SOLUTION TO CONFLICT

Financially, the governments have spent more than 5.23 billion U.S. dollars, about 70 percent of this was spent on military operations, in the hope that the more money spent will produce better situation in the Deep South.

"They (the governments) hoped that by injecting huge budget to the provinces, problems would be solved. But no, they also need the right strategies," Gen Ekkachai said.

The lack of strategies to tackle the problem over the past eight years resulted from the great distance from central government in Bangkok and the engulfing national political conflict between the Red Shirt camp (the anti-establishment) and the Yellow Shirt camp (the pro-establishment) that overwhelmed politics and Thai-speaking Buddhists in the rest of the country.

Agreeing with the retired general, Pratubjit said Thai authorities have not enough paid attention to the problem.

Asked if establishing autonomy in the Deep South could cure the rift, both said they were not sure about it.

"No studies can conclude that autonomy can end conflict. It would have unpredictably outcome," Pratubjit said. Meanwhile, 10- 20 percent is the possibility that the autonomy could possibly yield good result, Gen Ekkachai estimated, adding that autonomy may even complicate the problems in the negative way.

"We, as well as the military know, that majority of the local people feel indifferent to the idea of separation," said Ekkachai. "They don't care much about who would govern them. They just want to have a peaceful life."

So what is the root cause of dissatisfaction of local Muslim people?

Both experts answered: discrimination.

While most of the local Muslim people are more fluent and comfortable using Bahasa Melayu than the Thai language, Thai authorities only permits Thai as the official language. "The local people then feel not confident and alienated," Pratubjit said, adding that the language obstacle is attributed to lack of participation in local and national politics.

Moreover, the pondok schools, traditional Islamic school, in the area are not recognized by the authorities. Graduates from pondok schools, as a result, are marginalized in the job market.

Pattani was once a regional center for Islamic learning in the 19th century as Muslim students from other part in the Southeast Asia would sojourn to the pondoks in the province before furthering their Islamic education in the Middle East.

In order to heal the rift, Pratubjit said Thai authorities need to recognize the cultural differences and create an amicable atmosphere for local people to speak up about their dissatisfaction and demands.

Echoing Pratubjit, Gen Ekkachai said strategies that follow " cultural path" is essential in healing the cultural conflict.