المساعد الشخصي الرقمي

مشاهدة النسخة كاملة : Thai turning point


aammar
23-01-2013, 05:05 AM
It was a crucial turning point in Thai history as the system of government in Siam was changed from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. The Pattani people chose the youngest son of Sultan ‘Abdul-Qaadir Qamarud-Deen, Mahmood Muhyid-Deen, who was then in exile, to rule them.
Military rule in Thailand incurred bad repercussions upon the Pattanese.

The Thais aspired to promote Siamese nationalism, but the Pattani people repelled these efforts [of imposing the Thai identity upon them] as they were Muslims and spoke a Malay language that was written in Arabic letters.

The objective of Thailand since 1351 AH/1932 AD has been to turn Pattani Muslims into Thais and impose the Thai culture on them. They forced them to wear the Thai national costume, use the Thai language, live by Thai culture, bear Thai names, and abandon their Islamic faith.

The pressure on the Pattani people has grown more intense since 1357 AH/1938 AD, as Muslims were deprived of their rights, particularly of holding any governmental office. Muslim students and employees in cultural institutions were forced to change their names into Thai names. Islamic schools and mosques were closed and Muslims were compelled to attend the religious rites in Buddhist temples.

Then World War II erupted and the Japanese occupied Pattani. The British strove to organize the Pattani resistance. They relied on the Sultan Mahmood Muhyid-Deen, and promised to grant Pattani independence after the victory of the Allies. However, when WWII ended, they broke their promise until the Pattani economy was placed under the control of England.

In 1367 AH/1948 AD, Haj Muhammad Sulong, president of the Provincial Islamic Council, led a petition campaign for autonomy. He submitted the demands of the Pattani people to the United Nations; consequently, Hajj Muhammad Sulong and his companions were arrested and imprisoned; they were sentenced to three years in prison. Then, they were released and re-arrested. Finally, they were secretly killed in 1374 AH/1954 AD.

A military coup took place in Thailand in 1366 AH/1947 AD. In 1357 AH/ 1955 AD, another coup was staged. Each coup aimed at dissolving the Pattani character. The major powers in the world supported Thailand and the imperial powers then thought that Pattani had become history.

In 1378 AH/1958 AD, several organizations and parties were established to continue the struggle for independence in Pattan. However, the multiplicity of leadership had a negative impact on the Pattani resistance. These organizations were later united and the idea of peaceful resistance was substituted with military Jihaad as the Pattanese strove to restore their usurped rights.