The first PULO's flag, still used today by original PULO faction

The Patani United Liberation Organization (also spelled Pattani United Liberation Organisation) or PULO is one of the active separatist movements calling for a free and independent Patani. This group, along with others, is currently fighting for the independence of Thailand's predominantly Malay Muslim south.

[edit] History

PULO was founded in 1968 reportedly around the leadership of Kabir Abdul Rahman (Bira Kotanila), a Patani Malay scholar,^[1] who has been serving as its chairman until his death in 2008. By late 1992, the organization had split into three factions. The first faction was headed by Dr. Arong Muleng while the second one was lead by Haji Hadi Bin Ghazali. The first faction set up the PULO Leadership Council with a symbol of a dagger crossing with a sword as its logo. The name of its armed unit is called "Kasdan Army." The second faction, also headed by Haji Sama-ae Thanam, has set up the PULO Army Command Council to give support to Kabir Abdul Rahman, the founder of PULO. The third faction headed by Abu Yasir Fikri has the largest ground support and leading the only group with credibility enough to be able to officially negotiate and represent PULO at OIC.^[2]

In 1995, rifts emerged among the core leaders of the new PULO movement. As a result, Dr. Arong Muleng decided to split his group from the movement to set up a new organization called "PULO 88", while the other group led by Haji Abdul Rahman named its armed unit as "Pulo Keris" (Dagger Pulo).

[edit] Current separatist actions

Currently, PULO has a policy of targeting those whom it views as collaborators and associates of the Thai government, such as civil servants, soldiers and policemen. Recently, their main target has been Buddhist monks, school teachers, and even Muslim village protection volunteers.

The organization carries out car bombs, road side bombs and drive-by shootings targeting Thai military and police.

PULO considers itself to be continuing the independence struggle of the Malay Sultanates after the area declared its independence following the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767. The Islamic state proposed by PULO would cover the areas they say were historically ruled by the Sultanate of Pattani - consisting of Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala, Songkhla and Satun provinces in present-day Thailand. However, Songkla Province is only about 30% Muslim and mainly Thai speaking, while Satun actually was part of Kedah and has shown virtually no support for separation from Thailand.

On 26 July 2009 Abu Yasir Fikri, the President of PULO and the Emir of the Movement of Mujahidin Islam Patani (GMIP), Cikgume Kuteh, have made an agreement to join forces. The agreement includes giving Abu Yasir Fikri mandate to speak on behalf of the GMIP on all political issues. Further on, the agreement included a section in which the movements agreed to build one military force, the Patani Liberation Army, the PLA to be led by the First Deputy Military Commander of the Patani United Liberation Organization (PULO).^{[3] [4]}

Pulo's flag used by "Dagger PULO" (1989-2005)

Logos of Original PULO and GMIP

[edit] PULO outlines a solution to conflict

On 18 april at the OICs Twelfth Meeting of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts considering the Conditions of Muslim Communities and Minorities in Jeddah Abu Yasir Fikri, the president of the original PULO proposed a solution to the conflict.^[5]

1. In the case of Patani it seems impossible to resolving the issue if it is left entirely in the hands of the Patani people and the Thai Government. This is why international intervention in the form of external governments or the United Nations is necessary. There are some with the opinion that external presence would be interfering with the internal affairs of Thailand but we believe that since Patani is under colonial occupation and its people are struggling to regain their right of self determination this would not be the case. Therefore external intervention should not be seen as interfering with the internal affairs of Thailand.

2. In the first stage the government of Thailand should award the Patani area (The regions which includes Pattani, Narathiwat, Jala, Setun and five districts in the province of Sonkla) special status. The Government and Parliament should allow greater freedom for Patani to manage its internal affairs. This move would not be in contradiction with the Thai constitution and would be applicable in the case of Patani since the conditions and terms of the regions (i.e. Bangkok and Pataya) that’s already been awarded special status has been different in each case.

3. Recognition of the ethnic Malay in the same way that Thailand acknowledges ethnic Chinese in Thailand. Right now Thailand does not recognize the Malay ethnicity, which makes it difficult to prove the sincere intention of the Thai government for peaceful coexistence with the Patani people.

It is necessary that the Malay language is also recognized as the official language in the region and also that the Jawi scripture (using Arabic letters) may be used.

Thailand is trying to implement teaching in the Malay language in one school in each state but with the Thai alphabet. There is no contradiction in the policy of education in Thailand to allow the use of Jawi scripture as foreign language education in Thailand allows for English and French to be taught using the Latin alphabet, while the Japanese and the Chinese languages are taught using their own letters. None of the above mentioned languages (except Jawi) is taught using the Thai script.

4. Recognition of the Islamic law in the Islamic Malay Patani, especially in the field of civil law since the people is Muslim.

5. The people in the Patani region will have a referendum in the future under international supervision in order to determine their own destiny, whether they want to remain part of Thailand or achieve independence from Thailand.

6. Thailand wish to reduce the role of the Patani United Liberation Organization (PULO) and Revolutionary National Front (BRN) while at the same time giving credit to the RKK (small and mobile combat units). The RKK is not an organization, but those are small groups moving about in the villages. However, these groups are parts of other liberation organizations in Patani.

[edit] Websites

• http://www.puloinfo.net/
• http://www.patanipost.com/ News about Patani
• http://www.pataninews.net/
• http://www.pmhro.net (Patani Human Right Organisation)

The fivestar PULO's flag 2005-present, the defunct PULO fraction where Kasturi is self-appointed spokesperson. Five star PULO has been very visible in the media. Not to be confused with the powerful original PULO fraction with Abu Yasir as its leader, that uses 4 stars

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Liow, Joseph Chinyong. "The Security Situation in Southern Thailand: Toward an Understanding of Domestic and International Dimensions." Studies in Conflict & Terrorism. 27 (2004):531-48, p. 536.
2. ^ http://www.patanipost.com/OIC090419.html
3. ^ http://www.patanipost.com/PM090816.html
4. ^ http://www.patanipost.com/PM090816BM.html
5. ^ http://www.patanipost.com/OIC090419.html

http://www.patanipost.com/OIC090419.html

[edit] External links

• PULO analysis
• PULO and terrorism

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