NATIONAL HISTORY OF PATANI , ITS UPRISING AGAINST COLONIALISM, AND ITS

STRUGGLE FOR LIBERATION

PATANI MALAY CONSULTATIVE CONGRESS

BACKGROUND OF NATION OF PATANI :

The Nation of Patani is a nation that is located

within the Malay Archipelago in Southeast Asia that

covers the entire archipelago of Indonesia, Brunei,

Philipina, Madagascar, Malaysia and Pattani.

The Nation of Patani streches from the Isthmus of

Kra bordering Myanmar, and Siam (Thai Ayutthaya)

in the North, with the Andaman Sea and the Straits

of Malacca to the West and bordering the Malaysian

States of Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Kelantan to the

South with the South China Sea to the East.

Original population in Patani is made up of Malays.

The Malay archipelago holds 200 millionMalays with

Patani contributing 3 million people.

THE EFFECTS OF THAI COLONIALISM ON PATANI

Now you know more about Patani as Southern Thailand

than Patani the proud nation with a long history.

Thus, the study from the perspective of history,

geography and structure of society which exhibits

cultures and traditions unique to Patani is an absolute

necessity.

NATIONAL POPULATION OF PATANI

Now in 14 provinces of Patani in Southern Thailand lives various races with a total population reaching 15

million people. About 5 million lives in the five southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla and

Satun. Racial composition in this region is estimated to be 80% Malays, 12% of Siam, 6% Chinese and 1.5%

Indian / Pakistani and 0.5% other ethnic groups.

While in nine other provinces, namely Chomphon, Raknong, Suratthani, Trang, Krabi, Nakhorn Sri Thammarat,

Phuket, Phangnga and Phatthelung it is estimated the racial composition: Malay and / or Thai Muslim 35%, Siam

Buddhist 30%, Chinese 20%, Pakistani / Indian 0.7% other ethnic groups (Burma, Laus & Cambodia, Europe) 8%.

After the Patani Kingdom was conquered and colonized by the Kingdom of Siam Ayuthaya, the Siamese invaders

slowly changed the Malay names to Siamised names

The Siamised names of the Malay provinces are as follows, (Siamised/Malay): Chomphon (Chupak); Raknong

(Renong); Krabi (Gerbi); Surathani (Surat/ Chahaya); Trang (Terang); Nakhon Sri Thammarat (Legor); Phuket

(Bukit); Phatthalung (Bedelong); Songkhla (Sanggora); Satun (Setul); Pattani (Pattani); Yala (Jala); Narathiwat

(Menara).

THE BASIC ASSIMILATION AND ETHNIC ELIMINATION OF MALAYS :

The original Majority Malays in these 9 northern regions, has now become a minority as

a result of the policy of ethnic cleansing, of planned immigration of Thais from the north

and the general assimilation and ethnic elimination of Malayness from the population.

However, in the 5 region of Songkhla, Satun, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat the Thais

were not fully successful to implement these injustices since there is strong revolt and

rise of liberation movements against these ethnic cleansing cruelties by the Thais.

For those who are not able to take open opposition in the country, many vocal Malay

politicians are simply murdered, or emigrate out of the country as a strategic protest and

continue their liberation struggle in the new countries they inhabit.

GOVERNMENT OF SULTANATE OF PATANI :

According to history of Southeast Asia and World History, it is established that since the second and third

centuries there has been a pre-Islamic Malay Kingdom of Patani based in Patani with the name of Langkasuka

which reign over the whole northern area of the Malay Peninsula (Malay Peninsula) from the Isthmus of Kra

(Ithmus of Kra) to the south and is bordered by Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Kelantan (Malaysia now).

After the Rulers of Langkasuka accepted Islam in the 10th century, the name Langkasuka is replaced with the

name of the Malay Muslim Sultanate of Patani or simply, Patani . This is evident from the remains of the

tombstones in the old cemetery written in Kufi in Kota Marhum located at Tanjung Budi dated 1039 AD.

Patani at that time served as the center of trade and bartering (Barter Trade) between the East and the West.

This has made Patani famous as an advanced and great nation in this region together with Pasai (Aceh now).

This also proves the existence of the Sultanate of Patani which was even earlier than the Sultanate of Malacca,

which only existed in the year 1411 AD.

P R O V O C AT I V E A C T I O N S B Y AY U T T H AYA ( T H A I L A N D ) A G A I N S T PATA N I :

The strategic location and the glory of Pattani has caused envy to the

Ayutthaya Siamese Government which led them to attack Patani by sending its

navy to the waters of Patani. The Siamese threatened the peace and progress

of trade and interfered with the arrival of foreign vessels entering the port of

Patani.

The Siamese engaged in violent wars against Patani in 1603; 1632 and 1633

but they were defeated. This angered the Siamese more leading them to hold a

long grudge against Patani.

I S O L AT I O N P O L I C Y AT Y U TT H YA A G A I N S T PATA N I :

For the purpose of continuing the effort and intent to destroy the

government of Patani, Siamese Ayutthaya launched several new evil

strategies to undermine the Government for the purpose of conquest of

Patani. Among others are: • invaded and conquered territories of the Northern Provinces of Patani,

which was relatively weaker, where the center of military power is not so strong and pervasive. Thus began the conquest of the region one by one from Chomphon, Raknong, Suratthani and others up to Legor (Nakhorn Sri Thammarat) fell victim to the invasion.

• Isolate Patani, interfere with neighboring countries to not make contact with Patani under the threat of war with Siam.

Their evil strategy worked and the port and commercial center of Patani lost its

competitiveness with other countries such as the port of Malacca and Batavi

(Indonesia) .National greatness and strength of Patani and its port weakened by these

evil strategies.

T H E FA L L O F PATA N I & T H E E V I L O F S I A M :

Based on historical fact, the Malay government was illegally

ousted by the Kingdom of Siam in 1786, after a series of brutal

attacks, about 183 years after the first failed attempt in 1603.

The Thai Army led by Praya Klahom claimed victory after very

fierce battles which took place on land and sea, led by the Sultan

Mohamad, who took the throne after the death of Sultan Mas

Chayam in the year 1786. In this war (1786) the Sultan died a

martyr defending his Sultanate.

Following this defeat of the Malay Kingdom, then began the action of

violent revenge, cruelty and brutality against the people of Patani

Malays by the Siamese.

I N I T I A L P O W E R U P T H A I L A N D U P O N PATTA N I :

The following year, in the year 1787 the Siamese Kingdom of Ayutthaya was put

under the authority of the administration of King Nakhorn Sri Thammarat (Legor)

and he appointed Tengku Lamidin a relative of the Sultan of Patani as a puppet

sultan to take an oath to be faithful and obedient to the rule of Ayutthaya and

send ”Gold Tributes" once every 3 years as a sign of agreed subserviency.

  As a gesture to show its power, the Thai government made a number of

restructuring of the provinces of Patani. Districts in Pattani province, Tiba

(Thepa), Chenak (Channak), Sanggora (Songkhla), Bedelung (Pattalung) were

removed from Pattani province and placed or inserted into Nakhorn Sri

Thammarat Province (Legor).

R E B E L L I O N I N 1 7 8 9 ; 1 8 0 8 ; & I M P L I C AT I O N S

In 1789, Tengku Lamidin led the revolt with the people against the forces of the government of King of

Ayutthaya. Initially, the revolt was a success so that they can regain control of the entire province of Patani

who surrendered to Raja Legor / Nakhorn and regain control of the entire system of government and

institutions of Patani. After three years of rule and defending its sovereignty, the Government of Patani under

Sultan Lamidin was again ousted by the Siamese in 1791 and Patani again fall into the hands of the Siamese

Ayutthaya. Sultan Lamidin was also killed in the war.

After the ouster of Patani for the second time, the Thai Government applied a Commissioner System as well

as appointed puppet Rajas. Raja Datuk Pangkalan was appointed as Sultan in the second era of Patani . The

District Songkhla was made new territory outside Pattani Province, and Territory Nakhorn Sri Thammarat

served as the new Administrative Centre of the Kingdom of Siam.

In 1808, another rebellion against the Government of Siam Ayutthya. Sultan Datuk Pengkalan rose with his

people to free Patani from Siam but in 1810 they lwere ousted agai. As a result of this defeat, the Sultan

himself was killed and other dignitaries were arrested and made prisoners, some of them moved to the

Federated Malay neighbors.

D I V I D E A N D R U L E P O L I C Y O F S I A M :

Patani as a country was divided into 14 sub-regions. Pattani; Nongchik;

Yala; Raman; Yaring; Teluban and Legeh were given to puppet Rajas who

rule on matters of customs and culture alone. They are appointed as long

as they are obedient and loyal to the Government of Thailand.

While 7 other smaller territories were placed directly under the central

government in Songkhla such as Narathiwat, Satun; and Songkhla itself.

Such actions were made with the intention to remove Malay rulers and

is the start of the process to make all the territory of Patani as belonging

to Thailand

R E B E L L I O N I N 1 8 3 2 :

All the Rajas in the seven regions that were previously broken up by Siam combined to rally

against Thai colonialism. This movement gained control of all provinces and territories and

continued to move up close to the central administration of Siam in Songkhla. However lack of

fire arms and logistical problems wee the main cause of their failure in every battle they faced.

Patani people were massacred when help of 4 garrison troops from Bangkok arrived in the port

of Songkhla guns and cannons. This was the last war that led by the Patani Malay rulers, while

the Government of Siam continued to tightened its colonisation of Patani. They changed name of

Patani Sultan as follows• Raja of Pattani Province becane Praya Wichit Pakdi, • Raja of Nongchik became Praya Phichar Phibul •  Raja of Teluban became Praya Ratna Pakdi •  Raja Yalaof Province became Praya Narongrit Pakdi • Raja Legeh became Praya Pupa Pakdi •  Raja Yaring became Praya Pipit Pakdi •   Raja Raman

S T E P S T O F I N A L LY R E M OV E PATA N I M A L AY R U L E R S I N 1 9 0 2 :

Sultan Sulaiman Shariffaddin of Patani died in 1899, Tengku Abdul Qadir Qamaruddin was

crowned as the Sultan of Pattani, in which he was the last sultan of Patani.

1902 was a year of darkness to eliminate all remaining rights of the Malay Rulers

The Thais placed seven small states of Patani and placed under a central government called

"Bariwen". They appointed a Thai commissioner to head the new administration Thai there, but

still placed under the management and control of the High Commissioner based in Sanggora

Siam (Songkhla).

Bangkok has sent a senior officer to Patani to persuade or if necessary to force the Sultanss to

release all rights and power to the King of Thailand. In return, the Sultans and the family were

promised compensation and retirement pension for life, under condition that the treasury and

financial wealth of the states are delivered to the King of Siam.

In 1899, the King of Patani Sultan Abdul Qadir Qamaruddin took the throne after the death of his father, Sultan Sulaiman Sharifaddin. Sultan Qamaruddin absolutely cannot accept all the conditions set forth by the King of Siam. He saw they were all tricks and malice by the Siamese invaders to destroy all remnants of sovereignty and the rights and powers of the Malay rulers and aimed to hoodwink the Malays and the Malay states.

Sultan Qamaruddin have protested and accused Thailand of:

1) Wanting to remove all forms of Malay and Islamic tradition associated with sharia law, justice, crime, financial transactions, distribution of the estate and others.

2) Wanting to introduce and impose teaching of Buddhism to Patani Malay Muslims

3) Cancelling penalties on Muslims for not attending Friday prayers. 4) Allowing sex crimes against Muslim women. 5) Appointing of Commissioner of Siam to Patani to force tax collections

from the people. 6) Commissioner's intervention in the affairs of taxes made for the purpose

of sending gold tribute to Bangkok. 7) Commissioner of Siam imposed tax on salt byforce.