DOI: 10.14457/tu.the.2015.1509
title: Thailand-The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) relations on the issue of resurgence of violence in the Southern border provinces of Thailand

description: This paper aims to study the relationship between Thailand and the OIC on the issue of the latest resurgence of violence in the southern border provinces of Thailand, in order to know the significance of the OIC in these contemporary international politics and societies, and the importance of having a good relationship with the OIC for Thailand. Additionally, it is the purpose of this paper to evaluate the total perspectives, standpoints and requests of the OIC toward the issue of the unrest in southern Thailand. Finally, this paper aims to suggest suitable policies for the Thai government to maintain a good relationship with the OIC during the time of this ongoing violence. The methods of this thesis are based on the pattern of qualitative research, using descriptive analysis from Islamic conceptual frameworks, including Islamic philosophies and Islamic Theories in international relations, in an effort to analyze the issues under consideration of the thesis, and for providing the thesis’ recommendations. The methodology was based on the in-depth analysis of primary and secondary data, collected by documentary research from various sources of related information. The time period of this study has ranged from the first OIC’s engagement in the year 2004 until the involvement of the OIC at the end of the year 2014. After having conducted research using the methods aforementioned, the following results, which have fulfilled the objectives of this study, broadly include:First, how is the OIC significant in regards to the international community in general, and the Muslim world in particular, in contemporary international politics and societies? Answer: As the OIC is the largest and the only inter-governmental religious organization, the OIC has become one of the “very significant actors” on the international stage for at least three reasons: First, the OIC is the “Principal Spokeman” of the largest religion in the world, and can veritably claim to represent about three-fourths of the followers of Islam who live in the OIC member states. (Khan, 2001, 1) Second, OIC membership is spread across ten geographical regions in four continents; Asia, Africa, America and Europe. (Khan, 2001, 2) From recent surveys, more than one in four (25.55%) of the world’s population is Muslim. Islam is the largest religion in Africa, as about 58.88% of the African population is Muslim. In Asia, approximately 27.91% of the population is Muslim. On other continents, Islam is the second largest religion. (Maluleem, 2012, 22) Third, the OIC contains very enormous subsidiary and specialized organs, including approximately 48 agencies. This expanded structure can nearly compare with the United Nations (UN) and other intergovernmental organizations. With these applications, the OIC can boast several organs and committees, working for cooperation in economic, educational, and scientific research oriented and political fields. (Khan, 2001, 22) Second, How has the OIC come to be involved with the issue of the resurgence of violence in the southern border provinces of Thailand? Answer: Referencing from the new OIC charter: Chapter 1: Objectives and Principles:Article1/No.16: To maintain the Rights, Honor, and Identity in Religion and Culture of Muslim Communities and Minorities in Non-OIC member states. (Maluleem, 2012, 404) Hence, this means the protection of rights in this sense: human rights, honor, and the identity of Muslim communities and minorities is one of the main objectives of OIC, that need to be accomplished successfully, for the sake of Muslim Communities and Minorities in Non-OIC member states all over the world, as they are an important part of the same Ikhwa under the same Ummah. For sure, the resurgence of violence in the southern border provinces of Thailand has become one of the OIC’s major concerns, due to questions about violence and possible violations of the rights, honor, and identity of Muslim minorities in Thailand. In this regard, Ethnic-Malay Muslims are considered to be members of the “Muslim-Minority” compared to Thai citizens nationwide, despite being a majority of the population in the southernmost provinces of Thailand. However, this Muslim minority group is a part of a global Muslim “Brotherhood” by the Spirit of “Ikhwa” under the same “Ummah”. Hence, this is one of the main duties of the OIC to engage with this problem, in order to help this Muslim minority according to the new OIC charter Article1/No.16.  Third, why is it important for Thailand to have good relations with the OIC in various aspects?Answer: Apart from various fields of cooperation that Thailand has had with the OIC, in regards to this particular cooperation, it is very necessary for Thailand to maintain a good relationship with the OIC and its members, because Thailand is interdependent with them in many aspects, especially in at least these two important aspects: Firstly, from an “economic perspective”: On Energy Aspect: as Islamic states who are OIC members possess 2/3 parts of world’s energy sources, and possess 70% of world reserved energy, (Oil and Natural Gas) it is essential for Thailand to have a good relationship with these OIC member states, as Thailand is an energy-importing nation that derives oil and natural gas from these OIC member states, which are essential economic factors in the Thai national economy.Secondly, from a “religious perspective”: for Thailand, today, approximately 10% of Thai citizen are Muslims, and are regarded by Muslims around the world as their “brothers”, as a part of Muslim’s “Ikhwa” under the same “Ummah”. This means that Thailand needs to have cooperation with Muslim countries in many aspects, especially in Islamic affairs, in order to serve the Thai Muslim population, as they are also Thai citizens. A significant example includes the promotion of “Hajj Affairs” where every Muslims must once time in their life undertake the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, one of the  world’s most powerful oil exporting countries, and one of the most influential OIC-member states.Understandably, this means that Thailand has to cooperate closely with Saudi Arabia in Hajj Affairs for the religious sake of Thai Muslims.Hence, there are reasons why it is critical for Thailand to have and maintain good relations with the OIC and its member states, as Thailand has to cooperate with the OIC and its members in various aspects as mentioned above. Therefore, if there are any problems that occur in the relationship between Thailand and OIC, including with OIC-member states, Thailand will risk damage to Thai National interests. In addition, in regards to Thai–OIC relations on the latest resurgence of violence in the southern border provinces, if the Thai government doesn’t take decisive measures in bringing about an end to the conflict via sustainable peaceful establishment in accordance with the OIC’s requests, this could lead the OIC to become unsatisfied and disappointed with Thailand, which may lead to declines in Thai–OIC relations, which might finally result in damages to Thai national interests as previously presented.Fourth: How does the OIC view Thailand on the current situation of the resurgence of violence in the three southernmost provinces of Thailand? And what are the OIC’s standpoints and requests, toward the issue of the violent conflict in southern Thailand?Answer: The OIC’s perspectives: At first, the OIC has understood that the violence in the southern border provinces of Thailand was not the product of religious conflict between Islam and Buddhism, nor was it originated from religious circumstance, but that the true original cause was deeply rooted from the neglectfulness of the history, culture, identity, language, ways of life and justice of the local Malay Muslims in the area.Moreover, the OIC has complained about the Thai juridical process in that the legal process on security-related cases that happened in the southern border provinces of Thailand was too time-consuming, and the progress was very slow. Furthermore, The OIC presented its regret in regards to the “continued” application of the “Emergency Law” in most southern areas, including with the limited progress in introducing the language of local populations (Malayu-Javi language) as a language of instruction in schools of the South.In addition, the OIC has suggested that the misleading use of extensive military operations in the Thai southern area can cause a terrible impact on the normal life of local Muslim people in this area, and the repeated use of undisciplined paramilitary militias accused of illegal acts can also lead to the result of increasing ethnic and religious polarization. The OIC’s standpoints and requests: Standpoints: 1. The OIC understood that the southern Thai violence is a part of Thai domestic affairs, and promised to not interfere in Thai domestic affairs directly, out of respect for Thai sovereignty and territorial integrity.2. The OIC will not support separatism. 3. The OIC strongly condemned any use of violence against innocent civilians by any parties.4. The OIC is ready to offer its cooperation in establishing peaceful settlement through welfare, economic, social, and educational initiatives.Requests:The OIC has seriously requested Thai government:1) To lift the Emergency decree in the future, because this kind of special law allowed human rights violations by state officials to persist, and created a climate of impunity.2) To address the “Truly Ultimate” root causes of the problem.3) To allow the southern local Muslims to have a greater say in managing their own affairs.4) To resolve this violent conflict through “Peaceful Dialogue & Negotiation”5) To open spaces for Local Muslims in the area to have enough opportunities to participate with the Thai government and related state officials in policy formation and implementation.6) To respect cultural differences in order to resolve the conflicts effectively. 7) To provide the truly sincere recognition of the cultural uniqueness of the local ethnic-Malay Muslims in the area, which is one of the very essential basic elements that must be respected to establish peaceful settlement in the area. Analysis and Interpretation:The OIC requested these formulated these standpoints and requests because, according to the new OIC charter: Chapter1: Objectives and Principles; Article1/No.16, it is one of the organization’s main objectives to maintain the rights, honor, and identity in religion and culture of Muslim communities and minorities in Non-OIC member states.The resurgence of violence in the Southern Border Provinces of Thailand has become one of the OIC’s intensive concerns, because this violence has enormously and terribly violated the rights, honor, and identity of Muslim minorities in Thailand mostly living in the southern Border Provinces of Thailand. Hence, it is the duty of the OIC to engage with this problem, in order to help this Muslim minority in accordance with the New OIC Charter. It’s important to understand that the OIC operates internationally based on four Islamic Theories in international relations: 1) Tau-hid (Oneness of God), 2) Ald (Justice), 3) Jihad (The Struggle), and 4) Caring and Accomplishing of Responsibilities, for the sake of Global Muslims Ummah, as all Muslim globally are “Brothers” together under the fraternal spirit of Ikhwa. Lastly, but importantly, how should Thailand deal with the OIC from now on? It is important to know the answer to this question in order to maintain and strengthen good relationships and cooperation, in all aspects and especially on the issue of the resurgence of violence in the southern border provinces of Thailand during the time of this ongoing violent conflict.Answer: First and foremost, the Thai government should show sincere dedication to solving this violent conflict to local ethnic-Malay Muslims in the area, Thai citizens nationwide, the OIC, and to the international Muslim community. The first crucial task is for the Thai government to give a great and formal apology to local ethnic Malay Muslims for the long duration of oppression and negligence committed by the Siamese rulers and Thai governments towards their history, culture, identity, religion, ways of life, and economic and social welfare, with an invitation to the OIC delegation to participate as a witness.Secondly, the Thai government must create policies on this issue and follow through in implementation in accordance with the OIC’s standpoints and requests above, as well as maintain frequent updates about progress on conflict resolutions with the OIC with actual evidence.Thirdly, essentially, the Thai government should invite the OIC to participate with the Thai government to be a part of a working committee in solving this violent conflict, in order to show the sincerity of the Thai government to the OIC, and to gain mutual trust with the Local ethnic-Malay Muslims in the area, and to encourage a positive attitude and acceptance from the international Muslim community as a whole.Additionally, before the final resolution of the conflict, in regards to the issue changing Thailand’s status from the OIC Observer to be a full-member of the OIC, it is important to ask: how will Thailand receive approval by consensus from the OIC-member states at the conference of the Council of Foreign Ministers?First, domestically, Thailand must prove to the eyes of OIC-member states that Thailand has treated its Muslim population well enough and has provided enough space for the Muslim population to represent themselves in the state’s structure of Thailand. Especially on the issue of the resurgence of violence in the southern border provinces of Thailand, the Thai government must resolve these problems successfully as fast as it can do.Second, internationally, the Thai government must prove to the OIC-member states that Thailand will support the Muslim Ummah on the international stage, and not just for its own interests.Third, before submitting an application for membership to the CFM, the Thai government must push its hardest efforts to lobby all OIC-member states who are going to participate in the CFM, and make sure they will vote for Thailand by consensus.