'Buddhist' Thailand's Muslim army chief

Extremist individuals and groups in the Arab and Islamic world, as well as their supporting writers and journalists, hardly miss an opportunity to refer to Thailand as a Buddhist state.

They also accuse it of discriminating against its Muslim minority, some 6 million or nearly 10 per cent of the country's total population of 65.5 million.

This has been repeated more often since early 2004 when the Thai army began a military campaign to curb an insurgency in the Muslim-majority southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.

But "Buddhist" Thailand has recently proven that it is a civilised secular state where all citizens have equal rights, regardless of their religious and ethnic background, including the right to hold key official posts.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej earlier this month endorsed a decision by the government to give the top army post, for the first time, to a Muslim General from central Thailand.

General Sonthi Boonyaratglin will become the Commander of the Royal Thai Army on October 1, replacing the retiring General Prawit Wongsuwat.

The move could help counter the impression that the government discriminates against Muslims and comes at a time when more than 30,000 troops are involved in operations aimed at ending months of shooting and bomb attacks by Muslim rebels.

It is indeed unusual to give the top army post to a member of the minority fighting against the army.

Thus it is not surprising that many foreign observers view the appointment of General Sonthi as an attempt by the government to appease local Muslims and bridge any misunderstanding between them and the security forces.

Relations between the two sides have worsened, particularly since October last year when 87 Muslim protesters suffered death at the hands of the security forces.

The event drew international concern over the army's handling of the situation in the restive Muslim south, forcing Bangkok to form an independent panel to investigate the tragedy.

The panel found Lt General Pisarn Wattanawongkeeree, Commanding General of the Fourth Army Area Command, who was responsible for the southern provinces, guilty of negligence and ordered him moved to an inactive post.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, however, said Thailand has never taken religious faith into account when nominating or appointing officials.

He emphasised that General Sonthi was promoted to the post only because he deserved it, given his battlefield experience, expertise and excellent military track record.

Positive impact

Sonthi, a Vietnam War veteran, graduated from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy and was commissioned to the Royal Army Infantry Corps. He recently served as Commanding General of the Elite Special Warfare Command and Assistant Army Chief.

Whether the decision was aimed at winning the hearts and minds of Muslims in the largely Malay-speaking region or not, one cannot underestimate its likely positive impact, especially with several local Muslim figures expressing their satisfaction.

Abddulrahman Abdulsomat, chairman of the Narathiwat Islamic Committee, said Muslims were pleased with the decision and believed the new army chief would be able to solve many problems, given his understanding of Islam and Muslim Thais' grievances.

This, however, is only one factor that may help General Sonthi succeed in restoring peace and security in the deep south.

Other factors include the experience he has gained from leading the country's Special Forces, whose work largely depends on mass psychology and the philosophy of "victory without combat".

In a recent interview, General Sonthi told Reuters he would rather use "the mouth and negotiations" than weapons to fight the Islamic insurgency.

He added that 97 per cent of the Muslim southerners were not involved in violence and terrorist acts believed to be financed and encouraged by foreign extremist organisations but added that they did not trust the army because it could not guarantee their safety.

There is one problem. General Sonthi, who has just celebrated his 59th birthday, will have only two years in office.

According to the Military Service Act of 1954, retirement is mandatory for all military personnel at the age of 60.

Many, however, are of the opinion that he would be able, within the short period, to fulfil his promise to turn the Royal Thai Army into an army of the people and to introduce new tactics and measures.

Dr Abdullah Al Madani is a Bahrain-based Gulf researcher and writer on Asian affairs. He can be contacted at aelmadani@gulfnews.com