The resurgence was marked by an arms robbery at the Pileng army camp in Narathiwat’s Cho Airong district on Jan 4, 2004.
Violence there has not merely affected the region’s economic and cultural conditions, it has significantly changed the way of life for people in the strife-torn region, Buddhists and Muslims alike.
Kuya Loseng, a Narathiwat native, said every household in his neighbourhood had adjusted their routines. Such changes had been even more dramatic in villages where violence and severe rifts were taking place, such as Tanyong Limor and Kuching Reupoh villages in Rangae district.
“Before, we left home for rubber tapping at three in the morning,” Mr Kuya said. “Now, we have to wait until six when soldiers begin their patrols.”
Previously, men in his community would stay alert at night during the fasting month of Ramadan. They would gather and play a game of petong at a local tea house until about 5am before having a meal. They would return home to sleep and resume their fasting routines throughout the day.
Now, the fun and close-knit atmosphere of the annual religious gathering during the Ramadan holy fasting month in his community has disappeared. No one dares leave their houses at night for fear of bullets that could be fired from any direction.
Speaking through an interpreter, Toh Ayohsan, an elder in Ban Khian of Pattani’s Panare district, said the lack of understanding of Muslim culture among the state authorities had been a major problem in his community.
He said security authorities became edgy when they heard the sound of azan (athan), which is a call to prompt Muslims to pray either at home or at a nearby mosque. The prayer is said five times a day.
Toh Ayohsan said Muslim leaders in his community in the past used a drum to remind locals about prayer time, but most non-Muslim security authorities mistook the drum sound as a signal to commit misdeeds.These days, Muslim leaders avoid using drums to communicate with Muslim residents. They opt for a microphone and loudspeaker to make azan announcements, Toh Ayohsan said.
“Authorities coming here should understand people’s way of life,” he said.
“They don’t need to speak our language, but they shouldn’t assume that a crime is about to take place if they hear a drum.”
A Muslim local resident of Tambon Panare, who declined to be named, said drums served many practical purposes. Muslim leaders usually beat the drum to send messages to fellow Muslims in the neighbourhood, for example to notify others if someone had died. During the month of Ramadan, Muslim leaders would make five short drum sounds to remind Muslims in the neighbourhood to look at the moon. Then the leader would recite the name of Allah in the phrase “Allah Akbar.”
The lives of Buddhists in the region have been turned upside down too.
Phra Khru Pinitsamanakarn, abbot of Wat Khuan Nok in Panare district, admitted he felt nervous making his alms round with rifle-wielding soldiers tagging along to provide the monks security.
However, after Buddhist monks had been gunned down during their alms rounds, he said he needed protection.
Phra Khru Pinitsamanakarn said his temple had re-timed all traditional Buddhist ceremonies at the temple to accommodate local residents’ routine changes in light of the growing violence.
Locals these days tried not to leave homes at night.
Evening funeral rites are moved back from 7pm to 3pm, while evening wedding banquets are also held a few hours earlier than usual, the abbot said.
Saiyud Chaisilpsang, a Buddhist from Nonthaburi province who has settled in Tambon Bannok, who has lived at Panare district of Pattani for more than three decades, said Buddhist residents were not afraid of their Muslim neighbours as they had forged a warm relationship with them.
“It is the people from outside that we’re afraid of,” she said.