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Essay on Inter-Group Conflict In Thailand
Executive Summary
Thailand is nowadays in the grip of heightened tension between the Buddhist dominated government and the southern populated majority Muslims. This report gives a detailed background of the situation and its causal effects that in long run may lead to internationalization. A conclusion is made at the end about the situation in Thailand with recommendations.
Unrest in Thailand: An Introduction
The Muslim minority of Thailand of about 6 million are 4 % of the total population. The considerable majority of these Muslims are Malay in origin, the rest being Pakistani immigrants, ethnic Thai Muslims and a few Chinese Muslims. The Muslims are concentrated in the provinces of Songkhla, Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala at the southern end of Thailand.
The areas occupied by these Muslims are much poorer than the rest of Thailand.
The greater part of the region now dwelled by the Muslims in Southern Thailand was seized by Thailand in 1902 as a bulwark against British Malaya. The Islamic sultanate of Pattani is thought about by some to be the cradle of Islam in Southeast Asia. When the area was seized by Thailand, it had been by and large self-governing for several hundred years.
However, Thais and Malays differ significantly in their languages, religion and sensibilities and culture. As a consequence of these differences separatists have grown rapidly in this region with the intention of looking for reunification with Malaysia.
The south, which is devastated by a wave of violence, has claimed more than 350 lives. Hardly a week seems to pass without a bombing or an assassination, with soldiers, policemen, monks, teachers, even a judge targeted.
Many security officials were killed and injured in separate incidents, including a bomb attack on a truck carrying Thai soldiers. The government once accused the unrest on various criminal gangs. Nevertheless....
