Asimilasi Bangsa Melayu di Patani: Keberkesanan Dasar dan Survival Budaya Minoriti (The Assimilation of The Malays In Patani: The Effectiveness of Policies and Survival of The Minority Culture)

Abstract

The Patani conflict is a consequential clash of two different cultures and the identity of peoples involving the Patani Malay Muslims (OMIP) and the Thai Buddhists or Siamese. The clash turned into a conflict when OMIP took a violent uprising (after histories of diplomatic attempts) to defend their identity and culture from the Thai government’s policies that are seen trying to assimilate them to the Thai-Buddhist society. They feel that the assimilation policies were denying their rights as a minorities (within the Thai state) and do not bring any benefit to them. Meanwhile, the Thai government implemented policies because of its positive perception on the need to consolidate the identity of the people as a requisite for them to work together and develop the country. However, this policy is seen touching the OMIP values such as the Malay identity and culture, and therefore could not be compromised. They will certainly not leave the professed religion of Islam solely for national interest. Similarly, language, race and belongingness to the Malay culture cannot be changed. However, pressure and coercive approaches from the Thai government against the OMIP in various ways were deemed unacceptable that it led them to take up arms until today. Ultimately, these violent acts has given a negative impact to the OMIP. Hence, this article discusses the efforts and the survival of OMIP in its effort to defend their cultural identity. The main focus looks at the aspects of cultural identity and the experiences of assimilation of the OMIP, and their reactions as a community that is greatly affected by this assimilation process.