According to Islam and Islamic Groups, ninety per cent of Thais practice Theravada Buddhism, while four per cent of the population is Muslim (1992, 241). The majority of these Muslims live in the southern provinces (ibid.). AsiaWeek explains that most of southern Thailand is inhabited by Malays in the provinces bordering Malaysia (Yala, Satun, Narathiwat and Pattani) (1992, 241). The same source mentions that from the 1960s to the 1980s, a number of Muslim separatist movements operated in the southern provinces and the leading movement was the Pattani United Liberation Organization (PULO) (ibid.). PULO prefers to call the south Pattani, which was a Muslim kingdom that flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries (Sept. 1993, 31). PULO was founded in 1960 and became well-known in 1977 for its bomb attack on the Thai king, who was visiting Yala province at the time (Shaikh 1992, 241).

Religion in Politics corroborates most of the above information and indicates that religion plays a significant role in politics at the regional level in the south (1989, 265). The source states that, for a very long time, this region has been ignored by the government in Bangkok. As a result, some in the community led by PULO have sought autonomy or outright independence from Thailand (ibid.). According to the Far Eastern Economic Review, separatist violence is alive in the south, and the Review cites a number of violent acts committed by PULO in recent years. The source notes that for several years, PULO has represented Muslim extremism in the south (2 Sept. 1993, 20-1). AsiaWeek corroborates this information (1 Sept. 1993, 31).

While PULO is a small group of Muslim separatists, it has recently been involved in a series of violent activities like the attack on a train and the bombing of a Buddhist temple (7 Dec. 1993). PULO is reported to have burnt down 30 schools in the south in August 1993 (ibid.; The Straits Times 7 Nov. 1993). Agence France Presse (AFP) reported that the Thai prime minister received a death threat and that PULO was believed to be responsible for the threat (12 Sep. 1993). For more details on the status, history and activities of PULO, please refer to the attachments.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 12 September 1993. "Thai PM Receives Death Threat." (NEXIS)

AsiaWeek [Hong Kong]. 1 September 1993. "Thailand: The Fire in the South: Are Muslim Separatists on the Warpath Again?"

Far Eastern Economic Review [Hong Kong]. 2 September 1993. Vol. 156. No. 35. "Thailand: Southern Discomfort: Muslim Separatist Violence Raises Its Head Again."

Financial Times [London]. Kieran Cooke. "Survey of Thailand." (NEXIS)

Religion in Politics. 1989. Edited by Stuart Mews. London: St. James Press.

The Straits Times [Bangkok]. 7 November 1993. "No Reason for Coup, Chalit Tells Leaders From South." (NEXIS)

Agence France Presse (AFP). 12 September 1993. "Thai PM Receives Death Threat." (NEXIS)

AsiaWeek [Hong Kong]. September 1993. "Thailand: The Fire in the South: Are Muslim Separatists on the Warpath Again?"

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 24 August 1993. "Muslim Separatists Ambush Train on Thai-Malaysian Border; One Killed." (NEXIS)

_____. 17 August 1993. BC Cycle. "Moslem Separatists Ambush Thai Soldiers, Killed Two." (NEXIS)

_____. 5 August 1993. "Arsonists Attack Schools in South: Muslim Separatists Suspected." (NEXIS)

_____. 12 April 1988. "South-east Asia; `Terrorism problem' on Thailand's Southern Border." (NEXIS)

Far Eastern Economic Review. October 1993. Rodney Tasker and Michael Vatikiotis. "Thailand: Troubled Frontier: The Muslim Violence Concern Malaysia as Well."

_____. September 1993. Rodney Tasker. "Thailand: Southern Discomfort: Muslim Separatist Violence Raises Its Head Again."

Financial Times [London]. Kieran Cooke. "Survey of Thailand." (NEXIS)

Libération [Paris]. September 1993. "Thailande: Agitation islamiste dans le sud thailandais."

Islam and Islamic Groups: A Worldwide Reference Guide. 1992. Edited by Farzana Shaikh. London: Longman UK Group Ltd., pp. 241-242.

Religion in Politics: A World Guide. 1989. Edited by Stuart Mews. London: St. James Press, p. .

Reuters. 5 September 1993. BC Cycle. Sutin Wannabovorn. "Moslems Deny Separatist Revival in South Thailand." (NEXIS)

_____. 1 September 1993. BC Cycle. Sutin Wannabovorn. "Thai General Says Moslem Rebels do not Act Alone." (NEXIS)

_____. 29 August 1993. BC Cycle. Sonya Hepinstall. "Thais Still Seek Culprits Behind Southern Violence." (NEXIS)

_____. 27 September 1991. BC Cycle. Sutin Wannabovorn. "Moslem Separatists Surrender to Thai Army." (NEXIS)

The Straits Times [Singapore]. 7 November 1993. "No Reason for Coup, Chalit Tells Leaders From South." (NEXIS)

_____. 12 October 1993. "Separatists Leader Among Three Rebels Killed in Clashes With Thai Troops." (NEXIS)

_____. 18 August 1992. "Thai Army to Continue Talks With Separatists." (NEXIS)