Thailand's Muslim south: Dropping bombs of a different sort

Can I eat it?

This year, as tensions have increased in southern Thailand between the government and regional Muslims, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been criticized for his heavy handed approach to the problem, as evidenced by the deaths of over 80 protestors in October. Shinawatra dismissed such criticism at first, but then used the occasion of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 77th birthday to airdrop about 120 million origami birds over the southern Thai provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, where most of Thailand’s Muslims live (about 5% of the total population). All of Thailand’s 63 million people were ordered (yup, that’s what it says here) to fold at least one (Shinawatra’s signed bird promised a job and a scholarship for the recipient) in a campaign that struck a chord with northern Buddhists, who revere the symbol. Despite the military subtext (dozens of Thai Air Force jets were used for the drop), local Muslims reacted with a mixture of bemusement and suspicion. “The paper birds are not a traditional symbol for us,” said Abdullaham Abdulsamad of the Narathiwat Islamic Council. “It’s a different culture. Our people do not understand what the birds stand for.” Added Niran Panthrakit, director of the office of Thailand’s highest Muslim spiritual leader, the Chularajamontree, “This is about boosting people’s feelings of well-being, not about trying to stop the violence.” Still others, including scores of children who sought the birds (often without success), tried to look at the bright side. “I am very impressed that the Thai people around the country would fold birds for us,” said local resident Malorya Benarlawee. Whether the campaign will have any long lasting effect (er, paper recycling might help) remains to be seen, but in the meantime, another person was shot dead yesterday and police defused a roadside bomb (two others exploded) positioned near where children gathered to look for the birds.

Zahed Amanullah is associate editor of altmuslim.com.  He is based in London, England.