Daranee Waraseth. The impact of the insurgency at the Southern Border of Thailand on the Muslims in Bangkok. Master's Degree(Comparative Religion ). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2008.
The impact of the insurgency at the Southern Border of Thailand on the Muslims in Bangkok
Abstract:
This quantitative and qualitative research aims (1) to study the difference
between Muslims in Bangkok and Muslims in the southern part of Thailand, and
how the insurgency from the southern border provinces of Thailand, socially,
physically, and mentally affects Muslims in Bangkok; and (2) to help Non-Muslims
learn more about the historical context, culture and civilization of Islam. The
interviews were used as primary data collection method (20 Muslims and 10 Non-
Muslims) and questionnaire were used as secondary tools for exploring general
attitudes of Muslims and Non-Muslims (200 Muslims, and 100 Buddhists and 100
Christians). Data were collected between May, 2007 and April 2008, and were
analyzed by content analysis and descriptive statistics.
The results of the interviews reveal that the insurgency in the southern border
has had direct impacts on the lives of the local people. However, these incidents are
extensive violence which also has a great impact on the majority of Muslims.
Muslims in Bangkok include people who come from different professions,
educations, religions and cultures. They have to face with pressure from people
outside the Muslim community. The field research reveals that, 46.4% of Muslims
in Bangkok agree that they are affected by the insurgencies and 59.6% of Muslims
agree that the insurgencies in the Southern Part of Thailand affect to Muslims all
over the country. Moreover, the media have presented the image of Muslims
negatively and which has had a great mental and physical impact on Muslims. It has
made them feel that they were treated unequally when compared to other groups of
people in Thai society due to the misperceptions, lack of knowledge and
misunderstandings.
Therefore, Thai society should be better educated about Muslims and Muslim
studies should be provided in schools. The insurgencies are like a wake up call for
Thai society to create social awareness. People need to be concerned about the value
of life.
These findings suggest that religious understanding needs to be taught more
in Thai society. Government and religious institutions should be concerned about
religion studies. And interfaith dialogue is a tool for every religion to share
knowledge with each other.