Thai Muslims pray for peace

By Kazi Mahmood, IOL Southeast Asia Correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR, January 9 (IslamOnline.net) - In a decisive response to Muslims for what the authorities call acts of subversion and separatism, the Thai army was sent to scoop scores of “innocent” Muslims tagged as terrorists and jailed for seven days without trial, sources in Thailand told Islamonline.net Friday, January 9.

“Two religious leaders were arrested while many went into hiding and are trying to understand the reason behind the massive operation against Muslims,” said Abdullah Ahamad, a teacher in Pattani to IOL Friday.

Newspapers in Bangkok confirmed the massive operation that took place Thursday adding that some 40 people were arrested since they are suspects in the recent spite of violence in the southern part of Thailand.

In a furious response, several of the more than 500 Muslims packed into prayers Friday at Pattani’s main prayer hall fumed in particular at the detention of a local Islamic scholar in connection with attacks in the region this week.

“Of course we're furious," retired elementary school teacher Yapa Barahaeng, 56, told Agence France-Presse (AFP), in the doorway of the main hall of the Pattani Central Mosque, southern Thailand's largest.

“Muslim groups haven't done this. It seems the government itself or the police or military have done it," he said, referring to attacks since the weekend which left six dead.

Suspicion has risen dramatically, he said, following Thursday's detention of two men including an Islamic scholar who Defense Minister Thammarak Ayutthaya said was being questioned about involvement in the incidents.

"Today I'm praying for the two of them. They didn't do it," Yapa said.

However, the Bangkok Post Friday, citing Thai officials, claimed the two Islamic religious teachers are believed to have aided a separatist group which raided the army camp in Narathiwat Sunday are being detained for questioning.

According to official statements, the military operation is designed to flush out those behind Sunday’s deadly raid on the army installation in Narathiwat. Muslims in the region, however, had earlier warned that the authorities would use the burning of the schools and the arms heist of Sunday last to attack Muslims.

Thailand Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said the suspects were picked up from three predominantly Muslim population provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani.

“They will only be detained for questioning for up to seven days under Thailand’s martial law.

“After that they will be released if they have nothing to hide.

“I am pleased with the progress of the investigations and we are getting closer to unraveling the case and recovering the stolen arms,” he said.

“The arms were stolen not by Muslim Mujahideen or by separatists, but with the help of the soldiers in the camps, and the schools were burnt by pro-government elements,” said Abdullah.

He added that it was clear that the authorities needed a reason to attack Muslims and humiliate them, their schools and their religious leaders, showing his anger against the current operation.

“All this will only bring more anger and the response by Mujahideen will be swift, I can only see it this way,” he said.

He told IOL that the authorities are not pressing Malaysia to close borders and to check on all Thai Muslim residents in Malaysia with the idea of deporting those they think are suspects.

The teachers, Muhamad Hayeewea Sohor , 44, and Santi Sama-ae, of Suwannakorn school in tambon Bor Thong of Pattani's Nong Chik district, were Thursday taken by soldiers and police to Ingkhayud Boriharn military camp.

In follow up operations, more than 200 soldiers in six trucks left the command center to round up more people at undisclosed locations.

On Sunday, four soldiers at the Krom Luang Rachanakarin in Narathiwat were killed when an unidentified group launched a brazen attack and seized 103 automatic machine guns, pistols and assault rifles. 

The Southern 4th Army division director of development project and secretary of public affairs, Maj Gen Chalorkingthorn, said a bounty of 1mil baht (US2500) had been offered to anyone with information leading to the arrest of the leaders and group members, reported the Malaysian newspaper The Star. 

He added that another 500,000 baht (US12,000) would be given to those with information leading to the arrest of their lieutenants. 

On the other hand, more than 500 Muslims attended a solat hajat (prayer of request) in front of the military camp which was attacked by an unknown group in Narathiwat Sunday killing four soldiers, reports the Star. 

Imam Abdul Fatah Awang, a religious teacher from Kampung Dalam Cherok, led the prayers, which lasted for 15 minutes.

Abdul Fatah said the prayers were held with the hope that no suspicions would fall on the Muslim community here that they were behind the attacks. 

He said it was to show that Islam was a religion of peace and that the community was with the government in efforts to quell the unrest.

Thai Defense Minister Ayutthaya and other top army officers also attended the prayer session.

The minister thanked the residents for arranging the prayers and said the government would continue with the physical and economic development in the area. 

Narathiwat Islamic Council mufti Abdul Rahman Abdul Samad also appealed to all mosques in the province to perform the solat hajat after the Friday prayers.