An opinion poll shows that local people
in the southern border provinces attach greater importance to the acceptance of
Islamic and Malay cultural identity than other issues.
The survey on “Peace that People in the
Southern Border Provinces Desire in the Future” was conducted by the Southern
Border Provinces Administrative Center.
Results of the survey were compiled by
the Assalam Institute, Yala Islamic University, in Yala province.
They were released on 9 November 2013
at the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center. Mr. Abdulkarim Asmaae,
a member of the working team from Assalam Institute, said that the study on the
results of the survey was in the form of quantitative research through the use
of 1,046 questionnaires.
Among the respondents to the survey,
55.7 percent are men. Most of them, at 88.9 percent, are Muslim and 8.2 percent
are Buddhist. Out of the respondents, 40.3 percent live in Narathiwat, followed
by 24.9 percent in Yala. Most of them, at 42.2 percent, are engaged in
agriculture and 35.2 percent in other occupations, such as employees,
housewives, and students.
The respondents want to see the
Government take priority over the tackling of social issues, followed by
economic issues and political and administrative issues.
Regarding social issues, first, they
want the acceptance of Islamic and Malay culture as part of Thai culture.
Second, the respondents would like to see the use of the Malay language be
promoted and developed in school curriculum. Third, everyone should receive
higher education based on fairness. Fourth, they called for serious operations
against drugs. Fifth, local residents should be assured of equal justice and
protection of life and property. Sixth, they should be allowed to work out a
curriculum for local education. Seventh, they call for the wiping out of
problems concerning illegal and smuggled goods. Eighth, problems involved with
perpetrators of violence should be wiped out.
Concerning economic issues, they want
all local people to be employed or engaged in an occupation. Other priorities
include price reduction for products, promotion of agricultural goods, people’s
rights for natural resource management, land allocation for the poor, and
dealing with the problem of deserted rice fields.
Regarding political and administrative
issues, first, they want politicians to listen to the people’s opinions.
Second, corruption problems should be tackled. Third, local residents should be
empowered to play a greater role in making decisions on local problems. Fourth,
they called for more decentralization of administrative power. Fifth, they want
a public referendum on the future of the southern border provinces. Sixth, they
want to see the three southern border provinces become one constituency. Seventh,
they want to have local administrative organizations under the Southern Border
Administrative Center. Eighth, they would like to see elections of governors.
In addition, the survey shows that most
local residents are in favor of dialogues for lasting peace in the deep South.
(thailand.prd.go.th)