After all it’s Pattani: Not East Timor

The Muslim minority of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala in Thailand’s Southern provinces aches much unlike East Timor’s Christian minority did in the 1990’s. The loudest cry comes from neighbour Malaysia while the whole Western kitchen sink was thrown in aid of East Timor. This is despite over 550 people having died since January in supposed separatist-inspired violence.

Although the restlessness of a 4% minority in Thailand is at least as old as the East Timor struggle for Independence, their respective fortunes as well as perceptions by others differ wildly. One was a just struggle for democracy amidst a bullying coloniser while the other is considered fertile ground for the latest ‘militant/terrorist’ trail. The mere thought of Independence is nonsense thus. ‘These Thai Muslims need to be pacified else they terrorise the region and inspire militants elsewhere.’

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra appeared to say as much when he blamed Thai Muslims who had studied abroad for stoking a ‘separatist-inspired campaign’. Any East Timorese study in the West? I think so, but not even a murmur please.
Despite disaffected Muslims in the region longingly and forlornly complaining of discrimination, little time or resources have been utilised by the Thai authorities in seeking to adjust the status quo. Harsh complaints from other countries in the region in response to the October 25 demonstrator debacle has done little to stoke their conscience, 87 of their citizens dying in transit is just not reason enough.

Failing to grasp or even recognise the underlying issues is of course an ailment we are all now too familiar with. Indeed, neighbour Malaysia’s inability to crack down on militants crossing the border is of far greater concern to Thailand! Now where have I heard that before?
After 1,300 protesters detained by the government have been released, the possibility of bitterness overtaking them is of real and present concern, particularly if further violence is the result, as horror transit survivors are thought to be going for broke to take on the Thai government. Indeed, the Governor of Narathiwat’s offer of cash, gifts and even an apology to ease the families’ pain exemplifies perhaps how deep the bitterness runs.

As familiar concerns, similar tactics but different execution depending on who the victims/perpetrators are, we have graduated beyond the smoke and mirrors that engulfed much of global politics in the previous century.

Are we all looking in the right place?