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The conflict in Thailand has similar characteristics to the Philippine conflict.
While the majority of Thai are Buddhist, there is a Muslim majority in the
southern provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat. These territories are also
among the poorest in Thailand, and the major employer is rubber plantations. 5
Recent actions by the government, including new economic development
programs, an education plan expected to cost $90 million, and deployment of
20,000 troops to stabilize the region, have worked to reduce the severity of
violence. 6 Nonetheless, the resistance remains active.
Jihadist ideology plays even less of a role in Thailand, where the Malay-Muslim
militants in the southern provinces are largely driven by local grievances. Unlike
the Philippines, Thailand has not seen the emergence of groups driven by global
jihadist ideas such as ASG. Given the external support for the Malay-Muslims,
one cannot completely discount the possibility that jihadi ideology has
penetrated the region, but current evidence suggests it is unlikely. Much like
MILF, notions of jihad are largely invoked to mobilize and recruit local fighters.
Even the notion of jihad used by the Thai Muslims has a distinctly local
character.
Muslims in Malaysia do not have minority grievances, and currently, there is no
domestic insurgency in Malaysia. Muslims represent the majority of Malaysia’s
population, Islamic political parties and actors are permitted within government,
and the tacit acceptance of radical elements in the past, seems to have
immunized Malaysia from the violence experienced elsewhere in the region.
While the Kumpulan Militan Malaysia (KMM) have conducted a few attacks
targeting minority groups in Malaysia, those attracted to extremist ideology are
motivated by regional and international issues. Many Malays sympathize with
Muslims fighting in the Philippines and Thailand, as well as those in Palestine
and other places. This sympathetic environment attracted international radical
groups such as al-Qa’ida and Jemaah Islamiya (JI), who saw Malaysia as an ideal
place to handle their logistical affairs. The importance these organizations
placed on their safe haven reduced the incentive to target the moderately Islamic
Malay government. Recently, however, the Malaysian government has increased
its focus on radical elements, dismantling the local JI and KMM cells in the west,
although the eastern part of the country remains a concern.
5
Like the Philippines, the government has made efforts to improve conditions in these provinces.
6
Jean Prajak, Speech given at the 2008 International Counterterrorism Conference, held at the
Interdisciplinary Center, Herziliya, Israel.
7