Global Muslim body vital bridge differences

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.