The document summarizes social inequality faced by Thai Muslims in southern Thailand. It discusses prejudices and discrimination they face in areas of education, employment, culture and government. While there have been some Muslim political representation, the minority group still faces social, economic and political marginalization. Solutions proposed include providing equal education and job opportunities, promoting cultural understanding, and increasing Thai Muslim political participation and representation.

1. WISP Assignment 2 Thailand Done By: AmousKhoo Lee Ming Xi QudsiaJuwanda Low Yu Xiang

2. 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

3. Social Inequality in Southern Thailand

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Injustice and unfairness among the Thailand society and government There is not enough education opportunities given to the Muslim Reduced employment opportunities

7. Prejudices that lead to Discrimination

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. Social, political and economic factors

15. Social the 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 to Malay-Muslim identity, culture, and socio-economic grievances. the 1960s resettlement of northeastern Thais and to Thai cultural and economic imperialism in Pattani.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. Compare Singapore & Thailand

21. 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.

22. Compare Singapore & Thailand This is similar to the case in Southern Thailand where the Thai-Muslims are discriminated.

23. 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.

24. Solutions

25. Education Providing fair education opportunities for minority Thai-Muslims Focus on other subjects besides Thai-Melayu Inculcate positive thinking since young

26. Jobs Company should provide equal job opportunities for minority Government should make company sign an agreement to prohibit any kinds of discrimination on minorities.

27. 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

28. Culture and Religion Conducting activities to promote cultural exchange between different race/ religions. Gain better understanding of the cultures and customs of the minority

29. 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

30. Conclusion