Ramadan in Bangkok: Muslim Identity, Global Interest

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 005459 SIPDIS DEPT FOR R, EAP/PD, EAP/MLS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAO TH SUBJECT: Ramadan in Bangkok: Muslim Identity, Global Interest BANGKOK 00005459 001.2 OF 002 Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Embassy's Public Affairs Section (PA) sponsored five Iftar (break-fast) events over three weekends, providing food and presentations in Thai on Muslim Life in America at three universities, in a poor Bangkok community, and at the Ambassador's residence. In Buddhist-dominated Bangkok, Thai Muslims -- both ethnic-Malay students from the deep South studying in Bangkok high schools and universities to escape the violence, and their local ethnic-Thai Muslim peers -- strengthened their social and religious ties during these Ramadan break-fasts, while also learning more about America. Post's interactions revealed interest in Muslims in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine, as well as perceptions, especially among the non-elite, that Americans are against Muslims. At every venue, participants were surprised and touched by the Embassy's Ramadan outreach and asked staff to return next year. End summary. Southern High School Students in Bangkok -------------- ¶2. (SBU) At Islamawitiyalai high school, PA hosted an Iftar meal for boarding students unable to return to their homes for Ramadan. PAO explained to 400 surprised high school boys from southern and deep southern provinces why an American official had come, noting the American government and people's increased recognition of Islam and our interest in strengthening relations with Muslims worldwide. The students listened attentively as PAO, who spoke after a Thai Muslim speaker on religious ethics, talked about Muslim life in America and then showed IIP's illustrative slide show on the topic, narrated by Thai PA staff. "No American Teachers Since 9-11" -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Students laughed and joked with one another over the break-fast, which they ate communally in groups of four and five, seated on the floor in traditional style. An administrator said the RTG provided some, but not enough scholarships for these typically poor students. He noted that they studied in Thai, which was difficult for some of the deep South Malayu speakers, and also received Islamic and Arabic instruction six hours per week and English for four hours per week. PA staff detected little practical ability in English. Several boys told PAO that they missed their families but were happy to be in Bangkok where it was safe. When PAO asked about foreign teachers at the school, a Thai teacher replied they had a number of Arab and Muslim colleagues but "no American teachers since the World Trade Center [was destroyed] in 2001." (Note: This remark reflected the perception, alluded to by others as well, that the United States stopped assistance to Muslim communities after September 11, 2001. End note). Bangkok Muslims: Critical of South, U.S. Hates Them -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) PA then brought Iftar meals to the Mitraphaap Community in Oun Nuj, Bangkok. The people in this very poor community, all ethnic Thai, had recently lost their school and several homes in a major electrical fire. Teachers, parents, and young children sat on the floor in a bare, unfurnished room. After the PAO's presentation and IIP slide show, participants bombarded accompanying PA staff and Entry Level Officers (ELOs) with questions like "why does George Bush hate Muslims and think they are all terrorists?" One man, stressing that Islam was a peaceful religion, opined that deep South ethnic-Malay Muslims were not "real Muslims" because they engaged in violence. Several teachers spoke about the importance of the Quran and Islamic values and one teacher explained that most families in the community had many children, often six to eight, because "Muslims believe birth control is not allowed." Our hosts and all who attended were amazed and appreciative that the Embassy had reached out to them. Remembering Iraqis, Afghans, Palestinians -------------- ¶5. (SBU) PA next hosted a break-fast at Sri Phatum University for a coalition of Muslim university students run by local Bangkok student leaders. This coalition had been started 11 years earlier, but the influx of ethnic-Malay deep South students had increased its size significantly. A student opened the evening with an impressive Quranic recitation in Arabic, followed by three religious teachers preaching the importance of the Ramadan fast for personal health, to understand suffering, and to build character and community. One said, "it may seem tough for us, but imagine how much tougher it is to fast in Iraq, or Afghanistan, or Palestine," given the turmoil in those places. About 300 students sat at tables, with girls on one side of the room and boys on the other. Only the Americans and ranking religious teachers sat together at a mixed table. BANGKOK 00005459 002 OF 002 Southerners Stick Together; U.S. Muslims "Suffering" -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Many of the girls wore colorful, traditional Malay Muslim outfits with matching hijab (head covering). Their majors ranged from political science and history to computer science and accounting. When asked, all those from the deep South said they wanted to return home upon graduation and one Pattani native said most girls from the deep South stuck together more than mixing with local Bangkok students. Several had graduated from Narathiwat's prestigious Atarkiah Islamiya school and said their parents paid their expenses and tuition. As we were leaving, one of the event organizers thanked PAO profusely for sharing information about Muslim-Americans in the United States and "showing us that they were doing well and not suffering" as they had thought. Judging Iraq War Coverage -------------- ¶7. (SBU) At Siam University, about 200 students from various Muslim university clubs attended the Embassy Iftar, which included a sermon warning students not to drink alcohol. Many were from the deep South and had received financial support from the Ministry of Education to study in Bangkok. A professor who served as advisor to Siam's Thai Muslim Students Club said there are about 25,000 ethnic-Thai Muslim university students in Bangkok. The student president of the club expressed his concern with the "sincerity" of the American press and his sense that they were not reporting accurately or fully on events in Iraq. "When American soldiers rape local women, they should cover this; likewise, when U.S. soldiers attack in Iraq, the press should explain why." Rubbing Elbows with Bangkok's Muslim Elite -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The Ambassador welcomed Bangkok's elite Muslim community and some contacts from the deep South for our second annual Iftar at the Residence. Guests included politicians, businessmen, journalists and others, spanning the range of professions held by the Bangkok Muslim community. In contrast to our Iftar outreach to students and the poor Oun Nuj community, this elite group was much more familiar with the United States and discussed a range of Thai political and social issues. One Bangkok born-and-raised Islamic studies professor, when asked about his favorite part of Thailand, said "the South, since that's where my Muslim brothers and sisters live." (Note: Since 2004, a number of Bangkok elite Muslims have taken on the deep South as a cause, sometimes seeing themselves as a potential bridge between their Buddhist neighbors and ethic-Malay co-religionists. However, this role is not generally accepted by the ethnic Malays. End note). Another Bangkok born, ethnic-Thai school administrator, who converted to Islam while attending university and now lives in the South, reminisced about mutual friends and former classmates with her Bangkok Muslim counterparts. Comment: -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Ramadan provided an opportunity for ethnic-Thai Muslims in Bangkok to come together - socially, spiritually, and religiously. With the increased violence in the deep South since 2004, more and more ethnic-Malay Muslim students are meeting and interacting with their ethnic-Thai Muslim counterparts at high schools and universities. Although these students share Thai nationality and Muslim religion, they remain culturally -- and often socially -- distinct. Nonetheless, the increased presence of ethnic- Malay Muslims, as well as constant press coverage of southern violence, has raised the awareness of Bangkok Muslims on the deep South. ¶10. (SBU) Although it is not clear how representative these Iftar participants are of Muslims throughout Bangkok - both ethnic-Thai and ethnic-Malay -- our outreach provided an opportunity to interact with a sampling of students, educators, ordinary folk, and the elite. The non-elite Muslims we met, in particular, expressed interest in the international affairs of Muslims worldwide, especially in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine. They also believed that the United States is against Muslims and that Americans see them as terrorists - not unlike other Muslim communities worldwide with access to global media. With these Iftars, we reached out to Muslims personally and on their own terms and turf, speaking in Thai and explaining American cultural and religious diversity - with a focus on Muslim Americans - to present a different, and unexpected, image of the United States. End comment. BOYCE