ASIA/THAILAND - “POLITICAL MOTIVES BEHIND MUSLIM PROTEST IN THAILAND”, APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR IN THE SOUTH TELLS FIDES

Tuesday, 13 January 2004

Surat Thani (Fides Service ) – A political protest reawakened old religious separatism, Reverend Peter Nichon Sarathit, Administrator Apostolic of Surat Thani diocese which covers southern Thailand, told Fides with reference to recent terrorist attacks in the southern provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala. Father Sarathit, recently in the region explained the situation.
“Our two Catholic schools in Narathiwat and Pattani have been closed for the past two weeks. We want to assure the children’s safety and think they will be better off at home with their parents. There are only a few Catholics in the region, small communities of about 70 people. Salesian Father Gustav Roosens, in charge of their pastoral care, lives in Pattani and he is concerned about the situation. Catholics are afraid but so far the violence has not affected them directly. Church activities continue and the Catholic social centre which mainly provides care for HIV/AIDS sufferers is still open ”.
Thailand has a population of 60 million 90% Buddhist, with 6%, Muslims mostly in the south of Malay origin and 2.2%, Christian including 280.000 Catholics. The Apostolic Administrator said “non Muslim Thais in the region are afraid to say anything, fearing retaliation and they welcome the imposition of martial law hoping it will bring more security at the social level”. Father Nichon said the recent outbreak of violent protests by the Muslim minority “was staged for political reasons”.
Last week on 4 January 18 schools were torched and an army camp was attacked. The next day two bombs exploded near 5 Pattani injuring two members of the police force. The Thai government blamed the attacks on local separatist movement Mujahedeen Pattani said to be in contact with radical groups in Malaysia and a regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah.
Following the violence the government imposed martial law in the provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, where is admitted there is an Islamic armed separatist movement. Under martial law the army can set up road blocks and carry out searches in schools, public buildings and other places. So far police have arrested 30 suspects including two Muslim teachers suspected of being involved in the school fires.
(PA) (Fides Service 13/1/2004 lines 51 words 512)


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