Peace BuildingPeace Buildingin Southern Thailandin Southern Thailand

Abdulghani SuetairAbdulghani SuetairAsst. Director ofAsst. Director of

College of Islamic StudiesCollege of Islamic StudiesPrince of Songkla UniversityPrince of Songkla University

Conflict area of Southern ThailandConflict area of Southern Thailand

The situations in Southern The situations in Southern ThailandThailand

Southern Border provincesSouthern Border provinces There are 33 districts in Pattani, Yala and There are 33 districts in Pattani, Yala and

Narathiwas provincesNarathiwas provinces 10,927 Square Kilometers10,927 Square Kilometers Total Population is 1,748,682 Total Population is 1,748,682 - Muslim 1,386,880 (80%) Muslim 1,386,880 (80%) - Buddhist 351,367 (20%)Buddhist 351,367 (20%)

The Southern Border provinces defined by the The Southern Border provinces defined by the government is consisted of 4 border provinces government is consisted of 4 border provinces namely, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwas and Satun namely, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwas and Satun and including some districts of Songkhla and including some districts of Songkhla province namely Thepa, Sabayoi, Nathawi and province namely Thepa, Sabayoi, Nathawi and ChanaChana

44 districts and 16,409 Squarekilometers44 districts and 16,409 Squarekilometers Muslims = 62%Muslims = 62%

The popular needs of the Muslims in the south The popular needs of the Muslims in the south is right and freedom to practice their own is right and freedom to practice their own religion religion

The problems facing by the Muslims 80%-The problems facing by the Muslims 80%-90% goes to :90% goes to :

- PovertyPoverty- InjusticeInjustice- Communication with Thai officials Communication with Thai officials - Problems caused by the Thai officersProblems caused by the Thai officers

Statistics of the violenceStatistics of the violence From January 4, 2004 – February 16, 2007 From January 4, 2004 – February 16, 2007

violence happened 6,272 times in 293 villages violence happened 6,272 times in 293 villages (78% of 4 provinces)(78% of 4 provinces)

Injured and dead 5,285 persons = Buddhist Injured and dead 5,285 persons = Buddhist 3,134 (59.14%) Muslims 2,054 (38.76%)3,134 (59.14%) Muslims 2,054 (38.76%)

General Situation in 2007General Situation in 2007- The violence happened in 3 provinces 1,228 The violence happened in 3 provinces 1,228

times, average 3.4 times /daytimes, average 3.4 times /day- InjuredInjured 2,362 persons or average 6.5 persons /day2,362 persons or average 6.5 persons /day- More than one forth of this number dead, average More than one forth of this number dead, average

1.7 persons/day1.7 persons/day- The most critical area is Muang Yala District- The most critical area is Muang Yala District

where most of the incident happened on the local where most of the incident happened on the local road during 7.00 am -9.00 am and during 8.00 road during 7.00 am -9.00 am and during 8.00 pm-9.00 pmpm-9.00 pm

- Two third between 15-44 years and more than - Two third between 15-44 years and more than 80% male80% male

- Buddhist 57% and Muslim (63%)- Buddhist 57% and Muslim (63%)

Possible Root CausesPossible Root Causes

4B4BBACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

BELIEFBELIEF

BENEFITBENEFIT

BUREAUCRACYBUREAUCRACY

Conflict ActorsConflict Actors

State/Government

InsurgentsPeople

Challenges for peace buildingChallenges for peace building Prevent newly emerging minor armed conflicts Prevent newly emerging minor armed conflicts

from becoming full scale warsfrom becoming full scale wars Prevent all types of conflicts from becoming Prevent all types of conflicts from becoming

violentviolent ““Socialization” and “Institutionalization” of Socialization” and “Institutionalization” of

peace and peaceful idealspeace and peaceful ideals ““consultation”?consultation”?

Level 1: Top Leadership Military/political/religous/ leaders with high visibility

Level 2: Middle-Range Leadership Leaders respected in sectors Ethnic/religous leaders Academic/intellectuals Humanitarian leaders (NGOs)

Level 3: Grassroots Leadership Local leaders Leaders of indigenous NGOs Community developers Local health officials Refugee camp leaders

Types of Actors Approaches to Building Peace

Focus on high level negotiations Emphasizes cease-fire Led by highly visible, single mediator

Problem Solving workshops Training in conflict resolution Peace commissions Insider-partial teams

Local peace commissions Grassroots training Prejudice reduction Psychosocial work in postwar trauma

Affected population

Few

Many

Actors & approaches to peace building

Elite

Society

Top leaders

Middle-level leaders

Grass-roots leaders

High-level negotiations

Problem-solving workshops

Local peace commissions

Peace building strategiesPeace building strategies Developing a “peace inventory”Developing a “peace inventory”

Who is doing what kind of peace activities? By doing Who is doing what kind of peace activities? By doing joint research; convening a conferencejoint research; convening a conference

Creating better channels & coordination Creating better channels & coordination “vertically” & “horizontally”“vertically” & “horizontally”

Organising “peace donors” conferenceOrganising “peace donors” conference Relay / share informationRelay / share information Coordinating activitiesCoordinating activities

Southern Thailand Peace NetworkSouthern Thailand Peace Network(STPN)(STPN)

Prince of Songkhla University, Pattani Prince of Songkhla University, Pattani CampusCampus

Prince of Songkhla University, Hadyai Prince of Songkhla University, Hadyai CampusCampus

Yala Islamic University, Yala ProvinceYala Islamic University, Yala Province Thaksin University, Songkhla ProvinceThaksin University, Songkhla Province Hadyai University, Songkhla ProvinceHadyai University, Songkhla Province Yala Ratjaphat University, Yala ProvinceYala Ratjaphat University, Yala Province

STPN ACTIVITIESSTPN ACTIVITIES Establishment of Student Peace Club in every Establishment of Student Peace Club in every

universityuniversity Training student leaders in peace studies and Training student leaders in peace studies and

conflict managementconflict management Development of peace curriculum among Development of peace curriculum among

STPN membersSTPN members Organizing peace national and regional Organizing peace national and regional

seminars and conferences seminars and conferences

Role of Collage of Islamic Studies, Prince of Role of Collage of Islamic Studies, Prince of Songkhla University Songkhla University

in Peace Buildingin Peace Building

CIS’s Peace Building

Student affair

Lecturers

Executive committee

Grassroots

Student’s activities for peace building,Student’s activities for peace building,jointly organized with STPN members from jointly organized with STPN members from

various universitiesvarious universities Teaching and encourage for prisonersTeaching and encourage for prisoners

- Youth under 15 years old who involved with - Youth under 15 years old who involved with drug and violence drug and violence

Programs of interfaith dialogue Programs of interfaith dialogue - Muslim - Buddhist student interfaith dialogue - Muslim - Buddhist student interfaith dialogue within universitywithin university-Between Muslim and Buddhist student leaders -Between Muslim and Buddhist student leaders from Thailand and student leaders from from Thailand and student leaders from MalaysiaMalaysia

Lecturers Activities for Peace BuildingLecturers Activities for Peace Building- Project Thai-Malay intellectual dialogue - Project Thai-Malay intellectual dialogue - International peace seminar- International peace seminarIn 2007 seminar on ‘Peace Building from In 2007 seminar on ‘Peace Building from

various experiences” various experiences” - Project joint research working between CIS (Thailand) - Project joint research working between CIS (Thailand) and UUM (Northern University of Malaysia)and UUM (Northern University of Malaysia)

-Teaching and workshop for conflict resolution; -Teaching and workshop for conflict resolution; conferences and seminarsconferences and seminars

CIS Executive Committee ActivitiesCIS Executive Committee Activities- To advice and give attention to every - To advice and give attention to every government policy which dealing to the government policy which dealing to the conflictconflict- To be representative of Muslim - To be representative of Muslim community in Thai parliamentcommunity in Thai parliament

- Establishment of grassroots leader - Establishment of grassroots leader networknetwork

Grassroots Activities Understanding the pure teaching of Islam Understanding the pure teaching of Islam Youth Training CampYouth Training Camp Children Training Camp Children Training Camp Women Short Course TrainingWomen Short Course Training Religious sermon; Friday and Eid al Fitri and Religious sermon; Friday and Eid al Fitri and

Eidil AdhaEidil Adha

Thank you for kind Thank you for kind attention attention

Please feel free to contact me at Please feel free to contact me at Abdulghani_suetair@yahoo.com