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A Talk delivered at the National Thai Studies Centre,
Australian National University on 22nd August 2007
by Assistant Professor Surat Horachaikul,
Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University,
Bangkok Thailand
Monday, September 3, 2007
The far south of Thailand in the era of the American empire,9/11 version, and Thaksin’s “cash and gung-ho” premiership
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Abstract
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Abstract
Though Islam is a political factor throughout Southeast Asia, this paper
argues that Islamic fundamentalism does not necessarily govern political
life. It also questions generalizations about the increase in political
Islamic fundamentalism in the region perceived by the press and
American sympathizers. By sketching the roots of the violent conflict in
the far south of Thailand, the predominantly Muslim region of the
Kingdom, it argues that the violence has been caused not only by
Islamic militants consisting of Thai terrorists and Muslim separatist
groups who have sought foreign assistance and fought against the Thai
state’s oppression but also by the common banditry of ordinary
criminals and bureaucrats. The paper does not deny that there are
terrorism linkages in the region, but at the same time it questions
whether the widely used term “transnational terrorism” explains
anything new about the violence. In addition, it also believes that the
American “war on terrorism” policy which the Thai government was
forced to embrace has worsened the problem and further isolated the
Muslims of the south from the center. The paper also criticizes the Thai
prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s “cash and gung-ho” style of
leadership which has further exacerbated the problem. In the last part
of the paper, the author provides recommendations and warns the Thai
government to solve the problem of the south quickly and wisely.
Otherwise, the Kingdom is highly likely to see not only more violence
but also new targets.
argues that Islamic fundamentalism does not necessarily govern political
life. It also questions generalizations about the increase in political
Islamic fundamentalism in the region perceived by the press and
American sympathizers. By sketching the roots of the violent conflict in
the far south of Thailand, the predominantly Muslim region of the
Kingdom, it argues that the violence has been caused not only by
Islamic militants consisting of Thai terrorists and Muslim separatist
groups who have sought foreign assistance and fought against the Thai
state’s oppression but also by the common banditry of ordinary
criminals and bureaucrats. The paper does not deny that there are
terrorism linkages in the region, but at the same time it questions
whether the widely used term “transnational terrorism” explains
anything new about the violence. In addition, it also believes that the
American “war on terrorism” policy which the Thai government was
forced to embrace has worsened the problem and further isolated the
Muslims of the south from the center. The paper also criticizes the Thai
prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s “cash and gung-ho” style of
leadership which has further exacerbated the problem. In the last part
of the paper, the author provides recommendations and warns the Thai
government to solve the problem of the south quickly and wisely.
Otherwise, the Kingdom is highly likely to see not only more violence
but also new targets.
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