Transcript Southern Thailand Bombing

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
The determination
Thaksin’s
of the Southern
aggressiveness
Muslims to
towards the South
preserve their
Islamic community
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
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Thailand_insurgency
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_South_Thailand_bombings
BBC News
CNN.com/asia
PolitInfo.com
The Jamstown Foundation
GlobalSecurity.org
Smartraveller.gov.au
Thank you!