Introduction: Thailand’s Deep South–the dynamics of conflict and ethnicity

Srisompob Jitpiromsri, Napisa Waitoolkiat & Paul Chambers

Abstract

The conflict between Malay-Muslim insurgents seeking secession from Thailand and security forces of the Thai government has been a long-lasting affair. According to the latest data, over 7,581 people have died and 14,082 have been injured as a result of political violence from January 2004 until March 2024. Ethnic and religious issues are central to this conflict. This Special Issue of Asian Affairs: An American Review looks at the continuing conflict and why it has persisted unabated. In this Introduction, the authors discuss the history of the conflict up until 2024. The article tracks indicators of the conflict’s chronology. The rest of the Special Issue investigates different dimensions of the conflict in this part of Thailand to raise awareness about continuing challenges in the region.

References : Asian Affairs: An American Review