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Published on September 13, 2007

 Historical pain was one of the key causes of conflict in the predominantly Muslim region, said Southern Border Province Administra-tive Centre chief Pranai Suwannarat yesterday.

He suggested the Education Ministry should correct the "misunderstandings" surrounding the history of Pattani.

"I think we should unveil the real history of Pattani to prevent people from twisting the historical facts that can lead to misunderstanding among people, for their own political purposes," Pranai told a seminar in Songkhla yesterday.

He suggested local intellectuals and academics should come out with the real truth about Pattani's history.

However, Pranai did not elaborate on the misunderstanding or what the correct version of history should be.

Pattani was an independent sultanate that was engaged in a struggle with Siam before it was annexed by Bangkok under the 1909 treaty signed by Siam and Great Britain.

Separatists and militants had used the history of this struggle to win support from local people in their fight against Bangkok's authority over the past century.

They claim a unique identity to legitimise their cause, said Pranai.

The vast majority in the deep South are ethnic Malays who follow the Islamic faith.

Pranai, also a Muslim, said the Education Ministry should produce a documentary on the Muslim way of life to make local Muslims proud of their identity and to give the area a better image.  "Culture is the main factor in bringing success to the peaceful restoration in the deep South. We should look at the cultural dimensions to solve the problems in the region," he said.

Weera Rojpojana-rat, permanent secretary for education, said officials working in the South should learn the local Malay dialect for better communication.

"We should not be too dogmatic when promoting Thai culture, as the local dialect is also included in Thai culture. The deep South is a unique area, so we should adjust education to fit the local culture," he told the seminar.

Authorities are struggling to contain the violence that has killed more than 2,400 people in the last three years.

The latest outbreak took place yesterday when two people were shot dead in Yala and Narathiwat and a school in Narathiwat was set on fire.

Manase Muleng, a resident of Yala's Krong Pinang district, was shot dead in his home, while Wirat Payongsak, a 42-year-old teacher, was killed by gunfire in Narathiwat's Rangae district.

Separately, a combined force of 500 police and military officials raided 19 location in four villages in Narathiwat's Yi-ngor district and took 14 suspects into custody.

Officials also confiscated 19 items including an AK-47 rifle, three shotguns and some pistols.

An official said four of the suspects were leaders of military cells bent on creating violence in the area.

The Nation