Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
By Major Ivan Lee Synn Leng Winner Of the Commandants's Paper Award 1999 -Staff College Part 1 ABSTRACT
The persistence and resurgence of ethnic nationalism by the Malays over hundred of years in the face of repeated attempts to integrate the larger political entities of Thailand is the cause of many a headache to the authorities. The Thai government over the years has attempted to seek a solution to the problem however the persistence of the issue deemed these actions as bearing not the required results.
The Malay-Muslims has been fighting for an autonomous state in Southern Thailand after the Thai took control of the of the four provinces beginning of the seventeenth century. Later, measures to integrate Patani Muslims into the framework of Thailand were met with serious resentment among them. The subjugation of this ethnic group gave rise to a separatist movement.
This paper will study the ethnic separatist movement and how the government intend to resolve the conflict in Southern Thailand. It addresses several question on how the Thai government conduct its strategy to slowly integrate this ethnic group into the Thai community. Tremendous effort to develop Southern Thailand either socio-economic programmes and military assistance have shown considerable declination in the separatist movement.
Study in the historical and cultural background shows that Islam is the unifying factor in the struggle for a better future which the Malay-Muslims envisioned. It is also an effort to analyse whether internal and external influence can be the factor for success.
There were suspicion that Malaysia supported the separatist movement, and it was not true at all. Malaysia-Thailand relationship were strained at one time but with the ASEAN cooperation it had solve and maintain better relations through its confidence building measures. This paper will highlight the role of ASEAN in proposing by brokering a peace agreement between the Thai government and the Malay-Muslims of Patani. The prospect for a peace solution is bright in the future however the Malay-Muslims may not have the opportunity to gain its autonomy state.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This research paper would not have been possible without the guidance and advise offered by numerous people to whom I deeply indebted.
Firstly, I would like to give my special thanks to my supervisor, A/Prof Fauza Abd Ghaffar from the University of Malaya for her guidance and supervision of my paper. Secondly, I would also like to thank my dear friend, Mej Kamarulzaman for his advise and attention throughout the research.
I have gathered my data for my research in University of Malaya Library, National Library, ISIS Library, Ministry of Defence Library and most importantly, Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College Library. My sincere gratitude to previous writers on separatism which have greatly benefited my research.
Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Jeslyn and our son Kelvin for the patience and encouragement throughout the research.
MEJAR IVAN LEE SYNN LENG Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College Haigate Kuala Lumpur
15 May 1999
ABBREVIATION
AFTA ASEAN Free Trade Area
APEC Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
ARF ASEAN Regional Forum
ASEM Asia Europe Meeting
ASA Association of Southeast Asia
ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations
BRN Barisan Revolusi Nasional
BBMP Barisan Bersatu Mujahidin Patani (United Fronts of Patani Fighters)
BIPP Barisan Islam Pembebasan Patani (Islamic Liberation Front of Patani)
BNPP Barisan Nasional Pembebasan Patani (Patani National Liberation)
BRN Barisan Revolusi Nasional
CPM Communist Party of Malaya
CPT Communist Party of Thailand
GAMPAR Gabungan Melayu Patani Raya (The Association of Malays of Greater Patani)
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GNP Gross National Product
IMF International Monetary Fund
IRA Irish Republican Army
ISOC Internal Security Operation Command
KLA Kosovo Liberation Army
LTTE Liberation of Tiger Tamil Eelam
MNLF Moro National Liberation Front
NIC Newly Industrialising Country
PIC Provincial Islamic Committee
PLO Palestine Liberation Organisation
PPM Patani People’s Movement
PULO Patani United Liberation Front
UN United Nation
ZOPFAN Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality
TABLE
1.1 Area and Population of the Muslims Provinces of 17 Southern Thailand.
MAP
1. Thailand vi
CONTENTS
Abstract i - ii Acknowledgement iii Abbreviations iv - v Map vi Contents vii - viii
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION
1.1 Statement of problem 1 - 3
1.2 Aim 3
1.3 Objective 3
1.4 Methodology 3 1.5 Importance of Research 4
1.6 Limitation 4 - 5
1.7 Outline/Content 5
CHAPTER 2 - CONCEPT AND EFFECTS OF SEPARATIST MOVEMENT
2.1 Definitions 6 - 7
2.2 Concept of autonomy, independence and 7 - 9 the doctrine of self-determination.
2.3 Pattern of separatist movements. 9
2.4 Effects of internal and international relations 10 - 12 on separatist movements.
CHAPTER 3 - SEPARATIST MOVEMENT IN SOUTHERN THAILAND
3.1 Historical background. 13 - 16
3.2 Demographic Characteristic. 16 - 19 . 3.3 Ideology of the movement struggle 19 - 23 and objective.
CHAPTER 4 - THE GOVERNMENT STRATEGY AND ACTION
4.1 Political Measures. 24 - 27
4.2 Socio-Economic. 28 - 35
4.3 Military in development programme and 35 -41 internal security.
4.4 Diplomatic. 41 - 46
4.5 Religion. 46 - 51
CHAPTER 5 - PROSPECT OF A SOLUTION AND THE ROLE OF ASEAN AS PEACE BROKER
5.1 Formation of ASEAN 52 - 53
5.2 Principle, challenges and ideology of ASEAN. 53 -65
5.3 Breaching the non-intervention spirit while 65 - 67 maintaining Thai national integrity . 5.4 The Indonesian brokered peace talks between 67 - 68 the Philippine government and MNLF. 5.5 Prospect of a lasting solution and the role of 69 ASEAN in brokering for peace.
5.6 Benefits in the enhancement of ASEAN 69 - 70 solidarity and cooperation in the context of international relations.
