RAMADAN IN BANGKOK: DEVOTION AND DIVISION WITHIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 006773

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MLS; EAP/PD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2016
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV PHUM TH KPAO
SUBJECT: RAMADAN IN BANGKOK: DEVOTION AND DIVISION WITHIN
THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY

REF: BANGKOK 07750

Classified By: AMBASSADOR RALPH L. BOYCE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D)




1. (C) Summary: PAO celebrated a Ramadan evening with the
Secretary General of the Thailand Central Islamic Committee

SIPDIS
Pichet Sathirachaval and his family at the Bangkok Central
Mosque, providing a glimpse into Thai Muslim life in Bangkok
during this religious festival. Pichet told PAO about
Canadian and Japanese assistance programs to the Muslim South
and proposed that the United States establish a free trade
zone in the troubled provinces. He and several other Thai
Muslim guests called for full democracy to be restored to
Thailand, at least partially because they are anxious to
launch their new Muslim party. Intra-Muslim divisions and
jealousies were noted privately with PAO. Suggestions that
the Ambassador might attend the upcoming Prophet's Birthday
celebrations drew concern. PAO, who was requested to wear
Islamic garb including hijab, was told this was the first
time an American had attended these celebrations and that
most foreign visitors were Iraqi, Iranian and Malaysian. End
summary.

Ramadan in Bangkok
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2. (C) Secretary General of the Thailand Central Islamic
Committee (formerly Minister of Communications and Minister
of Commerce) Pichet Sathirachaval and his wife Suree hosted
PAO and her husband at a small, informal iftar (break-fast)
dinner at the Bangkok Central Mosque on October 20. The
invitation was offered after PAO demonstrated an interest in
and knowledge of Islam and Arabic at the Ambassador's iftar a
few days earlier. PAO, dressed in long skirt and hijab (head
scarf) as requested, presumably as a sign of respect and
possibly to blend in more easily, showed up at the Central
Mosque just after sun-down to witness several thousand people
praying, eating and shopping in the open-air mosque grounds.
Interlocutors told PAO that this year's festival, held every
night of Ramadan, had the biggest turnout ever. All women
wore Islamic dress, shook hands (rather than the traditional
Thai waj) with the PAO, and offered greetings of "salaamu
aleikum." PAO met only Thais, including several who had
spent some time in the Arab world and spoke Arabic, and was
told that foreign visitors tended to be Iraqi, Iranian and
Malaysian. Throughout the evening, Suree and her sister, who
introduced PAO around to friends unhesitatingly, reassured
the PAO that she was very welcome even though "not everyone
likes the Americans."

A "Halal" FTA?
--------------


3. (C) In a private room over break-fast with Pichet and a
few other Thai Muslim guests, he told PAO he wanted to help
Muslims throughout Thailand and especially in the South. He
said he had met with the Canadian Ambassador, who had agreed
to donate around USG 30,000 dollars to support the
construction of three buildings in Narathiwat province to be
used as libraries and community cooperative stores. Pichet
added that the Japanese Ambassador had likewise expressed an
interest in donating 3 million baht (approx. USG 80,000
dollars) for the construction of hospitals and birth centers
in the deep south, noting the lack of Muslim female mid-wives
and the high number of women who die in childbirth. Pichet
then proposed that the United States set up a free trade zone
with the Muslim provinces in the deep south to improve their
economic situation. He reasoned that if factories could be
lured to these areas with the promise of tax-free production,
it would help the provinces' desperate economies and help
stem the violence. He was particularly interested in
promoting the export of halal chicken, e.g., chicken prepared
according to Islamic standards.

Seeking a Muslim Political Voice in a Democratic System
-------------- --------------


4. (C) When asked about the coup, Pichet and others around
the table were non-committal, saying "some Muslims were in
favor and some against" the coup, but they would wait and
see. Later, one guest made it clear that he thought the coup
was wrong and said that if martial law lasted over a year, he
would be "the first to go out and demonstrate." Pichet spoke
about the establishment of a Muslim political party,
Santipaap Thai (Thai Peace),noting they had been hoping to
field candidates in the (cancelled) election and now they
would have to wait. Pichet thought this political party
could help entice those Malay Muslims who were fleeing or had

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fled to Malaysia to return by giving them a political voice.

Islam is the (Religious) Solution
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5. (C) Asked if the current government would have the
potential to improve the situation of Muslims in the South,
Pichet and others appeared doubtful. One guest called
General Sonthi "a Muslim but not a man of Islam." He was
quick to add his hope that General Sonthi might change,
noting that the General is planning to make the Haj this year
and already has the Saudi visa in his passport. Pichet
revealed his own story of conversion to Islam some 36 years
prior upon marrying his Thai Muslim wife. However, happily
recounting his years working as a bartender in the United
States, he claimed it was only within the past year that he
had become a true Muslim as a result of having made the Haj
to Mecca. Pichet was moved by the "brotherhood of Muslims of
all races" and also felt he had a religious epiphany in Mecca
that led him to pray regularly and observe Islamic tenets
more strictly.

Rivalry within the Community
--------------


6. (C) At one point, Pichet's wife Suree took the opportunity
to complain privately to PAO, highlighting jealousies and
rivalry within the Muslim community. She accused Damrong,
the eldest son of Sheikh ul-Islam Sawat Sumalyasak who is the
Chula Rajmontri, e.g., the official representative of the
Thai Muslim community, of stealing money from the community
and forging his father's name to issue decrees and enhance
his own position. (Note: The Central Islamic Committee is
chosen every six years, with 36 members elected and 12
nominated by the Chula Ratamontri. The 2006 list has been
formed already, but must be approved by the King. Once
approved, this Committee will elect the Secretary General.
The two top candidates are Pichet, for reelection, and
Damrong. End note).

An Invitation Rescinded?
--------------


7. (C) The Prophet's Birthday celebrations, Mawlid Al-Nabi,
will be held November 17-19, with the opening ceremony to be
presided over by the Crown Prince. PAO's comment that the
Ambassador might be interested in attending -- which Pichet
had suggested himself a few days earlier at the Ambassador's
iftar -- was received that evening with looks of concern.
Pichet commented, "Maybe next year. The Ambassador is a very
big personality for this event." (Note: Pichet's secretary
later told PA Thai staff that a couple of Islamic committees
in the South consider the United States an unfriendly country
and they appear to have influenced Pichet's thinking. She
added that eight Muslim ambassadors have thus far accepted
the invitation including Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei,
Pakistan, Kuwait and Iran. The Canadian and Japanese
ambassadors have been invited. End note).

Bringing Together Muslim Hearts...and International Assistance
-------------- --------------


8. (C) After handing out donation appreciation certificates
to generous members of the Muslim community in front of a
backdrop in Thai that said "Occasion to Bring Together Muslim
Hearts," Pichet delivered impassioned remarks, sermon-style,
to a couple of hundred people. He started off by
highlighting the Ambassador's iftar, which included leaders
from religious leadership of the southern provinces, as an
opportunity for positive dialogue (note: Pichet had himself
asked post to include those leaders at the iftar and
encouraged them to maintain a direct relationship with the
Ambassador. end note). Pichet also outlined Canadian and
Japanese assistance efforts and his own creative ideas to
help the South. He talked about his philosophy that
"religion comes before politics" and the importance of
Muslims helping one another.

Comment
--------------


9. (C) Celebrating Ramadan with Secretary General Pichet and
his family at the Central Mosque provided a fascinating,
microcosmic view of Bangkok Thai Muslim society that
Westerners rarely, if ever, frequent. Pichet, who is from
the Bangkok elite with personal experience in the United
States, represents the capital's moderate, staunchly Thai,
Muslim community. Like the rest of Thai society, this
community has undercurrents of internal competition and
controversy as Pichet's wife makes clear. Likewise, the deep

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gaps between Bangkok Muslims and their co-religionists in the
South -- reflected in their different attitude toward
inviting the Ambassador to Prophet's Birthday celebrations --
are even deeper, with differences of ethnicity, outlook and
perspective continuing to divide them. End comment.
BOYCE