Muslims in Thailand, target of anti-terror campaign by the government

By Kazi Mahmood, IOL Correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR, January 12 (IslamOnline.net) – Thai authorities have ordered a crack down on privately owned and run Islamic schools or Pondok in the country, a Thai newspaper said  Monday, January 12, citing intelligence reports.

The crackdown came after six soldiers were killed in recent attacks on arms depots in predominantly Muslim south, the Bangkok Post reported. 

Thailand’s Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has ordered local police and army officers in South Thailand to put the schools under close scrutiny, accusing them of harboring what he called "Muslim militants".

Shinawatra, however, dismissed suggestions that the investigations were an attack on Islam, adding that Thai nationals had the right to practice their faith, but they must do so in accordance with law.

But he admitted that there remains some mistrust between the local Muslim community and the government.

There are more then 500 pondoks in the five southernmost provinces, a predominantly Muslim region with strong Malay influence.

Authorities are furious that only about 100 of such schools have incorporated courses approved by the Education Ministry into their curriculum. They also receive some funding from the Thai government.

Muslim Anger

Thaksin's accusations drew strong responses and warnings from Muslims involved in the schools.

"There has to be mutual respect between the two sides," Pattani Islamic Committee chairman Durahman Mahmingji told the Nation daily.

"Authorities have to take into account local sensitivities when carrying out their investigations," he added.

Niday Waba, who oversees a network of private Islamic schools in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, said he welcomes the investigation, as the schools have nothing to hide.

"I can assure you that there is no military training in our institutions," Niday said.

One school's owner told IslamOnline.net that Muslims are now bracing themselves for any formal action against them or the Islamic education in southern Thailand.

The owner, who spoke on a customary condition of anonymity, feared that the move would be of a long and enduring effect.

"Since the arrest of the Indonesian terror suspect, Hambali in the South, the authorities has never stopped harassing Muslims, which lead to reactions by some youth in attacking officials here," said the school's owner, who talked by phone to IOL.

He believes that Shinawatra's move has angered Muslims, adding that he appeared to be interested in undermining Islam in this country.

"We also heard that he asked Malaysia to help in cracking down on Thai Muslims who have double nationalities, since the intelligence report suggests that these Thai-Malaysians may be those involved in ‘mujahideen’ activities in the region," he added.

The pondok owner said the idea of cracking down on schools in Thailand dates back to the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

"The authorities did not take any steps because they wanted the help of the U.S., financial and other logistical help, and since now they are an advanced post in the so-called war against terrorism, it is clear they are now acting," he added.

The presence of soldiers and their trucks has annoyed Muslims and stirred up fear in schools and panicked children as well as villagers while the arrest of scores of Muslims last week ended up in many high profile Muslims leaders leaving the southern regions for fear of being targeted as "terrorists".

On January 6, two bombs exploded in southern Thailand, killing one policeman while martial law was declared in Pattani and two other provinces.

The Thai premier said it was unlikely the two blasts were perpetrated by the same people who set fire to 21 schools and raided a military camp, killing four guards in neighboring Narathiwat province on Sunday, January 4.