WISP Assignment 2Thailand

Done By:Amous KhooLee Ming XiQudsia JuwandaLow Yu Xiang

Content Page

Social Inequality in Thailand

Prejudices that lead to discrimination of Thai Muslim

Social, Economic, and political factors

Compare Thailand – Singapore

Solution addressed and Obstacles

Conclusion

Social Inequality in Southern Thailand

Thailand government policy

• Governed by Thaksin as the prime minister

• Weak democratic institutions , the Muslim politicians and leaders remained silent in fear of repression.

• Places Buddhists in Patani in order to outnumber the Muslims to weaken them.

No Freedom and human rights

• Muslim have been beaten, killed or disappeared during police questioning and custody

• Soldiers and police have sometimes been indiscriminate when pursuing suspected insurgents resulting in civilian collateral damage.

Injustice and unfairness among the Thailand society and government

• There is not enough education opportunities given to the Muslim

• Reduced employment opportunities

Prejudices that lead to Discrimination

Minority

• Thai-Muslims are mostly found in the Southern Part of Thailand.

• Mainly in Pattaya, Yala, Narathiwat• Thai Government, for years, neglected these

provinces economically.• Most That-Muslims speak in Malay.• They insists on keeping their Muslim Heritage

despite being told to change to hide their Muslim Identity.

Culture

• Thai Muslims are required to change their culture & language and identity but despite all that, they are still resentful.

• This added to much confusion which became to a violent attacks with police & military.

Education

• Thai Muslims education system not taken into consideration, compulsory national education system for all.

• No standardized education syllabus for Thai Muslims.• Religious school teach Islam as Main Subject and Thai-

Malay as Main Language.• No subjects related to English, Mathematics, Social

Sciences, Humanities.• Parents do not compromise any other subjects not related

to Islam.• Students unable to compete with national level.

Education

• As a result, Thai Muslims grow up lacking education.

• Studies shown that 60% of Thai Muslims in 2003 are unable to get a job.

• This is due to different education level and poor ability to speak national language.

• As a results, Thai-Muslims joined Terrorist Organizations

Government

• Students with Islamic Certificates are not allowed or given much opportunities.

• They are rejected from leadership posts in State Bureaucracy.

• Thai officials attempted to get rid of Malay identity from this provinces.

• They feared that these people would not be loyal to the Thai State.

Government

• In order for the attempt to be a success, Officials labeled this people as “Thai-Muslims”.

• This itself show how much they were treated differently from other citizens.

• This also emphasize on the religion be in that Buddhism is practiced much more than Islam.

Social, political and economic factors

Socialthe nature of violence in southern Thailand is primarily rooted in local grievances rather than radical Islamist ideology

Malay-Muslim community that is disenchanted with state policies that pay little regard toMalay-Muslim identity, culture, and socio-economic grievances.  

the 1960s resettlement of northeastern Thais and to Thai cultural and economic imperialism in Pattani.

Political

The insurgency is probably not caused by the lack of political representation among the Muslim population.

By the late 1990s, Muslims were holding senior posts in Thai politics,

Thaksin’s first government (2001–2005) also saw 14 Muslim MPs and several Muslim senators.

Muslims were able to voice their political grievances more openly and enjoy a much greater degree of religious freedom.

Discontentment over the abuses led to the growing violence during 2004 and 2005. Muslim politicians and leaders remained silent in fear of losing their positon

In the 2005 general election, all but one of the eleven Muslim MPs who stood for election were voted out of office.

Economic

Only 9.20% of Muslims have completed secondary education compared to 13.20% of Buddhists.

Muslims also had reduced employment opportunities compared to their Buddhist neighbors.

Jobs in the Thai public sector are difficult to obtain for those Muslim students

Muslims in the border provinces generally have lower levels of educational attainment compared to their Buddhist neighbors.

Only 1.70% of the Muslim population have a bachelor’s degree, while 9.70% of Buddhists hold undergraduate degrees.

Government officials comprised only 2.4% of all working Muslims in the provinces, compared with 19.2% of all working Buddhists.

Insurgent attacks on economic targets are further reducing employment opportunities for both Muslims and Buddhists in the provinces.

Compare Singapore & Thailand

Compare Singapore & Thailand

• Similarity: YES• Who? Discrimination against the minority:

Indians. Because we feel that, they are from a different culture with a different well-being.

Compare Singapore & Thailand

• This is similar to the case in Southern Thailand where the Thai-Muslims are discriminated.

Compare Singapore & Thailand

• Possible Solutions: Apart from the daily national anthem and national pledge, cultural exchange programs within our own people are able to foster better relations among the different races.

Solutions

Education

• Providing fair education opportunities for minority Thai-Muslims

• Focus on other subjects besides Thai-Melayu• Inculcate positive thinking since young

Jobs

• Company should provide equal job opportunities for minority

• Government should make company sign an agreement to prohibit any kinds of discrimination on minorities.

Common Practices

• actions for the people to carry out together• Promotes better cultural understanding

among the dwellers. • Includes taking pledge together in school (like

in Singapore)• common practice helps to foster national

identity• see themselves as one people

Culture and Religion

• Conducting activities to promote cultural exchange between different race/ religions.

• Gain better understanding of the cultures and customs of the minority

Government

• Exploring new systems of government• Recruit more Thai-Muslims in the legislative• Implement policies so that everyone is treated

fairly• Safeguarding the interests of the minority

group• Concerns and needs of the minority groups

are made known to the government

Conclusion