<div> <p>Today marks the 107th anniversary of the Anglo-Siamese Treaty.&nbsp;It will be remembered by those aware of the Treaty as the day Thailand colonized Patani. This isn't exactly true. Thailand or the Siamese Kingdom as it was at that time had already forcibly moved in to occupy the most northerly Malay State on the eastern coast of the Malay Peninsula much earlier.</p> </div>

<div> <p dir="ltr">I was relieved to read Ajan Nidhi Eoseewong’s <a href="http://prachatai.org/english/node/5892">article</a> in <em>Prachatai English</em> this past Tuesday, March 1st, about the rise of Islamophobia amongst Buddhist groups in northern Thailand. Ajan Nidhi’s article addresses the recent opposition to the construction of a halal industrial park in Chiang Mai on the part of a consortium of influential Buddhist groups. Sadly, this is only the most recent example of Buddhist objection to Muslim religious expression in the north.</p> </div>

<div>Hara Shintaro analyses weakness of the Deep South peace process and suggest ways to move forward productively.&nbsp;</div> <p></p>

<p><em>This essay does not advocate support of coups. It does support more study of coups and the various international conditions that exist when coups are effected. Society needs to gain a more objective overview to understand the coup phenomenon more accurately and not automatically dismiss the sociopolitical realities that exist at the time coups are planned or effected. "The fault is not within the stars but within ourselves..."</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>****************</em></p>

<div>I was surprised and disappointed at a recent statement opposing plans to site a Halal industrial park anywhere in Chiang Mai. The statement was issued to the Governor in late January by a group of Buddhist monks and laity including the head of the Chiang Mai Sangha and members of the Association of Village Heads of Chiang Mai. </div>

<p>To question “What’s the point of having a military?” will certainly cause a problem. The problem, however, does not belong to those who are high-ranking soldiers. They might have a problem but it is minor. Even if we consider bribes from weapons transactions, it’s still a minor problem. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<div><em>Note: <a href="http://prachatai.org/english/node/5694">Aef Thanakorn&nbsp;S.</a> was arrested on 8 December 2015. &nbsp;He was detained in a military camp for seven days, the maximum currently permitted, before being taken to the Bangkok Military Court and formally accused of violating Article 112, Article 116, and the Computer Crimes Act. </em></div>

<p>The presidential candidacy campaigns are heating up in the United States. While the world hears so much about different campaigns to tackle domestic issues, little has been said about the US position in the promotion of democracy on the international stage. In the context of Southeast Asia, the role of the United States in supporting democratization process is crucial; yet it continues to be obscured.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1639/24967559496_7ba63b018c.jpg" /></p>

<div>The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) explains that summoning people for attitude adjustment and detention is carried out in accordance with the law. I say the NCPO because this explanation has been repeated by the head, deputy head, and on down to the spokesperson. </div>

<p dir="ltr"><em><span id="docs-internal-guid-fcd8e39e-c3d4-1456-7cea-da4243f6b98f">This article was first published at </span><a href="http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/">New Mandala</a>, a specialist website on Southeast Asia based at the Australian National University’s Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs.</em></p> <p dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-fcd8e39e-c3d4-1456-7cea-da4243f6b98f"><img alt="" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/685/23857937346_4b446caf40_o.jpg" style="width: 440px; height: 284px;" /></span></p>

<div><em>Note: Prachatai journalist Mutita Chuachang on Tuesday, 1 December 2015, was awarded the 2015 AFP Kate Webb prize for Asian journalists for her “powerful and persistent” reporting of cases under the lèse majesté law. Mutita, 33, received a certificate and 3,000 euros in a ceremony held at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT). Mutita joined Prachatai when the news agency was founded almost 11 years ago. </em></div>

<p><em>Note: Abu Hafez Al-Hakim is a vocal member of MARA Patani, a peace dialogue panel comprising several Muslim Malay groups which struggle for the right to self determination of people in Thailand's restive Deep South, so-called Patani. This article reflects his personal view, not the official view of MARA Patani. Watch Abu Hafez interview with Prachatai <a href="http://prachatai.org/english/node/5358">here</a>.&nbsp;</em></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><img alt="" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/263/19892270940_fc10e3f53a_c.jpg" style="height: 334px; width: 500px;" /></em></p>