“In Thailand there are around four million Muslims within a total population of
62 million - 80% of whom live in five southern provinces (Songkhla and
Satun are the other two). Despite violence in the south of Thailand hitting
the headlines in 2004, there has been ongoing dissatisfaction with the
Thai government, in terms of lack of development, cultural identity and
human rights abuses. Intra-elite rivalry and criminality complicate the
picture and contribute to the violence.

The Thai government has identified the Muslim schooling system as a
hotbed of radicalism and has made dramatic changes in this sector. The
government line is that a new generation of Muslims returning from wars
abroad, and from madrasas in places like Pakistan, may have infused new
life into an old separatist problem - and are in danger of hitching it to
wider international networks. The government has taken a series of steps
designed to modernize the thousands of Islamic schools in Thailand. First
of all, the government has announced plans to curtail schools that are too
independent-minded. The number of Islamic schools is to be reduced,
while those not flying Thailand’s flag will be viewed as committing trea-
son. Second, rather than closing all such schools, Thailand has chosen to
monitor their operation. The government will place these schools under
the Ministry of the Interior and restrict funding from foreign sources.
Third, the government has sought to channel Islamic revivalism into more
“acceptable” projects. By 2005 Thailand aims to set up its first Islamic
university, which will be a branch of Egypt’s Al-Azhar University.
Thailand will provide much of the financial backing but will seek aid from
outside sources, including Muslim countries. Fourth, the Thai govern-
ment has shown some concern that violence in the south may give Thai
Muslims a poor reputation. Thailand will sponsor radio and television
programs to educate the Thai population about the Islamic faith…”

All the fat pockets Phuket buyers, are you ready for the Thai Jihad?