Southern Thailand Bombing Chan Tuck Ging Chew Hanson Xiong Xingyu

Contents Background Causes Impacts Role of UN Role of governments Lessons for Singapore Terrorism as a challenge to world security Measures taken

Background The South Thailand insurgency is an Islamist separatist insurgency which is taking place in the predominantly Malay Pattani region, made up of the three southernmost provinces of Thailand. Violence is increasingly spilling over into other provinces. Although separatist violence has occurred for decades in the region, the campaign escalated in 2004.

Causes of the Insurgency Conflict started out as a post-World War II secessionist struggle led by various groups of secular, ethnic, socialist and nationalist ideologies—has today been transformed into an Islamist style insurgency against the secular politics of Thailand’s Buddhist-dominated state. Islamic states

Causes of the Insurgency Islam has a long history in the Pattani region of southern Thailand. It was brought to maritime South-East Asia in the 13th century by traders from India. Over the next four centuries, Islam consolidated its presence in the region. This presented opportunities for radicals to offer new interpretations of Islam and to put forward strong views about Islam’s political position. As a result of this interpretation, the conflict in the Pattani region is increasingly presented as a religious struggle between Muslims and Buddhists

Causes of Bombing Thaksin’s aggressiveness towards the South Islamic community The determination of the Southern Muslims to preserve their roots

Causes of Bombing After Thaksin was elected prime minister in 2001, his first priorities was to assert his authority in the South. He immediately set about changing the political and security arrangements in the region. Thaksin was convinced that violence in the South was no longer political in character but essentially criminal.

Causes of Bombing In the South the campaign helped to further destabilize the situation at a time of change and when the police were growing increasingly aggressive in their policies toward the Malay Muslim community. As Thaksin’s reforms were implemented there was a rise in the incidence of violence in the South. Finally, the insurgency demonstrated its views through means of violence.

Tak Bai Incident (October 2004) 6 men arrested for supplying weapons Demonstration demanded release Army called in ◦ Shooting ◦ Mass-arresting  Stacked 5 or 6 deep in the trucks  78 men suffocated

Reaction to Tak Bai Muslims and Malaysia appalled at the army’s behaviour Protests from the South Thaksin defended army ◦ Claim that they were fasting, hence too weak

Impacts on Thailand The 2007 South Thailand bombings were a series of bombings that hit Narathiwat, Pattani, Songkhla and Yala during the Chinese New Year celebrations on February 18 and 19. At least seven people were killed. The bombings were the first time the rebels had simultaneously struck all four southern provinces. The attacks targeted mostly residential and business establishments owned by Buddhists or ethnic Chinese.

Role of UN Maintain security of region ◦ Ask different nations to co-operate in stopping terrorism The UN Congress ◦ Brought > 3000 delegates to Thailand ◦ To discuss issues

Role of Thailand Government Protect region from more danger ◦ Increase security ◦ Attempt to negotiate with the terrorist groups ◦ Discuss with other nations Identify causes and fix it ◦ Asked Malaysia to stop terrorist training camps in Kelantan

Role of Malaysian Government Co-operate with Thailand government To not let the terrorists escape into Malaysia ◦ Increase security near border Resolve issue of dual-nationality ◦ People in region share strong ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural bonds with Malaysia

Lessons for Singapore Terrorism is a threat to Singapore’s economic success ◦ Multi-racial ◦ Incident very close to home  Muslim community Racial harmony is important ◦ Understanding and accepting each other

Evaluation of measures taken There had been several call for negotiation of peace ◦ Unwilling to allow for secession ◦ Special Administration Zones allowed Ineffective as opposing leader is strongly for independence – did not respond to calls

Evaluation of measures taken Large amount of international support Indicates the willingness of countries to work together to stop terrorism A united world

Evaluation of measures taken Thai military and police still taking an aggressive stand Unable to respond effectively Hard for insurgents to cooperate

The way forward Changing political strategy to gain support from Malay Muslim community Must recognize the structural problems in the Patani region (eg poverty, education) and also the differences in religion, ethnicity etc.

References BBC News CNN.com/asia PolitInfo.com The Jamstown Foundation GlobalSecurity.org Smartraveller.gov.au

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