Security of a country will be threatened if it is being invaded by another country or countries. In such case, wars will usually take place. But even there is no outside threat, security of a country may stem from within and the most dangerous one is serious political strife resulted from ethnicity conflict or what is known as minority problem. The situation in which political conflict escalated into terrorist activities can be characterized as “internal war,” can work havoc for the political system.
Despite the fact that the threat of such a case may not immediately bring an end to the political system and thanks to the capability of the governing elite who can continue to pursue a policy of subjugation by force and the resources at their disposal, the system may persist for a long time. But under such a situation, no peace and tranquility can prevail. The society will be suspended in a nightmare most notably those innocent citizens who are affected by the hazard of warfare as a result of the internal conflict.
A body which suffers from a boil on the foot may not be threatened with death, but the person will not be happy. Indeed, apart from the pain and the inconvenience, it may affect the digestion and breathing system. Conflicts resulted from minority problem such as the case of the three provinces in the south of Thailand can be compared to the boil on the foot which has to be treated properly if the body is to stay healthy.
The question is how to solve the problem. As for solution of minority problems, there are basically five methods depending on a particular society. Methods of solution can be overlapping consisting of more than one method. The five methods are as follows.
1. Assimilation. Assimilation is a way to turn the minority to be part of the big group by allowing members of the minority group to enjoy all the benefit offers by the system if they are willing to change their identity and are willingly absorbed into the mainstream of society. They may attend school of the big group, learning language and culture and way of life, or even adopt the religion of the big group. The first generation may not be able to become totally assimilated but when it comes to the second and most especially the third generation, the assimilation process will be complete. The most obvious case is the assimilation of the Chinese in Thailand. They call themselves Thai and have a Thai life style. Most cannot speak Chinese and stops preserving the Chinese culture save the funeral rite or ancestor worship.
2. Integration. Integration is a process in which people of different ethnicity, culture, language, religious faith, etc., are allowed to retain their identity and coexist with the big group or other groups but on one condition, loyalty toward the country. They may pursue their own life style, practicing their religious rites, speak their language etc., but they shall consider themselves citizens of the country. They are encouraged or even required by law to learn the national language while retaining their language or dialect. They would enjoy equal rights under the same law while they may be granted certain privileges or allow exceptions to the law in some regards. The three provinces in the south with the majority of the population being Muslims is a case in point where integration should be the method adopted. If there is any mistake it is probably the attitude of the ruling elites in the past who tried to assimilate the Muslim instead of pursuing an integration policy.
3. Federation. Federation is to allow autonomy for the minority to have self-government or self-rule in the locale where it is demarcated as a state within the country. It is an autonomous political unit but still part of the country. Malaysia has a number of states and so has Myanmar. There are four items a state government is now supposed to do including stationing its own troop, issuing currency, conducting foreign policy in the name of the country or independently save at the local government level and enacting laws in contravention to the constitution or the prevailing national law. Exceptions to the rule are to be specified by law by the national government.
4. Subjugation. Subjugation is to employ police and military force to ensure that law and order is to be preserved and the minority group is to be kept in place. They will be subject to law, rules and regulations and policy of the national government. If the minority breaks or disobeys law, they will be treated with punitive measures. The example of South Africa in the past is a case in point. But such a policy will not bring about peace to society. It may be a situation in which a normal way of life is rendered impossible if terrorism reigns supreme by arson, car-bombs, political assassination. In the worst case, the fabric of society may break at the seams.
5. Secession. When conflicts come to the point where peaceful co-existence is no longer possible, the last method is to secede and set up a new political unit. The case of Sudan of late is an example. This can come about by a referendum or by intervention by outside power. But this is a choice which may end up in bloody violent conflict to the detriment of the country where innocent people will suffer.
In the case of the three provinces in the south of Thailand, the choice of secession will be rejected outright by the government. Autonomy or autonomous zone may be a possible option. But before that happens, negotiation is imperative. But success of negotiation will be predicated upon the following conditions. First, the parties in negotiation have to be the right parties who have the authority to conclude agreements. Second, the parties must have the political will and sincerity in resolving problem in earnest. Third, there must not be external intervention which can pull strings behind the scene. Fourth, the parties responsible must have genuine power and can call the shots without being sabotaged by the rival group or groups. This would go for both sides.
Regardless, the problem must be tackled and be successfully handled if the country is to live in peace. This is important because time is running out. AEC is at the corner and at this particulate point in time, there is need for political stability both at the national level and provincial level to allow the country to strive ahead with development projects to respond to the new era. Failing to arrive at that end will spell doom for the society, a disastrous eventuality which has to be avoided at all costs.