The annual five-day camp between military cadets and university students from the south was first organised seven years ago to help create a better understanding between the two groups of people.
Muslim university students from Thailand’s deep south marked Friday prayers at a mosque in Nakhon Nayok province, a couple of hours' drive north of Bangkok.
They are accompanied by non-Muslim friends, namely the future officers of the Royal Thai Army, as they all took part in the annual five-day cultural exchange camp at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. Activities ranged from tower jumping to cultural performances.
Participants of the Thai cultural exchange camp attend Friday prayers. (Photo: Panu Wongcha-um)
Established in 2008, the programme was designed to promote cultural and religious sensitivities between the army and residents from Thailand’s restive south.
This year’s edition saw many army cadets from the military academy. They volunteered to participate in the five-day activity, knowing that friendship with university students from the southern region and a basic understanding of their cultures are essential for the own career advancement in the future.
“I am pretty certain that I will be with the Infantry. So it's highly likely that I will be dispatched to the deep south. I think it's better if I can get the basic understanding now rather than not knowing anything at all,” said army cadet Wichakul Tongpleo.
"I volunteered to come here because I want the cadets and the army to better understand how southerners feel,” Wichakul partner Abdullah Dengsani added. “We can explain what really goes on there."
The group consists of 50 Muslim university students and 50 Royal Thai Army cadets. (Photo: Panu Wongcha-um)
At the Barahom district, Pattani’s old city centre, Buddhists and Muslims have been living together for centuries. But since separatist violence erupted in early 2004, many locals fear the insurgency may harm the relationship between the Malay-Muslim majority and the Buddhist minority.
“Since our grandparents' generation, we've been living peacefully. There were no conflict between Buddhists and Muslims in the area," said villager Abdullah Je-ua. "What happened here has nothing to do with religion but there are some people who try to make it a religious conflict."
The annual cultural exchange camp was first started in 2008. (Photo: Panu Wongcha-um)
For the likes of First Lieutenant Jirasak Janjanjang, an army officer who had participated in the cultural exchange programme, the basic understanding as well as the friendships forged at the camp played a great role while they were stationed in the insurgency-plagued south.
“When I was a cadet, we all thought that once we graduated we would have to go and fight in the south. But this changed when I got there. Rather than fight, we ended up having to help promote better understanding between security forces and locals, between Buddhists and Muslims, so that we can live peacefully together," he said.
“There is a gap between the administrators and the administered,” said Muslim activist and camp founder Wallapa Neelaphaijit. “If they have better understanding between each other and speak the same language, then no one can harm this strong bond.”
Every year, about 50 army cadets and 50 university students from the deep south participate in the camp. The Royal Thai Police Officers Academy runs a similar programme.
CNA/ec/pp
