the southern border provinces as the result of the government's policies was not as clear and continuous. The resolution that involved many responsible agencies, caused confusion to solve the problem and the operations of each agency were not in the same direction. There was no consistency and relevance.

The social conflict problem in three provinces southern of Thailand is a political conflict related to history, cultures, economic and social development. There was exploitation from influential person and form of policy which was still inappropriate with lifestyle of Malay-Muslims. In conclusion, the religion and Malay Identity are not the main cause of conflict but just used as an excuse by some violence groups only. Thus, the peaceful ways become the main resolution to solve problem in three provinces southern of Thailand. It means that the resolution do not use violence but uses intellectual, reason, careful situation analysis without partiality, to get the point and factual problem and create strategy in term of policy and practice to get efficiency and effectiveness.


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Picture 1.1: Map of Three Provinces Southern of Thailand7 Source: UCA NEWS

In brief, the picture is three provinces southern of Thailand map. The yellow area is three provinces southern Thailand including, Pattani, Yala Narathiwat and in part of some districts in Songkhla Province.

B. RESEARCH QUESTION

Based on the background of the problem mentioned above, the formulation of the research question is formulated below.

Why is the social conflict emerging in three provinces southern of Thailand?

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Map of Three provi es “outher of


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C. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Base on the emerging social conflict and situation in three provinces southern of Thailand, this paper will apply the Theory of Conflict.

In the idea of state, one could not forget is the idea of conflict as the part of the society. Conflicts are something usual in pluralist democratic society because all of the different interest, aim, and perception toward something could happen among societies8. As society and government, government and government and several issue of conflict such as the conflict of separatism, discrimination, religion, cultural etc. Conflicts are experienced at most levels of human activity and are complex processes which have certain elements. One way of conceptualizing the relationship between these elements is a Conflict Triangle

Conflict triangle or ABC triangle is the concept of Theory of Conflict that was published in the late 1960s by Johan Galtung. He proposed an influential model of conflict that encompasses both symmetric and asymmetric conflicts9. He suggested that conflict could be viewed as a triangle, with contradiction(C), attitude (A) and behavior (B) at its vertices.

A symmetric conflict, the contradiction is defined by the parties, their interests and the clash of interests between them. In an asymmetric conflict, it is defined by the parties, their relationship and the conflict of interests inherent in the relationship. Attitude includes the parties’ perceptions and misperceptions of

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Co fli t pea e resolutio studies y Diet ar Kneitschel, 2000 (Access on 21-07-2016)

9


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each other and of themselves. These can be positive or negative, but in violent conflicts parties tend to develop demeaning stereotypes of the other, and attitudes are often influenced by emotions such as fear, anger, bitterness and hatred. Attitude covers emotive (feeling), cognitive (belief) and conative (desire, will) elements

Picture 1.2: Structure of ABC conflict triangle10

Source: Theory of Conflict book by Johan Galtung

Galtung argues that all three components have to be present together in a full conflict. A conflict structure without conflictual attitudes or behavior is a latent (or structural) one. Galtung sees conflict as a dynamic process in which structure, attitudes and behavior are constantly changing and influencing one another. As the dynamic develops, it becomes a manifest conflict formation, as parties’ interests clash or the relationship they are in becomes oppressive. As

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illustrated in the above definitions, each of the features triggering a conflict (attitudes, behaviors and contradictions) can also serve as possible gateways to influence the conflict peacefully and work toward a resolution. The above also suggests that each of these elements influence one another. While attitudes influence both behaviors and contradictions, the opposite can occur; behaviors and contradictions affect attitudes, Because of the interconnectedness among these three aspects of conflict, it is important to address each of them in order to reach a sustainable solution. Addressing attitudes is important as it helps people becoming aware of what and understands the contradictions better. The more profoundly a contradiction is understood, the easier it is to come up with creative solutions to overcome it. Addressing both attitudes and contradictions, in turn, influences changing behaviors. Finally, behaviors also affect attitudes.

So, in this perspective ABC triangle is a more effective tool to address conflict roots, structural relationship patterns and other factors. Also through this approach, it is a possible way to change dialectic nature of the conflict into more attitudinal, behavioral and contradictive manner.

Johan Galtung formulates the ABC Conflict Triangle in which he describes the key aspects within a conflict as: (A) attitudes, (B) behaviors and (C) contradictions. The model was originally meant to be applied to war situations, in which there are distinct conflicting parties. However, it can also be used to transcend other conflicts, such as family violence, racial discrimination and

children’s human rights abuses. In general, the method is used to deal with destructive or violent conflicts. ABC triangle not only helps to understand the


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position from which each party is approaching conflict, the context within which conflict is taking place, and identifies key needs of each party but also ABC triangle helps to gain insight into motivations of conflict parties and the structures or systems in place that contribute to the conflict. ABC triangle is a way of peace making. So it concentrates about parties ‘individual attitudes, behaviors and contradictions.

Conflict triangle is used to deal with destructive or violent conflicts. So, in this point of view ABC triangle can be applied to this case study; conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand. It is because ABC triangle prominently focusing on violence deduction and peace building11.

Picture 1.3: Peace triangle Johan concept12

Source: Omra Pongsapich

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Co parative of Co fli t tree & ABC tria gle eb

http://www.academia.edu/7605160/Comparative_Essay_of_Conflict_Tree_and_ABC_Triangle (Access on 22-07-16)

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D. HYPOTHESIS

Based on study case of emerging social conflict in three provinces Southern of Thailand, the social conflict emerging in three provinces southern of Thailand because:

1. The people in three provinces southern of Thailand need independence from Thai government.

2. The people in three provinces southern of Thailand don’t trust the government in solving the conflict after a long history and many injustice cases done by government.

E. SCOPE OF RESEARCH

This undergraduate thesis is trying to analyze the basis of the real situation and the main cause of social conflict. The location of this research was taken place at three provinces southern of Thailand including Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and some districts of Songkhla. The data were collected using documentation technique and some interviews with the people who are close to the situation in the conflict area.


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F. METHOD OF RESEARCH

In conducting this article, the writer used qualitative research stated that qualitative research is research that produces descriptive data in the form of words written or orally of people and observed behavior. In the research used primary data is documentation technique and some is interview data. This article took place at Three Provinces Southern of Thailand and some district including Yala, Patani, Narathiwat provinces and Thepha, Ja-na, Saba Yoi, Natawee district to focused and analysis on the main cause of social conflict and conflict resolution in three provinces southern of Thailand.

G. OPERATIONAL DEFINITION

The operational definition of this research would like to measure the social conflict problem is not simple for conducting and implementation to find the solution of the conflict problem, because the conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand depends on the Thai Government and people in the conflict areas including the Insurgent Group, Separatist Group.


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H. SYSTEM OF WRITING

The system of writing this research is arranged as:

Chapter I. Introduction it contains Background, Research Question, Theoretical Framework, Hypothesis, Scope of Research, Methodology of Research, Operational Definition, and System of Writing

Chapter II. Description of General Condition in Three Provinces Southern of Thailand. Including Political history, geographically, the structure of Socio-culture, and the economic structure.

Chapter III. Discuss the dynamic of emerging social conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand and the policy of Thai government to manage the conflict.

Chapter IV. Discuss the factor of emerging social conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand.


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1 CHAPTER II

DESCRIPTION OF GENERAL CONDITION IN THREE PROVINCES SOUTHERN OF THAILAND

The three provinces southern of Thailand including Yala, Patani, and Narathiwat are located at the southernmost or deep south of Thailand country. Three provinces in southern of Thailand have a total area of 6.79 million hectares, or 10,936 square kilometers, and population of about 1.78 million.1 These areas are special areas under the Notification of Government and there are diverse aspects in the areas including races, religions, languages, traditions and cultures. Most people in the areas are Thai Muslim. They are using Malayu Language to make communication. The area is Islamic society using Malayu-muslim culture. It makes their lifestyle is unique and looks different from Buddhist society including daily life and carries on an occupation.

A. The Political History of Pattani Kingdom

The social conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand is mostly related to history of Patani Kingdom or Patani darusslam and Tanah Melayu (Melayu land). Malaya is a peninsula which stretches southward from and is situated at the southeastern part of the continent of Asia, possessing an extensive

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Yongjaiyut. 2004. Hetkarn Samjangwad Chaidantay (A case on three southern border provinces). SBPAC.Yala. (Access on 12-10-16)


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area. It stretches from the Kra Isthmus to the top of Malaya, including Singapura to the south. In the north this peninsula joins Siam which is located between two kingdoms, on its left the kingdom of Burma and on its right the kingdom of Annam which is called French Indochina. The kingdom of Siam, Annam and Burma are located in large peninsular, the peninsula of Indochina.

The peninsula of Malaya has two parts, the northern part and the southern part. Its northern part begins at the Kra Isthmus and reaches to the provinces of Setul, Singgora, Yala, and Benggera. Currently the people of these provinces are included among the subject of the kingdom of Siam or Thailand. A large number of the inhabitants of the northern part of this peninsula are Siam-Thai, but in the six provinces of Setul, Cenak, Tiba, Patani, Yala, and Benggenara the majority are Malays. The southern part of this peninsula begins at the border of the Siam-Thai provinces previously mentioned down to the tip of the Malay Peninsula, including the island of Singapura. In this part, several Malay kingdome exist today: Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, Terengganu, Perak, Pahang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Melaka, Pulau Pinang, and Singapura. Although this peninsula has been called Malaya, the Malays were not the original people to inhabit it.

The Malays were the last people to settle and reside in the peninsula after it had first been inhabited by several other peoples. The first people to inhabit the peninsula of Malaya, according to information in history books, were people of a


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primitive type. Later it was settled by Hindus who came from India, after which is ruled by the Siam-Asli who came from Siam. Only later did the Malays arrive.2

The main causes of social conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand problem are a complex mix of history, ethnicity, and religion, fueled by socio-economic disparities, poor governance, and political grievances. The three provinces southern of Thailand are wracked by violence, Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani, originally formed part of an independent entity called the Pattani Kingdom or Pattani Darussalam which was slowly subsumed by the Thai state (then called Siam) from the late 18th century onwards.

Thai-Muslims of Malay descent have settled in the Malay Peninsula for

several hundred years. Records about “Khaek Malayu” can be traced back to the

Ayutthaya period, where trade relations with Muslims had been established and some Muslims also served as state officials overseeing foreign trade. At that time, areas which are presently Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat were part of the Pattani State which was under control of the Siamese Kingdom of Ayutthaya. Siam did not send its own people to rule Pattani but required the state to pay tribute to it three times a year. Muslims were then perceived as foreigners who could govern themselves. These people, however, periodically staged a war for full independence from Siam and Malaysia which took turn occupying the Pattani

2


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State. In every battle, Muslims were taken captive and taken to different regions of the country where they had resettled until these days.

It was in the Rattanakosin era that Siam appointed its officials to govern different provinces, including the Pattani State. Pattani became less autonomous after the administration restructuring in the reign of King Rama V. The state had been divided and part of it became Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces.

After the signing of Anglo-Siamese treaties in 1902 and 1909 resulted in the formal incorporation of the three provinces into Thailand, while the rest of the Pattani Kingdom became part of British Malaya. Patani was no longer a Malay Kingdom, but merely a number of Malay provinces under the Thai subjugation. The majority of the populations of Thailand’s three newest provinces were Malay-Muslims: ethnic Malays who spoke Malayu and adhered to Islam.

Beginning in the 1920s the Thai government initiated a policy of forced assimilation with the aim of turning these Malay-Muslims into Thai-Muslims. In reaction, an armed separatist movement emerged in the early 1960s that campaigned for a separate homeland for Malay-Muslims. By the late 1980s, however, the Thai authorities had essentially defeated the separatist insurgency in the south through a combination of improved governance, economic development projects, blanket amnesties for the insurgents, and stepped-up security cooperation with neighboring Malaysia.

In 2000, however, separatist sentiment had reemerged in the south. Many of the causes were the same as before. Malay-Muslims felt politically


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marginalized by Bangkok, and perceived that their ethnic, cultural, and religious identity were under threat from the predominantly Buddhist Thai state. The population felt deprived of the socio-economic and educational opportunities afforded to other parts of the country.

Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani are among some of the poorest provinces in Thailand, with high numbers of unemployed, young Muslim males. Educational standards are low, which means that few Malay-Muslims can pass the entrance exams for government positions, including the local police. These positions are invariably taken by Thais from outside the region who do not speak the local language nor understand the cultural mores. This breeds frustration and resentment among the local population. The police have a particularly poor record of community policing in the south, and are widely perceived as corrupt, incompetent, and able to abuse their authority with impunity.3

B. The Structure of Socio-Culture in Three Provinces Southern Thailand There are five million Muslims in Thai society with approximately 3 million live in three provinces southern of Thailand. The language used for communication is Bahasa Malayu. They try to preserve their identity as the people of the Malay race. Whoever you are young children, adolescents, workers or

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The Dy a i s of Co fli t i “outher Thaila d

http://dspace.mah.se/bitstream/handle/2043/18170/ASEP_a_00303-Andersson_proof1.pdf;jsessionid=2D24F1BA28C1CCE26DA43D80E282FE92?sequence=2( Access on 13-11-16)


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elderly people both in urban and rural areas still adhere to their religion and culture. Currently there are a few hundred mosques in these three provinces southern Thailand, which indicate that the Muslims in the region are serious practitioners of Islam. They also have 1,343 Tadikas, (Islamic school) which stands for “Taman didikkan kanak kanak”, an informal institution. There are 249 Islamic traditional Learning called Pondoks, the “residential institution”. In addition, there are well over 800 schools, private and public, teaching Islamic studies.

The people in three provinces southern Thailand are practicing Islamic and Malay traditions customs in special events such as birth, marriage and death. Majority of Muslim women wear Hijab and Baju Kurung while men have Nyagu and wear Talo Blago or Tob and Kapiyoh. Some adolescents may feel embarrassed to wear the complete traditional dress because of its formality. This dress serves as a symbol of recognition that the person is Orae Nayu (Malayu citizen). Kecek Nayu (speak Malayu) is another example which identifies simply that a person comes from this region.4

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The so ial stru ture a d ulture of the deep south

https://kyotoreview.org/issue-7/from-adek-to-moji-identities-of-southern-thai-people-and-social-realities/ (Access on 15-11-16)


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C. The Economic Structure of Three Provinces Southern Thailand

Since the old time, people in three provinces southern of Thailand have made a living by growing rubber, rice, fruits as well as fishing they have worked in the mines or traded with Malaysia, sold rubber and fresh fruits to that country and brought in tea, milk and coffee.5

Today, the economic structure of this region is basically agricultural There are a few factories related to seafood processing, owners rubber of plantations or rubber tappers if they do not have their own land. Some others grow rice and some are fishermen. Mining, however, has fallen into a decline as mineral sources have depleted. Fruit planting is also another major occupation of Muslims. In some urban bordering towns, like Betong in Yala and Su-ngai Kolok Districts in Narathiwaat, tourism is one of the main income generating activities due to the popularity of the places among a great number of Malaysians and Singaporeans. As the statistics from NESDB in 2001 show agriculture accounts for 47.1 %, Manufacturing 6.9 %, trade 14.6 %, services 10.3 %, banking 1.6 %, and others 19.5 % of the production structure.6

However, it is reported that there are various kinds of so-called „shadow” economies, for example, the cross-border smuggling of goods from Malaysia,

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E o o i so ial a d ultural aspe ts

http://www.fpps.or.th/news.php?detail=n1149480173.news (Access on 15-11-16)

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E o o i stru ture i three provi es souther of Thaila d y UNDP, 2005, (Access on 12-11-16)


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illegal petroleum trade, drug trade, gambling and prostitution. Therefore, there are different kinds of organized crime groups working in this region. It is also

reported that the “influential people” in this region are directly or indirectly

backed up by either the high-ranking officials, civil, police as well as military or by the politicians, local and national.


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CHAPTER III

THE DYNAMIC OF EMERGING SOCIAL CONFLICT IN THREE PROVINCES SOUTHERN OF THAILAND AND THE POLICY OF THAI

GOVERNMENT TO MANAGE THE CONFLICT

The three provinces southern of Thailand and some district of Songkhla include Pattani, Yala, Narathiwad provinces and Thepha, Jana, Saba Yoi, Natawee district become the part of social conflict area for insurgency again the Thai government. It has roots in earlier waves of Malay-Patani nationalist to Thai rule, instituted after Siam annexed the region in 1902 but has drawn most attention since 20041. In this chapter the writer would like to analysis the main cause of emerging social conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand and The policy of Thai government by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to solve the conflict problem in three provinces southern of Thailand.

A. The history of emerging social conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand.

After the sovereignty of the Malay rajas of Patani was abolished through trickery by the Siamese kingdom in 1902, the country of Patani was gradually absorbed as a part of the territory of the country of Siam-Thai and its Patani

1


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Malay subjects were changed to citizens of the state of Siam- Thai. Siamese officials who came from Bangkok region began to take up posts in Thai at that time were conducted through rule by the authority of the raja (autocracy). Thus the pattern of government in Patani stressed the advantages and benefits for these Siamese officials and their kingdom.

The Malays were made subject to and forced to pay maximum taxes as revenue to the kingdom. As far as possible all the wealth of Patani was to be collected and all the revenue thus to pay the salaries of the Siamese officials. It may be said that no one part of the revenue was used for the welfare of the Malays who had strained to pay the tax. The majority of the Siamese officials never seriously considered the welfare of the Malays. They first came to Patani with only their official rank. But when they retired they had obtained many broad estates and large compounds in Patani. Some of them, when they retired, returned to Bangkok taking possessions to make their lives luxurious. The officials of Siam-Thai never tried to understand the Malay people and the Islamic religion, because in the period of autocratic rule there was no such concern. They ruled with great ease, but were unconcerned with progress in these territories except for affairs concerning their own advantage. Service of health, education, and welfare did not exist, Siamese schools were established only in the city, for the benefit of children of Siamese officials. There were no Malay schools. When the government wanted roads to facilitate communications between one territory and another, they depended on local people to build them. They were mobilized to


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work as laborers. Sometimes laborers were forced to come from their home miles away and were forced to bring their own supplies.2

The administration of judicial matters depended on the high commissioner, on the police, and finally on the judges. Sometimes people brought to court were forced to wait for months before their case came to trial. This state of affairs was caused by officials who wanted to find out how much money would be given to them by an accused person when their case came to trial. Such a system of administration made the Malays feel restless and dissatisfied.

In 1933 the Siam-Thai kingdom abolished all provinces (monton) in the country of Siam and retained only district (changwat), and all district including the district of Patani, Yala, and Bangenara were made directly subject to rule by the Ministry of the Interior in Bangkok. With this last change the country of Patani essentially had become an integral part of the country of Siam-Thai, and its condition became increasingly separated from the other Malay countries in the peninsula.

In the new constitutional arrangement, it was stated in the first sentence

that “the country of Siam-Thai is one in all aspects and may not be divided.” The democratic form of government caused the Siamese to become increasingly, more than before. The Siamese interpreted the first sentence of constitution to

2

เหตุการณ์ไม่สงบในสามจังหวัดชายแดนภาคใต้ =The viole e i three provi es souther Thaila d http://www.fpps.or.th/news.php?detail=n1149477695.news (Access on 17-11-16)


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mean that every person who is a Siam-Thai subject must be counted as a Siamese in everything, that all must use one language, set of customs, similar clothes, and one religion. They had forgotten that in the constitution there also was one sentence which guaranteed freedom of religion, custom, and way of life to all people who live in the country of Siam.

In 1939 Thai nationalism had begun to spread in the country of Siam, spurred by Luang Phibungsongkhram, who at that time had become prime minister. Among the chief men of Siam, Luang Phibungsongkhram was famous as a strong politician who made much use of nationalism. He had many plans to develop nationalism throughout all the provinces of Indochina. He also intended to suppress minority groups in his country.3

In1940 a Siamese Cultural Institute was established in Bangkok and saw known by the name “Sapha Wattanatham,” the goal of which was the advancement of nationalism and the expansion of Siamese culture throughout the country. This Cultural Institute gradually issued directive in the form of compulsory rules of the public. One of the first directive which was issued compelled all people of Siam to wear Western-style clothing, including hats for both men and women. At meals it was necessary to use spoons and forks and to sit on chairs at a table. Malays in the district of Patani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Setul felt this directive was aimed directly at them because they were forbidden to wear

3

Natio alis y Lua g Phi u so gkra


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Malay clothing, use Malay names, speak the Malay language, and embrace the Islamic religion. Among a few requirements of the rules advancing Siamese culture, it was forbidden to speak Malay in any government office. Government officers who know Malay were strictly forbidden to speak Malay with local inhabitants. Malays who came to settle a matter in an office of the kingdom were forced to use the Siamese language. If they did not speak Siamese they were forced to hire someone who knew speak Siamese to be their interpret, whether the affair was important or not. Among the requirements advancing Thai culture, it also was stated that Buddhism was the official religion, that Islam must be opposed, and that every effort which would advance Islam must be inhabited. Even worse, some Malay people in the district of Saiburi (Teluban) were forced to pray to an idol of Buddha. Thus Buddhist idols were installed in Siamese schools and the pupils, a majority of whom were Malays who held offices in the kingdom were forced to change their names to Siamese and it was forbidden for Malays to hold high offices. People who were Muslims were forbidden to attend military schools and hold higher offices.

In1942 the cultural regulations were gradually implemented in the Malay district, forcing Malays to wear Western clothes: coat, trousers, and hats for men, and tight blouses and short skirts for women. Anyone refusing to follow regulations was arrested and fined, and sometimes kicked and beaten by the Siamese police. In this year the Malays in those districts became restless, especially the religious teachers. They too were forced to wear Western clothing and often the robes and turbans of the Hajis were snatched off by the Siamese


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police and trampled under their feet. Similarly women, while buying and selling in Malay markets, were kicked and jabbed with gun butts by the Siamese police because they wore long loose dresses and shawls. Thus, because of the proposals of Luang Phibunsongkhram, the Siamese officials in Malay districts were able to terrorize unchecked everywhere, supported by the cultural regulations. They became more and more zealous in desecrating the honor of the Islamic religion and Malay custom, and their nationalism caused them to feel scorn and contempt for the Malays.

In the year 1944, Phibunsongkhram abolished the office of religious magistrate in the districts of Patani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Setul, and revoked Islamic laws concerning marriage, divorce, and inheritance which had been recognized by the kingdom of Siam for decades. Subsequently all cases pertaining to Islamic affairs were forced to follow the civil laws of the kingdom and were settled by Siamese courts. In this year the situation of the Malays and the honor of the Islamic religion became increasingly endangered. In the same year, theologians led by Haji Sulung bin Abdul Kadir established an Islamic organization in Patani with the object of encouraging cooperation among Islamic leaders responsible for resisting the movement of the kingdom of Siam to Siamize the Malays and to violate the Islamic religion.

On the 14th day of January 1944, which coincides with the Siamese year 2487, a request was sent to the Prime Minister Phibunsongkhram by Tungku Abdul Jalal bin Tungku Abdul Talib, a leader of the Malays in southern Siam who


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was motivated by genuine loyalty to his people and was the Malay representative in the Siamese parliament at that time. This request concerned enforcement of the Siamese cultural regulations with regard to the culture of the Malay people in southern Siam and the desecration of the religion of Islam, which was being carried out by the governor of Patani (Siam-Thai). An official reply was finally received on the 29th of April 1944, coinciding with the Siamese year 2487. This reply came from the Office of the Secretary of the Prime Minister Phibunsongkhram and expressed approval of the behavior of the governor of Patani and the manner in which he carried out the tyrannical Siamese cultural regulations, which were so crude and forceful. The letter read.

In the month of August 1945, Nai Khuana Aphaiwong was selected to become prime minister of Siam and a new cabinet of ministers was formed. "Government of Nai Kuang abolished all of the culture laws made by Phibunsongkhram and the movement to Siamize the Malays stopped. even so, the cruelty and violations of Siamese officials against the Malays did not cease. The sensibilities of the Siamese officials were ruined so that laws of justice and humanity were discarded. At this time there was a sort of contagious disease among the Siamese officials which led to disregard of directives and the taking of bribes. This occurred from the highest officials to the lowest peons. A matter that was very important could not succeed if bribes to the officials were not first prepared. With the police, a criminal who was caught could with ease be safe and free if he gave them a bribe. Repeatedly, when Malay was accused of friendship with bad elements, he was immediately arrested by the Siamese police, taken to a


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lonely place, and beaten before he was taken to the place of detention. This also happened to Malays accused of taking part in political movements critical of the government. They were always threatened and slandered in various ways by the Siamese police, arrested, or simply beaten without bothering to take the matter to court.

On the 24th of August the investigatory commission held a general meeting with the Malays of Patani which provided an opportunity for questions and answers. In this meeting Haji Sulung bin Abdul Kadir, the head of the Islamic Council, and Wan othman Ahmad, head of the Persekutuan Semangat Patani (Alliance of the Spirit of Patani), represented the populace of Patani, and submitted to the commission seven demands to be presented to the government. The contents of the demands were:

1. The government of Siam should have a person of high rank possessing full power to govern the four provinces of Patani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Setul, and this person should be a Muslim born within one of the provinces and elected by the populace this person in this position should be retained without being replaced.

2. All of the taxes obtained within the four provinces should be spent only within the provinces.

3. The government should support education in the Malay medium up to the fourth grade in parish schools within the four provinces.


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should be Muslims born within the provinces.

5. The government should use the Malay language within government offices alongside the Siamese language.

6. The government should allow the Islamic Council to establish laws pertaining to the customs and ceremonies of Islam with the agreement of the (above noted) high official.

7. The government should separate the religious court from the civil court in the four provinces and permit (the former) full authority to conduct cases.

At the same time it was reported that the Malays in the province of Narathiwat also had proposed similar demands to the same investigating team. Their demands were made by 55 local Malay leaders. The Siamese government investigating team heard all of the demands of the Patani Malays and it was agreed that the demands would be forwarded to the government in Bangkok. Finally all of the demands of the Malay people were delivered to the Siamese government in Bangkok, but did not result in any changes from the Siamese government. Rather, Siamese officials were of the opinion that these demands were quite contrary to the national Constitution and need not be considered some members of the Siamese government interpreted the demands as a political movement against the constitutional laws, and thought that it was necessary to take strong action against the Malays. By order of the Siamese commissioner of Patani,


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After representative of Patani published and presented seven demands to the government, on 16th of January 1948, in the morning a troop of armed Siamese police arrested Haji Sulung at his house and two days later arrested Wan othman Ahmad, Haji Wan Hussein, and Wan Mahmud Ami. The Malay leaders who had voted the demands of the Malay people were arrested and accused of treason against the kingdom. One month later Haji Sulung and his colleagues were taken to Nakhon Sri Thammarat, and the Siamese court there concluded their deliberations by imposing jail sentences of four years and eight month they were taken to Bangkok and detained in the large prison "Bang Kwang." After these arrests, many Malays of Patani who also were accused of involvement in the movement fled to seek refuge in Malaya. The Islamic Council of Patani was outlawed by the government. During this year all activities of the Patani Malays were constantly watched by the Siamese government, and many special undercover agents were sent from Bangkok to Patani, Yala, and Narathiwat to investigate the activities of those Malays who were considered to be political and opposed to the government, or who demanded freedom.

Since the fall of Patani in the eighteenth century it is clear that the government of Siam has misgoverned during this whole period of time. No progress has been made in Patani to provide well-being for the Malays. In matters of health, education, association, and economy, Patani has lagged far behind the progress of its neighbors in Malaya. The actions of the Siamese government which allow the Malays to live in backwardness, definitely gives a large profit to them, but this has grieved the hearts of the Malays. The Malays of Patani were


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forced to pawn their country to the government of Siam with the hope that they would be given good leadership toward general progress, or at the very least be allowed equality with the leadership given to the Siamese people. Patani is not poor, and has natural wealth in the land. Among the provinces of southern Siam, Patani should be counted as rich, with no need to depend on the wealth of the Siamese from other provinces to pay for the welfare of the Malays.4

During Luang Phibunsongkhram government era in the past Malays-Patani people are the most ill-fated because Siam-Thai democracy is limited for people in that area, Even though the Malay people of Patani long have lived in the democratic world, the fate of the Malay-Patani people is like a climbing vine unable to grow up the trellis in that time.

B. The policy of Thai government to manage the conflict in three provinces southern Thailand.

After the Plaek Phibunsongkhram government era the time change the ideas of Thai government also change the government took more attention to the issue in southern of Thailand. Thai government effort to improve relation between government and people to understand each other in conflict area. In this part the writer need to mention the policy of Thai government to manage the conflict in three provinces southern Thailand in era of Prem Tinsulanonda, Surayud Julanon and Yingluck shinawatra government.

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General Prem Tinsulanonda Thailand's 16th Prime Minister in (1980-1988)5. Prem Tinsulanonda government is the one government that tried to emerge the peace process policy in three provinces southern of Thailand. Prem government was established Southern border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC) in 1981 to provide better communication between the restive minority region and the central government, and to improve intelligence gathering and coordination among security agencies. Therefore, there are three special security laws that had been done by Thai Government under counter-insurgency in the Southern provinces. First, in 1914 Martial Law Act, second, in 2005 Executive Decree on Government Administration in States of Emergency (or emergency decree) and third, in 2008 Internal Security Act (ISA), those are enforce in all or parts of the conflict zone. Thus, in conclude in the past Thai Government was effort to resolve the conflict problem.6

General Surayud Chulanont Thailand's 24th Prime Minister who was appointed, rather than elected the head of Thailand's Interim Government between 2006 and 20087. Surayud government made policy to resolving the social conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand a priority, and took a number of important steps toward that end in the wake of the coup. Surayud adopted a more conciliatory tone than his predecessor, and promised to establish a constructive

5

Ge eral Pre profile http://www.th4u.com/prem_tinsulanonda.htm (Access on 4-11-2016)

6

Pre esta lish “ pa y Asia Ti es o li e

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/SEA-02-140813.html (Access on 05-11-2016)

7

“urayud Jula o Profile e - http://www.th4u.com/surayud_chulanont.htm (Access on 05-11-2016)


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dialogue with “all concerned parties.” The prime minister said he would use the recommendations made by the NRC as “guideposts,” patch up relations with

Malaysia, and even consider the partial implementation of Sharia law in three province southern Thailand. Surayud also recognized the importance of improving governance, socio-economic development, and educational standards in southern Thailand. On his first visit to southern Thailand, Surayud took the symbolically important step of apologizing for the excesses of the previous government, including the Tak Bai Incident. Soon afterwards, the government dropped all remaining charges against the Tak Bai protestors8. Surayud also promised to make Thai officials more accountable for their actions, and investigate past abuses.

In terms of economic development, Surayud government has tried to start the economy by designating the three southern provinces (include Satun and Songkla) as a special economic zone, with tax incentives for those willing to invest in the area. The government also announced plans to revive the 1993 Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle which covers all five provinces. In a bid to improve educational standards, the Surayud government plans to increase the number of scholarships available for Malay-Muslims to attend university.

Since the coup the new government has made significant progress in mending ties with neighboring countries, especially Malaysia. Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has praised Surayud’s “more diplomatic” approach to

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the restive southern Thailand9. On the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in January 2007 the two leaders agreed to reconvene annual talks and to push forward with the Joint Development Strategy, which is designed to foster economic integration

between Thailand’s southern provinces and Malaysia’s northern states.10

Yingluck Shinawatra Thailand's 28th Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra became first female prime minister from the Pheu Thai party11 Yingluck government came into power in the middle of 2011 one of her campaign is running peace process to solve the social conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand and some district of Songkla. After Yingluck become the prime minister of Thailand the government trying to solve the problem by using peaceful way. Peace negotiation process between Thai government and insurgent side is the part of Yingluck policy that would make the peaceful and try to solve the conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand

Since early in 2013, the Malaysian government has been brokering a new dialogue process which has gained support from the Thai government, and was publicly endorsed by the prime ministers of both Malaysia and Thailand. Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak took part in a public signing ceremony for a general consensus document, As the

9

Malay PM says “urayud on right track in south Bangkok Post,

http://wbns.oas.psu.ac.th/shownews.php?news_id=46015 (Access on 05-11-2016).

10

Eth i separatis i souther Thaila d ki gdo frayi g at the edge y La “torey (Access on 05-11-2016)

11

Yi glu k “hi a atra profile web http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-13723451 (Access on 5-12-2016)


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first stage a negotiation process was made between both actors producing on 28 February 2013.

A large negotiating team from the Thai side was established. On the insurgent side is a group of representatives who claim to be from BRN, and were brought to the table by the Malaysian security services. The talks faced a serious challenge in June 2013 when the BRN side made a set of five wide-ranging demands that the Thai side struggled to address. A Ramadan ceasefire in July led initially to a decline in levels of violence, but was violated by some insurgents and ultimately sabotaged by the Thai Army. In September 2013, the insurgents sought to clarify their position by presenting the Thais with a document which aimed to convince them that the five demands were a negotiating position, not a pre-determined set of preconditions.12 In the table of negotiation two issues were raised for discussion at the meeting the next stage for the peace talks process and de-escalation of violence in the restive region. On the first issue, it was agreed by both sides that there would be at most 15 delegates for each party and Malaysia would be the facilitator. On the second issue, both sides said they wanted to see peace in the region with the BRN demanding the government to ensure justice for all while the government had asked the BRN to instruct the separatists to scale down their violent incidents.

From peace negotiation process in Kuala Lumpur between Thai government and insurgent group we can analyst that the Yingluck government tries to make the condition of social conflict in three provinces southern Thailand

12

“outher Thaila d: Fro o fli t to egotiatio e -11-16


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become peace even the implementation of peace negotiation process between Thai government and insurgent group had deadlock. Therefore, the negotiation on Yingluck government administration failed but this policy from the government can prove that the government needs to negotiation for solve and manage the conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand. As the person who grows up in the social conflict area I strongly believe peace process is better than no peace process.


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1 CHAPTER IV

THE FACTOR OF SOCIAL CONFLICT EMERGING IN THREE PROVINCES SOUTHERN OF THAILAND

The emerging of the social conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand between the Thai government and insurgent group still continuing until now even the government had been made to solve problems in the restive south as violence intensified and daily attacks on local people, policemen, soldiers, teachers and even monks continued. Measures discussed included risk payment for all state officials in the three provinces, permission for teachers to buy guns for their own protection and procurement of bullet-proof vests for monks. The suggestion that teachers should be allowed to carry guns was not materialized after it was heavily criticized by the public1. These measures, however, reflected that violence in the three provinces southern Thailand may not end because many factor effecting to the situation in the conflict area. In this part the writer would mention three factor of emerging social conflict in three provinces and some district of Songkhla in southern Thailand. Three factors of social conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand were: First the factor of diversity in the area consists of cultures, attitude, language and religions on each, Second the factor of government management structures that consists of the policies form, laws, and economic

1

Thaila d’s Deep south s olderi g i roglio: ause a d e it strategies y Asia pea e uldi g initiatives, http://peacebuilding.asia/thailands-deep-south-smoldering-imbroglio-causes-and-exit-strategies/ (Access on 0611-2016)


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system, Third the factor of opposite or individuals group that consists group of violent.

A. Discrimination in diversity

Diversity are consists of cultures, attitude, language and religions this all influence to the feeling of people and very sensitive issue when the government

don’t understanding in language, attitude and religions on each other it’s easy for emerging to gaps and conflict. Muslims in the three provinces southern of Thailand have preserved their way of life, their attire and language which are known as Muslim-Melayu cultures. The government of Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongram, however, had made mistakes by not trying to understand these cultures and denying cultural diversity. That government instead forced the whole country to accept only the “Thai” culture and Buddhism, based on ethnic prejudice. Muslims in southern Thailand therefore, have nurtured grudges from being insulted and treated unfairly. For three provinces southern of Thailand are especially case because the most Muslim have strict on religion conflict in three provinces southern Thailand it caused from differences of religions and cultures which is brought to not understand each other and cause to partiality of attitude or thinking method between Muslim and government, the government not really accepts and cares the lifestyle of Muslim people and then tried to wipe out Malay-Patani culture but conversely the Malay-Malay-Patani people they want to maintain their culture. This thing created the Muslim people unsatisfied and increased of violence in the areas when the government don’t respected. Moreover, actually


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Islam has recognized the importance of justice and agreed to fight for fairness2. Thus, when injustice arises by government the most Muslim protest it and increased of violence and more conflict.

The result above, the discrimination in diversity is a part of the main cause of emerging social conflict to violence. The Muslims people fell cannot live by honorable and worthily under control by Thai government. Unrealized and not give seriously and insignificant of government to the unique culture and lifestyle of the Muslims people cause to Muslims people is secondary class in Thai society relate to the history.

B. Discrimination in Politics and Economic

Politics and economic consists of the policies form, laws, and economic system or we can mention as government management structures. Discrimination deficiencies and weaknesses in structure management consists of the politico - economic system, policies form, laws, and, such as the policies inappropriate yet to the Muslim people and the Islamic approach, law enforcement is inconsistent with the rule of law and regardless of the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens. That, democracy system was not maximum to the people especially, Muslims people lack of political participation, because less of political opportunities. Moreover, who had influence in society was politician, and militaries, and laws cannot be useful or solve it. So those made Muslim people

2

Musli i “outher Thaila d by Chryssoula Katsikoudis,


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unsatisfied and did not trust the government. Therefore, the country focused on improving the equally with neighboring countries and developed countries but neglected human resources development. Thus, it made people have negative attitude and lack of good human resources in southern border both Thai Buddhist and Thai Muslim3

The area of southern of Thailand is rich in natural resources including rubber, tin, and gold but the corrupt government officials in that time used their power to generate wealth for their cronies and most of them are Chinese businessmen, while villagers could not make ends meet and also were discriminated against with economic ways. Moreover, the Muslim-Patani is the poorest among the three groups of Thai Buddhist, Thai Chinese, and Thai Muslim. However, the

performance of the deeply south’s economy actually improved markedly in the past few decades. Between 1983 and 2003, the average per capita income of Pattani grew from 9,340 baht to 57,621 baht, while that of Yala and Narathiwat also increased from 14,987 baht and 10,340 baht to 52,737 baht and 38,553 baht, respectively. However, the three provinces southern of Thailand did have the lowest average income among all the southern provinces. Household income improved from 2002-2004 by 21.99%, 19.27%, and 21.28% for Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, respectively. For comparison, income growth for all of Thailand in the same period was just 9.4%. The percentage of people living below the poverty line also fell, from 40%, 36%, and 33% in 2000 to 18%, 10%, and 23% in 2004

3

Viole t situatio i souther Thaila d ause of viole t by Institute of public policy studies, http://www.fpps.or.th/news.php?detail=n1149480173.news (Access on 06-11-2016)


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for Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani, respectively. By 2004, the 3 provinces had 310,000 people living below the poverty line, compared to 610,000 in 2000. However, 45% of all poor lived in the three provinces southern of Thailand4. In general, Muslims in the border provinces have lower levels of educational attainment compared to their Buddhist neighbors; 69.80% of the Muslim population in the border provinces has only a primary school education, compared with 49.6% of Buddhists in the same provinces. Only 9.20% of Muslims have completed secondary education (including those who graduated from private Islamic schools), compared to 13.20% of Buddhists. Only 1.70% of the Muslim populations have a bachelor’s degree, while 9.70% of Buddhists hold undergraduate degrees. However, one must keep in mind that schools are taught in Thai, and there is much resentment and even outright pulling of children out of Thai-run schools. Muslims also had reduced employment opportunities compared to their Buddhist neighbors. Government officials comprised only 2.4% of all working Muslims in the provinces, compared with 19.2% of all working Buddhists. Jobs in the Thai public sector are difficult to obtain for those Muslim students who do not ever fully accept the Thai language or the Thai education system5. The government was a lack of a clear understanding of the actual conditions; it has not great academic education to development of economic policy to be consistent with the true situation, some of education policy

4

A Atoll I vestigatio , “outher Test for Ne Thai Leader By Brai M Carta a d “ha W Crispin, http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/JL2Aeo2.html (Access on 06-11-2016)

5

“olvi g the o fli t i souther Thaila d , By Colo el Pat hara at Th apra e si g Royal Thai Army, (Access on 06-11-2016)


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inappropriate with Muslim condition. In 1939 the government enforced Muslim people cannot dress in form of Malay, use Malay-Arabic Name; use Malay Language, and Islamic Approach. At that time, Malay people protested and struggled for protect their tradition, until appear Insurgence Movement6

The result of discrimination in politics and economics from Thai government was lack of understanding to Muslim condition, it brought to inappropriate of policies determine. Moreover, the government in 1939 they were effort to destroy minorities and Muslim condition into Thai culture. Therefore, the politico - economic system in three provinces southern of Thailand there are proportion of most poor 47% and lower salary than other part and it was showed the factors of structure management were deficiencies and weaknesses. In addition, policies, laws, and politico-economics were not useful and appropriated with the Malay condition and Islamic approach. Thus, the discrimination in Politics and Economics is a part of the main cause of emerging conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand.

C. The existence of separatists and opposition groups

A strong of Nationalism policy by Plaek Phibunsongkhram government that tried to assimilate Malay-Patani ethnic and does not accept the seven demands of Haji Sulong bin Abdul kadir. It makes the separatist group were established in three provinces southern of Thailand. Separatists or opposition groups are consists

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by group of violent, interest group, group of interference for benefit who are unsatisfied to the Thai government and each group of them have difference incentive. Some groups have violence ideologies and want discrimination; they are duties on team work and divided several of levels in worked. The problem not only included those groups but also included the interest group, influential people and politicians. In addition, the Thai government lack of trust, equal, unfair, and non-transparent to the Muslims in the areas. Non-transparent in the duties, some of politician and influential person they are benefit group exploited people in society to finding the benefit to parties and destroy the Muslims youth by drug method.

The result above is, Opposition group is not discrimination group only but also there are group of benefit and influential person related in the areas to finding benefits to parties. The non-transparent of government made the people in the

areas unsatisfied and made partiality and don’t trust each other. Therefore, that thing is increases violence of the problem and a loss of public confidence more and more. National and local politicians who were selfish just took a look of benefits to partisan rather than creating benefits to public7.

The most local politician influential person took chance by used the areas in the way of corruption and created benefits to partisan, for example created citizen remedies policy, gave opportunity in education wider than in the past, provided scholarship to study both in country and aboard, and policy about sending militaries and frontier policeman to duties security the people in areas of

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southern Thailand. Those things must be use money or budged in the process and implementation. However, the individual groups had overlapping with several issues included group of discrimination who want to independent to use autonomy system in three provinces southern of Thailand, and non-transparent of government to the Muslims people such as used this areas is a way to corruption, created benefit to their parties Thus why the Thai governments not take serious to solve the violence in the areas? Because the reason is the areas in three provinces southern of Thailand is a place to take a chance in finding benefit for themselves.

The three factors mention above, the conflict problems and violence taken place in three provinces southern of Thailand, the government must consider clearly and find the solution to the point of issue. This issue is very important for the government they must analyze carefully before making decision to solve the problem. It is because in the past most government just solved the problem at the end of problem but did not solve at the main cause of problem. There is also lack of knowledge, understanding the cultures, and lifestyle of the people in the areas. It is not strange why the problem still has violence.


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1 CHAPTER V CONCLUSION

After the sovereignty of the Malay rajas of Patani was abolished through trickery by the Siamese kingdom in 1902, the country of Patani was gradually absorbed as a part of the territory of the country of Siam-Thai and its Patani Malay subjects were changed to citizens of the state of Siam- Thai. Siamese officials who came from Bangkok region began to take up posts in Thai at that time were conducted through rule by the authority of the raja (autocracy)1. Thus the pattern of government in Patani stressed the advantages and benefits for these Siamese officials and their kingdom many Patani people was forced by the government of Siam. Since the fall of Patani in the eighteenth century it is clear that the government of Siam has misgoverned during this whole period of time. No progress has been made in Patani to provide well-being for the Malays-Patani people. In matters of health, education, association, and economy, in that time the government had a strong policy to assimilate all ethnic minorities in to Thai culture but is not successful for Malay-Pattani people.

The study on the emerging of social conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand including Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat provinces and some districts of

1


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Songkha including Thepha, Janah, Saba Yoi, and Natawee district become the part of social conflict area for insurgency again the Thai government. It has main in earlier waves of Malay-Patani nationalist to Thai rule, instituted after Siam annexed the region in post 1902 but has drawn most attention since 2004. The main cause of emerging the conflict problem from the historical background of the three provinces southern of Thailand had been the government's inadequate attention to local problems. The races, religions, cultures, languages and identities of the peoples in the Siamese and Patani states were also different. The government policies and activities that were not consistent with the way of life of the local people also exacerbate the problems into open conflicts and violence against the government.2

In this an undergraduate Thesis the writer uses the theory of conflict ABC triangle for explain and support the title and research question. ABC triangle is a more effective tool to address conflict roots, structural relationship patterns and other factors. Also through this approach it is a possible way to change dialectic nature of the conflict in more attitudinal, behavioral and contradiction manner. ABC triangle not only helps to understand the position from which each party is approaching conflict, the context within which conflict is taking place, and identifies key needs of each party but also ABC triangle helps to gain insight into motivations of conflict parties and the structures or systems in place that contribute to the conflict. ABC triangle is a way of peace making. So it concentrates about parties

2

“outher i surge y i the three order provi es, Lo al people ide tity a d gover e t offi ial ehavior y Kase bandit journal volume, (Access on 06-11-2016)


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3

individual attitudes, behaviors and contradictions. Conflict triangle is used to deal with destructive or violence conflicts. So ABC triangle is can be applied to explain the case study of social conflict emerging in three provinces southern of Thailand because ABC triangle prominently focusing on violence deduction and peace building.3

The result conducted by the researcher explained, it shows the conflict problem in three provinces southern of Thailand is a conflict of politico-history related with the discrimination groups who want to separate or independence and autonomy in southern region. There are interest groups and influential person involved in southern border provinces and some of Thai government policies were not appropriate with Malay culture, Islamic approach, and ethnic. The resolution by peaceful ways that depend on both Malay-Patani people in southern region and Thai government that must participate, understand and accept the difference of cultures, religions, and attitude. The government must generous and respect to decision- making of Muslims people because giving opportunity on opinion is a part of political participation under the democracy system. The government must give opportunity to people to show their opinion and have more political participation including economics, social, and culture without be worry. If the areas of three provinces southern Thailand have more freedom and fearless to show opinion, this point will be created social community has strong more than in

3

Co parative of Co fli t tree & ABC tria gle e ,

http://www.academia.edu/7605160/Comparative_Essay_of_Conflict_Tree_and_ABC_Triangle (Access on 06-12-2016)


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the past. The operation of Thai government officials should be serious and they should not use power to find the benefits to parties or individuals, and should create the policies and state structure appropriate with lifestyle of Malay-Patani Muslims. Those is the problem that Thai government has to solve it by understanding the problem step by step and participate with the people withering using violence to solve it. This is the ways to manage and solve the conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand and this is for all people in country to get good living, peaceful and good governance by Thai government. The writer hopefully this undergraduate thesis will serve as a good resource material and give many benefits for the society to study and understanding the real situation and emerging of the national conflict in three provinces southern of Thailand base on the case study the social conflict in Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and some districts of Songkhla.


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Pavin Chachavalpongpun editor. “Good Coup Gone Bad” Thailand’s political developments since Thanksin’s downfall 2004.

Chalk Peter. 2008. “The Malay-Muslim Insurgency in Southern Thailand” Understanding the Conflict’s Evolving, Santa Monic: Arlington Dynamic.

Edited by Robert G. Wirsing and Ehsan Ahrari. “Fixing fractured nation: The challenge of ethnic separation in Asia Pacific 2010”

Tangtrungphairuj, Suphaphan. 2010. “Conflict in three southern border: Root-causes of conflict and conflict solution” Chulalongkong University. Bangkok.

Articles/Journals

- “ความรุนแรงและความตายภายใต้นโยบายรัฐ 2010”

“The affected of conflict in Three provinces southern Thailand from government Policies to people”

http://www.ipsr.mahidol.ac.th/IPSR/AnnualConference/ConferenceII/Article/ Arcle12.htm. (Access on 14-09-16)


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http://patanibook.blogspot.co.id/ (Access on 14-09-16)

- “The Dynamics of Conflict in Southern Thailand”

http://dspace.mah.se/bitstream/handle/2043/18170/ASEP_a_00303-Andersson_proof1.pdf;jsessionid=2D24F1BA28C1CCE26DA43D80E282 FE92?sequence=2. (Access on 14-09-16)

- “Thaksin as peacemaker in south Thailand”. Johnson, Jason. 2013 Asia Times Online.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/SEA-02-140813.html.

(Access on 14-09-16)

- “Asia report, 2012. Thailand: The Evolving Conflict in the South” http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/asia/south-east-asia/thailand/241-thailand-the evolving-conflict-in-the-south.aspx, (Access on 18-09-16)

- “Solving the conflict in southern Thailand”by Colonel Patcharawat Thnaprarnsing


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- “Conflict in southern Thailand Islamism, violence, and the state in the pattani insurgency” by Stockholm international peace research institute, (Access on 07-10-16)

- “Ethnic separatism in southern Thailand: Kingdom fraying at the edge” by Lan Storey, (Access on 07-10-16)

- “Analysis southern Thailand: From conflict to negotiations” by Duncan McCargo Lowy institute for international policy April 2014 , (Access on 07-10-16)

- “The contested corners of Asia: Subnational conflict and international development assistance The case of southern Thailand” by Adam Burke, Pauline Tweedie, Ora-orn Poocharoen, The Asia Foundation (Access on 09-10-16)

- “การก่อความไม่สงบใน 3 จังหวัดชายแดนภาคใต้กับ อัตลักษณ์ของคนในพื้นที่และ พฤติกรรมของเจ้าหน้าที่ = Southern insurgency in three border provinces, Local people identity and government official behavior” by Col. Boonaue Boonrith, kasem Bundit Journal (Access on 09-10-16)


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9 - “Thailand Islamic Insurgency”

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/thailand2.htm (Access on 12-10-16)

- “ฮัจยีสุหลง บิน อับดุลกอเดร์ ชื่อที่ยังพูดถึง=The name of HJ.Sulong always mention in conflictarea”

http://www.isranews.org/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B7%E0 %B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%94%E0

%B9%88%E0%B8%99-%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%81 %E0%B8%82%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%AD %E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A8%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2/item/40618-den.html (Access on 12-10-16)

- “Thailand deep south smoldering imbroglio: Cause and exit strategies” http://peacebuilding.asia/thailands-deep-south-smoldering-imbroglio-causes-and-exit-strategies/ (Access on 12-10-16)

- “Thai government to resume peace talks with Muslim insurgents” http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/09/01/asia-pacific/politics- diplomacy-asia-pacific/thai-government-resume-peace-talks-muslim-insurgents/#.WEoa4rJ97IV (Access on 15-10-16)


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- “Nationalism by Luang Phibungsongkram”

http://2bangkok.com/06-nationalism.html (Access on 15-10-16)

- “Attacks cloud Thailand’s upcoming peace talks”

http://www.voanews.com/a/attacks-cloud-thailand-upcoming-peace-talks/3481916.html (Access on 15-10-16)

- “Malaysia hopeful of resumption of southern Thailand peace talks” http://www.samuitimes.com/malaysia-hopeful-resumption-southern-thailand-peace-talks/ (Access on 15-10-16)

- “Malaysia PM says Sarayud on right track in southern situation” Southern border area news,

http://wbns.oas.psu.ac.th/shownews.php?news_id=46015 (Access on 15-10-16)

- “Nation-building and the Pursuit of Nationalism under Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram” Posted on July 15, 2004


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- “A brief introduction to the Malay Kingdome of Patani” Report Tuesday 21 December 2004. http://www.ihrc.org.uk/publications/reports/6750-a-brief-introduction-to-the-malay-kingdom-of-patani-1- (Access on 02-11-16)