1. Peace Building in Southern Thailand Abdulghani Suetair Asst. Director of College of Islamic Studies Prince of Songkla University

5. Conflict area of Southern Thailand

6. The situations in Southern Thailand Southern Border provinces There are 33 districts in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwas provinces There are 33 districts in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwas provinces 10,927 Square Kilometers 10,927 Square Kilometers Total Population is 1,748,682 Total Population is 1,748,682 - Muslim 1,386,880 (80%) - Buddhist 351,367 (20%)

7. The Southern Border provinces defined by the government is consisted of 4 border provinces namely, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwas and Satun and including some districts of Songkhla province namely Thepa, Sabayoi, Nathawi and Chana The Southern Border provinces defined by the government is consisted of 4 border provinces namely, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwas and Satun and including some districts of Songkhla province namely Thepa, Sabayoi, Nathawi and Chana 44 districts and 16,409 Squarekilometers 44 districts and 16,409 Squarekilometers Muslims = 62% Muslims = 62%

8. The popular needs of the Muslims in the south is right and freedom to practice their own religion The popular needs of the Muslims in the south is right and freedom to practice their own religion The problems facing by the Muslims 80%- 90% goes to : The problems facing by the Muslims 80%- 90% goes to : - Poverty - Injustice - Communication with Thai officials - Problems caused by the Thai officers

9. Statistics of the violence From January 4, 2004 – February 16, 2007 violence happened 6,272 times in 293 villages (78% of 4 provinces) From January 4, 2004 – February 16, 2007 violence happened 6,272 times in 293 villages (78% of 4 provinces) Injured and dead 5,285 persons = Buddhist 3,134 (59.14%) Muslims 2,054 (38.76%) Injured and dead 5,285 persons = Buddhist 3,134 (59.14%) Muslims 2,054 (38.76%)

10. General Situation in 2007 General Situation in 2007 - The violence happened in 3 provinces 1,228 times, average 3.4 times /day - Injured 2,362 persons or average 6.5 persons /day - More than one forth of this number dead, average 1.7 persons/day - The most critical area is Muang Yala District where most of the incident happened on the local road during 7.00 am -9.00 am and during 8.00 pm-9.00 pm - Two third between 15-44 years and more than 80% male - Buddhist 57% and Muslim (63%)

11. Possible Root Causes 4BBACKGROUND BELIEF BENEFIT BUREAUCRACY

12. Conflict Actors State/ Government Insurgents People

13. Challenges for peace building Prevent newly emerging minor armed conflicts from becoming full scale wars Prevent newly emerging minor armed conflicts from becoming full scale wars Prevent all types of conflicts from becoming violent Prevent all types of conflicts from becoming violent “Socialization” and “Institutionalization” of peace and peaceful ideals “Socialization” and “Institutionalization” of peace and peaceful ideals “consultation”? “consultation”?

15. Actors & approaches to peace building Elite Society Top leaders Middle-level leaders Grass-roots leaders High-level negotiations Problem-solving workshops Local peace commissions

16. Peace building strategies Developing a “peace inventory” Developing a “peace inventory” Who is doing what kind of peace activities? By doing joint research; convening a conference Who is doing what kind of peace activities? By doing joint research; convening a conference Creating better channels & coordination “vertically” & “horizontally” Creating better channels & coordination “vertically” & “horizontally” Organising “peace donors” conference Organising “peace donors” conference Relay / share information Relay / share information Coordinating activities Coordinating activities

17. Southern Thailand Peace Network (STPN) Prince of Songkhla University, Pattani Campus Prince of Songkhla University, Pattani Campus Prince of Songkhla University, Hadyai Campus Prince of Songkhla University, Hadyai Campus Yala Islamic University, Yala Province Yala Islamic University, Yala Province Thaksin University, Songkhla Province Thaksin University, Songkhla Province Hadyai University, Songkhla Province Hadyai University, Songkhla Province Yala Ratjaphat University, Yala Province Yala Ratjaphat University, Yala Province

18. STPN ACTIVITIES Establishment of Student Peace Club in every university Establishment of Student Peace Club in every university Training student leaders in peace studies and conflict management Training student leaders in peace studies and conflict management Development of peace curriculum among STPN members Development of peace curriculum among STPN members Organizing peace national and regional seminars and conferences Organizing peace national and regional seminars and conferences

19. Role of Collage of Islamic Studies, Prince of Songkhla University in Peace Building CIS’s Peace Building Student affair Lecturers Executive committee Grassroots

20. Student’s activities for peace building, jointly organized with STPN members from various universities Teaching and encourage for prisoners Teaching and encourage for prisoners - Youth under 15 years old who involved with drug and violence Programs of interfaith dialogue Programs of interfaith dialogue - Muslim - Buddhist student interfaith dialogue within university -Between Muslim and Buddhist student leaders from Thailand and student leaders from Malaysia

21. Lecturers Activities for Peace Building Lecturers Activities for Peace Building - Project Thai-Malay intellectual dialogue - International peace seminar In 2007 seminar on ‘Peace Building from various experiences” various experiences” - Project joint research working between CIS (Thailand) and UUM (Northern University of Malaysia) -Teaching and workshop for conflict resolution; conferences and seminars -Teaching and workshop for conflict resolution; conferences and seminars

22. CIS Executive Committee Activities CIS Executive Committee Activities - To advice and give attention to every government policy which dealing to the conflict - To be representative of Muslim community in Thai parliament - Establishment of grassroots leader network - Establishment of grassroots leader network

23. Grassroots Activities Understanding the pure teaching of Islam Understanding the pure teaching of Islam Youth Training Camp Youth Training Camp Children Training Camp Children Training Camp Women Short Course Training Women Short Course Training Religious sermon; Friday and Eid al Fitri and Eidil Adha Religious sermon; Friday and Eid al Fitri and Eidil Adha

24. Thank you for kind attention Please feel free to contact me at Abdulghani_suetair@yahoo.com