“Independence or martyrdom” in Thailand’s Deep South | New Mandala

“Independence or martyrdom” in Thailand’s Deep South | New Mandala

ZACHARY ABUZA, GUEST CONTRIBUTOR, 

10 SEPTEMBER 2015

Abdul Karim Khalib of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional criticises Thai “colonialism” in a six-minute video posted online 7 September. Photo from YouTube.

A rare video message from Malay insurgents shoots down military government’s unfounded optimism for peace in ongoing conflict.

On 8 July, the Information Department of Thailand’s Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) released a rare video.

A spokesman, before a plain white wall, speaking Bahasa Malayu, read from a prepared text for six minutes.  It was a staid performance.Th

The spokesman listed the grievances of the Pattani people, from Thailand’s Deep South, and the injustices that the region has faced at the hands of “Siamese colonists,” before commenting on the current situation.

While hardly edge of your seat viewing, the video makes four important points about the BRN’s thinking about peace talks with the government.

First, such a video is very rare.  The last time that the BRN made such a statement was in 2013.  Between May and December 2013, they released six YouTube videos regarding the peace process. But with the collapse of peace talks with Yingluck Shinawatra’s government, the BRN fell silent.

The BRN does a terrible job in communicating, especially outside of the Deep South, where they tend to message through their attacks and target selection.  But in this video, the BRN’s goals and concerns about the peace process were explicit.

Second, the BRN makes clear that their land was usurped and colonised. While a truism, this is a point that successive Thai governments have refused to acknowledge.  For them, the Deep South is part of the unitary Thai state, not occupied territory whose people have stubbornly resisted assimilation.

The BRN is making it very clear that the Pattani people have the right to secede and historical rights to the land, something that is a non-starter in Bangkok.  The BRN seems to be entering any potential formal peace  talks with a very hardline position.

Third, the BRN is both a member and leader of Mara Pattani, a coalition of Malay insurgents, and is participating in the preliminary talks hosted by the Malaysian government to resume formal peace talks.

Three rounds have been held already, most recently on 25 August and a fourth round is due to be held later this month (read my analysis of the 25 August talks here). From these talks, it is clear that the BRN, which controls the majority of the militant cells operating in three-and-a-half provinces, was pushed to the talks reluctantly.

The video makes very clear that the insurgents have no trust in the Thai government to negotiate honestly or abide by their commitments. The spokesman asserts “We the Pattani people have no trust in Thailand,” which has ruled the Deep South through “deception and terrorism.”

Finally, the BRN has little faith in the peace process.

The spokesman notes that the upcoming royal succession, the ongoing political crisis in Bangkok, and the failure of the democratic aspirations of the people, make any concessions by the government unlikely.

He warns that “As long as Siam’s imperialist political ideology doesn’t change, and doesn’t recognise the right of self-determination of the Pattani Malay people in accordance with the UN Resolution 1514 (XV), “the “revolution of the Pattani people,” ie armed struggle, “will continue.”

While he’s speaking on behalf of the BRN, not Mara Pattani, he asserts that there is unity of all the groups, backed by the Pattani people.

“Our position is we are one, one nationality, one language one nation.” He concludes with the declaration “merdeka atau syahid” – “independence or martyrdom.”

Not exactly a perfect opening line for the resumption of peace talks. But one that more accurately reflects the BRN’s thinking, than unfounded Thai government optimism at the prospects of peace.

Zachary Abuza is a principal at Southeast Asia Analysis specialising in regional politics and security issues. He has authored numerous books including Conspiracy of Silence: The Insurgency in Southern Thailand(2008) and Militant Islam in Southeast Asia (2003).Watch the BRN’s video here.  

More soldiers hurt by roadside bomb in Thailand

More soldiers hurt by roadside bomb in Thailand
The Nation, July 22, 2012

Southern Thailand's unrest in Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, continued yesterday with two soldiers wounded by a roadside bomb in Narathiwat.

On Friday, first day of Ramadan, a car bomb in Sungai Kolok district wounded eight people, while another roadside bomb in Ra Ngae district wounded seven people, a Ra Ngae district's rubber plantation co-op's storehouse was burned down and a civilian was injured in a Jor Irong district teashop shooting.

Yesterday at 9 a.m., a 5-kilogram bomb exploded, aiming to hurt a six-soldier patrol on three motorcycles in Tambon Manang Tayor's Ban Jood Daeng. It wounded Private Arisman Wayeng and Private Sangworawut Ngamprom, both 23.

Narathiwat Governor Apinan Suethanuwong said the car bomb culprits tried to park the vehicle at a bank but got chased off by guards, so they parked in front of the electrical appliance shop instead. He has had to beef up security at banks in 13 districts.

He said he asked female rangers to help police, soldiers and defence volunteers in manning checkpoints. He also asked for funds from the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre to demolish wooden homes in Ban Tha Reu in Reu So district, where a July 17 attack killed one soldier, two civilians and wounded six others, and build concrete homes that better shield people.

Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 spokesman Colonel Pramote Phrom called for modern tools for checkpoints to boost efficiency in the combined security forces' guarding seven community and economic areas in the region, as per PM Yingluck Shinawatra's "Safety Zone" policy.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Phrompong Nopparit condemned the car bomb as savage and cruel. He said the party would gather information in the Deep South to help the government, while Nakhon Si Thammarat Democrat MP Thepthai Senapong urged Yingluck to visit the Deep South to oversee and review if the policy was on the right track and agencies were working efficiently.

Sungai Kolok hotel association head Saengthong Preechawuttidech said the car bomb caused Malaysian tourists to check out and go home and it would take a long time to restore their confidence, while Narathiwat Industrial Council chief advisor Pongsak Chutichaowakun said the car bomb aimed and succeeded in hurting the city's economy.

Southern Thailand: Bomb blast spurs security crackdown

Southern Thailand: Bomb blast spurs security crackdown | Bangkok Post
Muhammad Ayub Pathan, Waedao Harai and Anucha Charoenpo, July 21, 2012

Security measures have been beefed up in the deep South after a car bomb attack in Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok district yesterday morning.

Army Region 4 commander Udomchai Thammasarorath ordered all military units in the South to tighten security measures to deter any further attacks by militants.

Col Pramote Prom-in, deputy spokesman of the Internal Security Operations Command, Region 4 office, called on Thai-Muslim people to condemn the car bombers who attacked Sungai Kolok.

Soldiers of the Yala 11th special task force set up a security checkpoint on the Tao Poon-Tha Sab road in tambon Tha Sab of Yala's Muang district. They checked all of the motorcycles passing by and vehicles heading into Yala municipality.

Police, soldiers and territory volunteers also set up security checkpoints on all main inbound roads to Yala.

Yesterday was the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan which will continue until Aug 20. "This is the holy month for Muslims and there should be no violence during this period. Unfortunately, the separatist militants just ignored it," Col Pramote said.
The bomb blast happened about 6.15am.

Police said the blast came from a 50-kilogramme gas cylinder placed inside an Isuzu D-Max pickup truck that was parked in front of Pro Computer and OA Thailand Co on Charoen Khet Road in Sungai Kolok municipality.

The explosion completely destroyed the truck, damaged three cars and a motorcycle parked nearby, and set ablaze the building of a company which occupies four adjoining units of four-storey shophouses.

The company is the biggest supplier of electronic devices and electrical appliances in Sungai Kolok district.

More than 10 fire engines took more than three hours to extinguish the blaze. Firefighters rescued people who were trapped on the top floor of the building. Damage was estimated at about 10 million baht.

The eight people injured are Charoenchai Udomlertsakul, the 74-year-old owner of the company; his son Thaweesak, 45; his daughter Sunee, 35; his daughter-in-law Supassorn Tiyaratanachai, 43; Pichai Thongchompoonuch, 53; Sama-ae Waema, 62; Ameera Jehsoh, 31; and Rusman Ma-useng, 41.

The bomb in the truck was detonated with a mobile phone when a police patrol vehicle from Sungai Padi district was passing by.

Police checked the chassis number of the pickup truck and found it had been stolen from Chalong Nuana, a 46-year-old local of Pattani province. Chalong and his associate were shot dead in a housing estate in Rangae district of Narathiwat on Nov 20 last year while they were unloading furniture from the truck.

The vehicle bore licence plates of another vehicle that belonged to Suchart Suwanchaluay, a local from Muang district of Yala. Suchart was shot dead in front of his house on June 21 this year and his vehicle was stolen.

Police believe the bombing was an act of members of the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) separatist group which is based in Cho Airong district of Narathiwat. Police have already issued warrants for their arrest. A security source identified the suspects as Alawuddin Sohko, Nasree Mueree and Muhammadsakree Sosing.

Waedueramae Mamingji, chairman of the Pattani Provincial Islamic Committee, yesterday castigated those who masterminded the car bomb attack.

"It is an unacceptable action," Mr Waedueramae said. "Allah will punish them and bring them to disgrace. They must be brought to justice soon."

He wondered why those who planted the bomb chose the Ramadan fasting festival to carry out their attack as it is the Muslim holy period that requires Muslims to do good things for Allah, themselves and others.

Mr Waedueramae also called on the masterminds to stop such actions in the deep South and he wanted to see suspected insurgents join the process of reconciliation that is building within the nation.

In another incident, an armoured military vehicle was hit by a buried bomb on the Tanyongmas-Samoh road in Ban Juenong Bueso village in Rangae district of Narathiwat about 5.20pm yesterday.

Two soldiers and five military rangers suffered broken bones as a result of the explosion. Shrapnel from the buried bomb wounded a 28-year-old female motorcyclist.

The explosive was placed within a 20-kilogramme fire extinguisher that was wired to a battery hidden in roadside bushes.