ABSTRACT
This chapter examines ‘conflict’ and local ownership of conflict transformation. ‘Conflict’ and ‘conflict transformation’ are concepts which imply social construction across time. Deeply entrenched conflict has existed in what is currently called ‘southern Thailand’ for well over 100 years. The chapter argues that any progress in resolving the southern Thai conflict ultimately rests with state’s willingness to undertake serious reform of how it administers local people in far south. By attitudes, the author means positive or negative perceptions/misperceptions among actors involved of themselves and their societal enemies. The current conflict in Thailand’s far south originally centres on modern Thai provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, which, together with parts of northern Malaysia, generally covered the area of the Muslim sultanate of Patani. Paradorn Pattanathabutr stated that it is the Yingluck government’s position that the establishment of an autonomous region covering the provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala is a viable solution to the problem in Thailand’s far south.
