want to live in peace and safety you must accept the following truths.’ Three points
were emphasised: (1) Buddhists were not the owners of the land, but migrants sent
by the Bangkok-based Siamese state from northeastern Thailand after the Thais
seized control of the territory of the Islamic state of ‘Fotani’; (2) local Thais have
been mislead by the Thai government which has promised to protect them from
danger, but the state is in fact incapable of doing so; (3) local Thais have to accept
that they are being defeated and that ‘we Pattani Malays are going to reclaim our
independence and are not afraid to die!’ Though military intelligence agencies are
suspected of producing leaflets in the guise of insurgent propaganda, this particular
three-point declaration, which also appeared elsewhere in the border provinces, was
clearly produced by insurgents.33 Not wanting the leaflet to promote too much gossip,
Somdet counselled his neighbours not to worry and to pass all copies to him.