Global Muslim body vital bridge differences

Nakharin Mektrairat, Associate Professor, Political Science, Thammasat University, Bangkok, The Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo

Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the United States began an initiative to suppress terrorism, triggering opposition movements among Muslims worldwide.

The movements appear to be a reaction against globalization. When discussing globalization, we have tended to focus only on such aspects as the information revolution, the inflow of unitary culture and the rapid movement of capital. We have neglected religious and spiritual effects and the damage caused to local cultures.

When we recognize the gap between material wealth and spiritualism and awareness unique to various regions, it is easy to see why Muslims are angry with the way fellow Muslims are being attacked by people who do not share their faith.

Charan Malulim, a professor of Thammasat University's faculty of political science sees the incident as a clash between a materially advanced world with hidden evil, and a world with strong spiritual faith, where people maintain traditional lifestyles.

Charan, a devout Muslim and one of Thailand's foremost Islamic scholars, said he expects the confrontation to last several decades until the eventual victory of the spiritual world.

Muslims worldwide, including those in Thailand, seem to still doubt the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York were orchestrated by Osama bin Laden, no matter how detailed the evidence presented by the United States. Most Thai Muslims believe the attacks were carried out by either a small group of Muslim extremists, non-Muslims who want to strain relations with the Muslim world or a fanatic group within the U.S.

Of Thailand's population of 62 million, slightly more than 4 million are Muslims. The country has six small groups of separatist Muslims in the southern area. They claim the Thai government illegally annexed the southernmost region of the country, where most of the Muslim population lives, and are seeking independence. In particular, Bersatu, the united independence movement formed by Patani in 1991, aims to integrate all separatist Muslim groups.

Thai Muslims are peace seekers who dislike violent, radical behavior. Most strive to be good Thai citizens. According to Thai Muslim leaders, including Charan, the Thai media has presented one-sided reports tying Muslims to terrorists. Thai Muslims then say they have no choice but to engage in political activities to show they are not terrorists.

Peaceful demonstrations include written protests, organizing mass religious services comprising thousands of worshipers and boycotts of U.S. products in some areas.

Thai Muslims generally are peaceful because they have a long history of a happy existence under the Thai government.

In Thailand, the king appoints a respected Muslim leader as Chularachamontori, or sheik al-Islam. In times past, the title was granted only to Shiites, who are of Persian lineage. Since the 1932 coup that gave rise to a constitutional regime, however, Sunnis-who constitute 95 percent of Thai Muslims-are granted the title. Thai Muslim leaders have a broad support base.

Sawat Sumalaisak, an 85-year-old native of Chachonsao province, east of Bangkok, currently holds the title. He is a disciple of the first Sunni Chularachamontori and heads the Sheikhul Islam Office, which has the power to interpret Islamic law, proclaim important holy days and appoint intellectuals. It also advises the government on various matters. Chularachamontori plays an important role in maintaining order in Thailand.

Thailand has an Islam central committee, under which provincial committees are organized in 33 of the nation's 76 provinces. The central committee advises such government offices as the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Education and monitors the activities of provincial committees and mosques. Provincial committees play the leading role in organizing Muslim rallies and submitting written protests.

One of the reasons Thai Muslim movements are orderly and peaceful is that, unlike in Indonesia and Malaysia, Muslims are a minority in Thailand. Thai Muslim organizations are not only democratic and efficient but are also playing the role of a fire wall so as not to directly expose Muslims to external impacts. In addition, leaders of Muslim organizations are aware of the need to show the outside Muslim world that Thai Muslims are just as angry as the rest of the Muslim world. At the same time, however, they are determined to be good Thai citizens.

Thailand has a nationwide organization that brings domestic Muslims together. On an international level, it is desirable to form a peaceful Muslim organization that can exchange and coordinate views with other international organizations. Such an organization should help iron out differences and prevent a clash of opinions.