Earlier today, one of the leaders of Islamic separatist in southern Thailand has been quoted saying that he has given up the idea of an independent state. His word, of which I am sure, was approximately translated to English from Malay:
This is the age of globalization. The world has moved on and there is no more room for separatism.
I have nothing but respect for the separatist leader. This is the wisdom that every other separatist movement the Aceh people, the MILF, the ETA, the IRA, the Quebecois and probably all around the world lack given the situation today. Though I am sympathetic of my fellow Muslim Malay brothers’ cause, I cannot help but feel their struggle is hopeless.
These southern Thai states lack the resources to develop their states alone and the political muscle to defend its interest just like East Timor. Though I am a green and in turn an advocate of decentralization, I feel an independent East Timor is a mistake. To support my view, East Timor, being small and powerless, has frequently been bullied by Australia in matter concerning its southern maritime border.
Even if they managed to break away from the Kingdom of Thailand and formed an independent state consisted of the Thai Malay states of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, they will probably be too dependent on Thailand or on their cultural ally, the Federation of Malaysia. Therefore, given a hypothetical scenario of independence, their political freedom in my opinion will be fairly limited relative to other stable sovereign nations. In the long run, these states will probably rejoin Thailand or become the members of the Malaysian Federation.
To Wan Kadir Che Man, the separatist leader, here is for you – hail to common sense.
p/s – Bye bye Houllier.
pp/s – James Lovelock and nuclear power. Via GreenSpin Watch and The Challenge.
