NU head in Thailand to discuss violence
NU head in Thailand to discuss violence
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Bangkok
Sorting out the problems in Thailand's restive south requires a
careful assessment, which can only be done after getting first-
hand information on what is really going on there from local
community leaders before laying out a plan.
Chairman of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul
Ulama (NU) Hasyim Muzadi said he would go to southern Thailand to
meet representatives from the three mainly-Muslim provinces of
Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala.
"I already have a general overview from my meetings with Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Foreign Minister Kantathi
Suphamongkhon as well as my audience with King Bhumibol
Adulyadej.
"The NU will not meddle in a sovereign state's internal
affairs, but we will give suggestions and options when required,"
he added.
Thailand's government has been in the spotlight, especially
among Muslims, over its iron-fisted approach to handling the
violence in the south.
The uprising in southern Thailand was apparently triggered by
general dissatisfaction with the central government's policies
toward the region along with historical and socio-cultural
differences.
Hasyim spoke at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs in
cooperation with the Saranrom Institute of Foreign Affairs
(SIFA). The seminar was titled "Why we need to empower moderate
Muslims and how".
He emphasized the importance of assessing a conflict's root
causes, whether it was caused by religious intolerance or other
cause, but twisted to become a "religionized" conflict.
"The NU has been involved in resolving conflicts that seemed
to have religious causes, but turned out to be of other causes
such as the Muslim-Christian clash in Maluku and the Bali
bombings," he claimed, without elaborating.
"During my visit and meeting in southern Thailand, I will
assess whether the problem is caused by religious problems or
other 'religionized' problems."
The failed vice presidential candidate also emphasized
injustice, poverty and low education in the Muslim areas as
possible causes for the conflict.
"Therefore, I cannot give any suggestions before I go there. I
will convey such suggestions when requested."
He, however, said that the problem might be solved in a
similar way to that of Indonesia's Maluku conflict.
"The Maluku conflict seemed like a Islam-Christian conflict
but after the local leaders from both religions sat down in a
meeting it was apparent the conflict was caused by a political
rivalry.
"Those who politicized it then fled the country," he alleged
without mentioning any names.
He also emphasized that Thailand should solve its internal
problem by avoiding any internationalization and by providing a
comprehensive solution.
"I have the impression that the Thai government is opening up
to solve the problem and ready to find a peaceful solution to
reunite Thailand as a whole.
Hasyim is scheduled to leave for Pattani on Wednesday to meet
local leaders and representatives from the three mainly-Muslim
provinces and spend an evening there. He will return to Bangkok
on Thursday where he is slated to meet some members of the
Indonesian community at the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok.
He will head home on Friday morning.
When asked whether the NU would open a branch office in
Thailand, Hasyim said the NU was ready as long as it was approved
by the Thai government.
"We already have branches all over the world. We have branches
in Europe, the Middle East, Australia and America.
"We are ready as soon as we are needed here," he said.
Hasyim pointed to culturally linked religious education as one
of NU's main contributions.