Poll: Wide opposition to “Pattani City”

Published: 6/11/2009 at 01:08 PM
Online news: Politics

Nearly three-quarters of the people surveyed by Suan Dusit Poll were against the idea of establishing a semi-autonomous “Nakhon Pattani” in the far South, as proposed by opposition Puea Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.

The Suan Dusit Rajabhat University pollsters reported on Friday they had indepth interiews with 364 people in the lower South and other areas on Nov 3 to 5 about their opinions on the controversial special administrative zone proposal.

They said just over 72 per cent of the respondents were opposed to the idea, which they thought would divide the country into two parts, create further social division, lead to more violence, and could affect national security.

However, about 17 per cent of them supported the proposal. They felt it would lead to improvements and more development the far South, as had happened after Pattaya and Chaing Mai were declared special administrative cities.

The pollsters said 10.6 per cent felt there could be a hidden agenda in Gen Chavalit's proposal and that it coud just be political campaigning by the Puea Thai Party.

They wanted more details and a more indepth explanation of the reasoning behind the proposal, so they would be better informed in making a decision.

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Mike

Discussion 3 : 09/11/2009 at 01:08 AM3
Britain left Malaysia and India, and the Dutch left the islands of Indonesia.
What is the difference to the lower South ? Britain and the Dutch controlled those colonies longer than Thailand controlled the lower South, but they left. Thailand doesn't call the lower South a colony but the people there feel like being colonized.
I live in Thailand for over 10 years and I like Thailand very much, therefore I can't understand why the people in the lower South don't want to be Thais, but it must be their choice !!!
ricefieldradio

Discussion 2 : 07/11/2009 at 12:36 AM2
"and other areas" what were those other areas? if they only talked to 120 people from the south and the rest in bangkok the poll is flawed as usual.

You can't divide a divided country it's been divided in thirds for some time. The South, Bangkok and vicinity, and the North and Northeast.

Having the country divided in two is actually an improvement.
Tara

Discussion 1 : 06/11/2009 at 03:32 PM1
In today's poll in the Bangkok Post its 49 in favor to 46 opposed so where is this great opposition to Pattani City? Its about time somebody did something except talk.

Mike

Discussion 3 : 09/11/2009 at 01:08 AM3

Britain left Malaysia and India, and the Dutch left the islands of Indonesia.
What is the difference to the lower South ? Britain and the Dutch controlled those colonies longer than Thailand controlled the lower South, but they left. Thailand doesn't call the lower South a colony but the people there feel like being colonized.
I live in Thailand for over 10 years and I like Thailand very much, therefore I can't understand why the people in the lower South don't want to be Thais, but it must be their choice !!!

ricefieldradio

Discussion 2 : 07/11/2009 at 12:36 AM2

"and other areas" what were those other areas? if they only talked to 120 people from the south and the rest in bangkok the poll is flawed as usual.

You can't divide a divided country it's been divided in thirds for some time. The South, Bangkok and vicinity, and the North and Northeast.

Having the country divided in two is actually an improvement.

Tara

Discussion 1 : 06/11/2009 at 03:32 PM1

In today's poll in the Bangkok Post its 49 in favor to 46 opposed so where is this great opposition to Pattani City? Its about time somebody did something except talk.

Poll: Wide opposition to “Pattani City”