Simply put, citizens in the three southernmost provinces have had no true representation at most levels of government, and this should be the starting point of any search for a solution.

An expert on Islamic history and classical and contemporary Islamic thought, Rizvi earlier this month gave lectures on Islamic studies at the Prince of Songkhla University and Yala Islamic College as part of a British Council programme on engagement with the South. He believes that most conflicts in human history stemmed from political causes but were often claimed to be due to religion.

In southern Thailand, there is no denying that the unrest is attributable to both historical and political factors, he says.

There have been many theories offered as to the factors behind the prolonged unrest. Some have suggested that it could be a Thai-Malaysian or a Thai-Singaporean issue, but Rizvi doesn't agree. As for the century-old bid to set up an independent Pattani state, he says that if the sentiment still lingers then it could probably account for about 10 per cent of all the factors.

Rizvi, a Muslim, says the September 11 attacks might have encouraged Muslims in southern Thailand to reassert their identity, but notes that the conflict also stems from the lack of cultural rights for the Muslim community in the deep South. For instance, he feels that Yawi should be made part of official Islamic education in schools to serve the basic cultural needs of the local Muslims.

He says its naive to suggest that religious belief alone could cause conflict, as humans would still fight and struggle even if there were no religion at all. Secondly, he doesn't think that there is anything in any religion that is a fundamental cause of conflict in society.

After the 9/11 attacks turned the spotlight on the Muslim world, the views most often heard in global media are extremist - and more

moderate voices need to speak

up.

Rizvi, a PhD in oriental studies from Cambridge University, believes that all human beings are the same and there are features common to all faiths. For instance, Islam and Buddhism are similar in philosophy, with emphasis on meditation, concentration and the nature of existence.

Speaking on the topic of religious pluralism at the Prince of Songkhla University's College of Islamic Studies, Rizvi advocated the inclusiveness of all faiths, including Islam, and a multi-religious society.

In southern Thailand, Islamic education is still quite exclusive since all the teachers and the students are of the same faith, resulting in a lack of diversity. In contrast, lecturers and students of Islamic studies at the University of Exeter come from very diverse backgrounds, with about half of the lecturers being non-Muslim, he says.

Of contemporary Islamic thought and modernism, Rizvi says there is no rational basis to conclude that democracy is un-Islamic.

It should be seen as a modern means to run society, which is far more complex than in the old days of Muslim traditionalism.

Rizvi defines the term "jihad" as generally meaning a struggle or an effort, which could be physical, spiritual or cultural.

More recently, jihad has come to mean a military struggle, with the aim of fighting for an end even though the means might violate all principles.

But the best way to resolve

conflict is through dialogue, he says, and regarding the one in the southernmost provinces, further democratisation should be considered seriously.

 Nophakhun Limsamarnphun

 nop1122@yahoo.com