South exiles seek safe return

South exiles seek safe return

SPECIAL REPORT: Thai Muslims living across the border call for end to bloodshed

Some Malaysia-based Thai Muslims, including those who call themselves "warriors", do not want separation for the far South. In one district just south of the border, home to about 2,000 exiles and fugitives, most only want a safe return home.

Haji Mah, 75, says about 100 Malay Muslims from Thailand who have sought shelter in his village in Kuala Krai district consider themselves Thai. Many of these people are juwae, or warriors.

"Many of us have took arms against the authorities when we saw our relatives and loved ones being attacked or exploited," Mr Haji Mah says. "The communities have brooded for a long time with anger and a sense of injustice."

He insists many of the people who came to live in this hilly district want to return home peacefully to Thailand's deep South _ but only if their safety can be guaranteed.

Mr Haji Mah says he left home, in Narathiwat's Cho Airong district, after his brother was killed by security officers 17 years ago. Mr Mah's son was left with no choice but to fake his father's death two years later, filing a death certificate at the district office to stop the barrage of threats and intimidation from security forces.

Malaysia's Kelantan state, which borders the south of Thailand, is now home to several thousand displaced Malay Muslims from Thailand, as the region shares the same culture and dialect.

About 2,000 Thai Muslims are living in Kuala Krai district alone.

Mr Mah estimates that about 60% of the displaced Malay Muslims left Thailand because they were wanted under the Emergency Decree or by the Criminal Court. The rest crossed the border because they feared for their own safety.

"We rarely knew if we had warrants out on us or not. Sometimes, a warrant was issued for us after we left [Thailand] because it's easy for the authorities to find a culprit that way. We were not there to defend ourselves," says Somchai, 25, from Songkhla's Thepa district.

He was charged with murder but denies the accusation. With no evidence, no alibi and no money to fight the charge, he says he had no choice but to leave Thailand. He has been tending a rubber plantation at a village in Kuala Krai for about five years.

Mr Mah said people in his network are aware of the ongoing peace talks between the National Security Council and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional separatist group. But he believes those involved in the talks will not be able to connect with the "warriors of Fatoni", or juwae, who carry out attacks on the ground.

"Juwae ranks have increased because people perceive and experience growing injustice. They want to take revenge against the authorities who mistreated them," Mr Haji Mah said.

He believes the monarchy, however, could provide a unifying figure for achieving peace. "In the past, His Majesty the King visited the deep South regularly so we didn't feel left out. Now that the King's health is frail, he cannot visit any more.

"When we had problems we had no one to turn to. But we still respect and love him [the King]," he said.

Rosdee, 40, from Narathiwat, said he did not have any warrants out for his arrest, but instead fled Thailand because he was wanted by the insurgent "movement"' since he was close to some military figures.

Mr Haji Mah said peace could return to the South if there is no Emergency Decree and a dramatically reduced military presence, particularly of rangers.

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