Return Patani to its glorious past

Thailand's leading social critic, Dr. Prawes Wasi and Ismail Lutphi Japakiya, the rector of the Yala Islamic University, said the state to help bring back the region's "glorious past" and reinstate its status as the "cradle of Islamic teachings" for the Southeast Asia.

"The region was once known for its Islamic teaching that attracted scholars and students from various places around the Muslim world," Prawes said.

"We can help restore pride to the local community and for the country. We should not see this effort as coming at the expense of the Thai state," Prawes said.

Lutphi said such effort would be a source of pride for Thai state. He said the role of religion of Islam has long has a special place in everyday life of the local people, many of who have yet to come to terms with various administrative models and governance.

The seminar, organised by Prince of Songkhla University's Deep South Watch (DSW), Chulalongkorn University's Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, and King Prajadhipok Institute (KPI), examined the government policy and activities in the deep South and concluded that the effort has failed to win hearts and minds of the local community.

KPI's director of the Office of Peace and Governance, retired General Ekkachai Srivilas, said the state has to come up with new approaches to solve the conflict. He argued that the enormous amount of budget, resources and manpower have not paid.

DSW's Ayub Khan Pathan, said no solution will successful it it does not take into consideration the historical consciousness and the issue of identity of the Malay Muslims in the region.

Instead of seeing the deep South in the narrow sense of nation-state, we need to acknowledge Patani's place in the Malay-speaking world and the contribution the region has made to the region.

Ayub sadi the state has to acknowledged that it is fighting a well organised network of militants and we have failed to win over the support of the local community. Extremely few number of arrest based on information from the public, he said.

Angkhana Neelaphijit accused the National Security Council (NSC) of obstructing initiatives from the international community, namely the UN Development Programme, from working with the local community by sitting on their request.

The outspoken activist also accused the Fourth Army's Internal Security Operation Command (Isoc) of "insulting" the local community by discouraging them from making direct request from foreign and local donors for their development projects.