Security companies in Thailand are investigating a group of activists advocating for a public referendum on the creation of an unbiased Muslim “Patani State” within the country’s southern region. The National Security Council (NSC) stated that the Internal Security Operation Command (Isoc) Region 4 Forward Office and Provincial Police Region 9 are inspecting the group’s actions and monitoring its social media presence.
The investigation goals to discover out whether or not the group has connections to separatist movements, which might violate the constitution and other related legal guidelines. The Isoc will lead the probe, which is expected to take some time to conclude. Authorities are also wanting into whether any political parties are concerned in the group’s activities, and can take applicable action primarily based on the proof found, Bangkok Post reported.
NSC secretary-general Supoj Malaniyom emphasised that calls for a public referendum on the establishment of an impartial Muslim state usually are not permitted underneath the constitution. Lt. Gen. Reduced , commander of the 4th Army, also criticised the referendum proposal, labelling it unconstitutional and a risk to Thailand’s territorial integrity and nationwide security.
The group in question, Pelajar Bangsa (“National Students”), was established during a seminar at Prince of Songkla University’s Pattani campus last week. It represents college students from Thailand’s three southernmost provinces and is believed to be the latest iteration of the Federation of Patani Students and Youth (PerMas), which was disbanded in November 2021..