IMPACT OF SOUTHERN BORDER PROVINCES OF THAILAND TOWARDS ASEAN COMMUNITY

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:Southern Border Provinces of Thailand have a very long history of conflict from the historical wounds of the Pattani state under the Siam to its present. The conflicts covered the area, particularly the three provinces of the Southern Border of Thailand, namely Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, also includes the four districts of Songkhla province, Jana, Nathawee, Tepa and Sabayoy as a consequence of conflicts in the Southern Border Provinces. There were many factors caused the problem of violence, such as good governance, problem of ethnicity, the gab between religion and culture, lack of education, human trafficking, money laundering, crime, drug, etc. The most important problem is the anti-government sentiment which the group of the movement feels that they are not treated with the justice. On the other hand, misunderstanding between people to people, government authority and people were caused of the complicated situation affected to the entire society in the region which is known as Lankasuga or Malayu. Certainly, the people in the region are the ones who suffering from the impact.With the emerging of ASEAN's moto One Vision, one Identity and one community. The situation in the south of Thailand might be one of the majors, the impact of the development of the ASEAN community especially in term of security and economic cooperation among its members. ASEAN may lose the benefit and suffer from this region due to the important strategic locations connected between the southern Thailand and the northern Malaysia and it is the inland transportation from Singapore to Myanmar in the northwest and Laos in the northeast. Without the proper management of the Thai government, with the assistance of ASEAN members, it could be affected by the development of ASEAN, not only the political and security pillar but also the in various aspects as economic and cultural pillars too.THE CAUSE OF CONFLICT IN SOUTHERN BORDER PROVINCES OF THAILAND:The major cause of conflict in the Southern Border Provinces occurs from disagreement in certain people with the government policy and its implementation in the past. Some are not happy with negative behavior of certain government officers, this situation has subsequently created gradual displeasure among the local people and turned them toward violence under the influences of radical leaders. Thus, underground movements were formed with the intention to use violence to achieve their goals which remain unknown to the public.Analyzing the root causes of conflict can clarify on the following:1) The lack of true mutual understanding between the two races, the Thai and Malay-Pattani race; Pattani people were rooted from the historical prosperity, the people's identity based on the way of life and religion. Pattani was considered as the place of prosperity in term of religion, and culture. With misunderstanding may increase the violation rather than peace. Some Thai officer has ignored to understand the reality by stating that We must tell them that they are Thai, they are not Malay, they are of the Thai race, born in (Siyarngnork, 2009) This statement shown the untruly understanding of people in southern border province.2) With the varieties of ethics in the area concern, the mutual understanding between the Malay-Pattani ethics (Thai-Malays) and the Thai is also one of the roots caused by a problem in the Southern Border Provinces of Thailand. Naturally, there is a Muslim majority within the region and the social structure is also different from the other parts of the country. Particularly, the people in the southern border do not like to speak Thai language except Satun and Songkhla province. (Maluleem, The Coming of Islam to Thailand. PROSEA Occasional, 1998)Actually, to force people for speaking the same language of us is not the key to make understanding.3) The Pattani state's historical wounds that occurred in the past; It is very significant matter that the Kingdom of Siam was colonized the Pattani state. …