VZCZCXRO2541
RR RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHBK #5459/01 2910202
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 180202Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0229
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 4273

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 005459 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR R, EAP/PD, EAP/MLS 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAO TH
SUBJECT: Ramadan in Bangkok: Muslim Identity, Global Interest 
 
BANGKOK 00005459  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) Embassy's Public Affairs Section (PA) sponsored five Iftar 
(break-fast) events over three weekends, providing food and 
presentations in Thai on Muslim Life in America at three 
universities, in a poor Bangkok community, and at the Ambassador's 
residence.  In Buddhist-dominated Bangkok, Thai Muslims -- both 
ethnic-Malay students from the deep South studying in Bangkok high 
schools and universities to escape the violence, and their local 
ethnic-Thai Muslim peers -- strengthened their social and religious 
ties during these Ramadan break-fasts, while also learning more 
about America.  Post's interactions revealed interest in Muslims in 
Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine, as well as perceptions, especially 
among the non-elite, that Americans are against Muslims.  At every 
venue, participants were surprised and touched by the Embassy's 
Ramadan outreach and asked staff to return next year.  End summary. 
 
Southern High School Students in Bangkok 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) At Islamawitiyalai high school, PA hosted an Iftar meal for 
boarding students unable to return to their homes for Ramadan.  PAO 
explained to 400 surprised high school boys from southern and deep 
southern provinces why an American official had come, noting the 
American government and people's increased recognition of Islam and 
our interest in strengthening relations with Muslims worldwide.  The 
students listened attentively as PAO, who spoke after a Thai Muslim 
speaker on religious ethics, talked about Muslim life in America and 
then showed IIP's illustrative slide show on the topic, narrated by 
Thai PA staff. 
 
"No American Teachers Since 9-11" 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Students laughed and joked with one another over the 
break-fast, which they ate communally in groups of four and five, 
seated on the floor in traditional style.  An administrator said the 
RTG provided some, but not enough scholarships for these typically 
poor students.  He noted that they studied in Thai, which was 
difficult for some of the deep South Malayu speakers, and also 
received Islamic and Arabic instruction six hours per week and 
English for four hours per week.  PA staff detected little practical 
ability in English.  Several boys told PAO that they missed their 
families but were happy to be in Bangkok where it was safe.  When 
PAO asked about foreign teachers at the school, a Thai teacher 
replied they had a number of Arab and Muslim colleagues but "no 
American teachers since the World Trade Center [was destroyed] in 
2001."  (Note:  This remark reflected the perception, alluded to by 
others as well, that the United States stopped assistance to Muslim 
communities after September 11, 2001. End note). 
 
Bangkok Muslims: Critical of South, U.S. Hates Them 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶4. (SBU) PA then brought Iftar meals to the Mitraphaap Community in 
Oun Nuj, Bangkok.  The people in this very poor community, all 
ethnic Thai, had recently lost their school and several homes in a 
major electrical fire.  Teachers, parents, and young children sat on 
the floor in a bare, unfurnished room.  After the PAO's presentation 
and IIP slide show, participants bombarded accompanying PA staff and 
Entry Level Officers (ELOs) with questions like "why does George 
Bush hate Muslims and think they are all terrorists?"  One man, 
stressing that Islam was a peaceful religion, opined that deep South 
ethnic-Malay Muslims were not "real Muslims" because they engaged in 
violence.  Several teachers spoke about the importance of the Quran 
and Islamic values and one teacher explained that most families in 
the community had many children, often six to eight, because 
"Muslims believe birth control is not allowed."  Our hosts and all 
who attended were amazed and appreciative that the Embassy had 
reached out to them. 
 
Remembering Iraqis, Afghans, Palestinians 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) PA next hosted a break-fast at Sri Phatum University for a 
coalition of Muslim university students run by local Bangkok student 
leaders.  This coalition had been started 11 years earlier, but the 
influx of ethnic-Malay deep South students had increased its size 
significantly.  A student opened the evening with an impressive 
Quranic recitation in Arabic, followed by three religious teachers 
preaching the importance of the Ramadan fast for personal health, to 
understand suffering, and to build character and community.  One 
said, "it may seem tough for us, but imagine how much tougher it is 
to fast in Iraq, or Afghanistan, or Palestine," given the turmoil in 
those places.  About 300 students sat at tables, with girls on one 
side of the room and boys on the other.  Only the Americans and 
ranking religious teachers sat together at a mixed table. 
 
 
BANGKOK 00005459  002 OF 002 
 
 
Southerners Stick Together; U.S. Muslims "Suffering" 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Many of the girls wore colorful, traditional Malay Muslim 
outfits with matching hijab (head covering).  Their majors ranged 
from political science and history to computer science and 
accounting.  When asked, all those from the deep South said they 
wanted to return home upon graduation and one Pattani native said 
most girls from the deep South stuck together more than mixing with 
local Bangkok students.  Several had graduated from Narathiwat's 
prestigious Atarkiah Islamiya school and said their parents paid 
their expenses and tuition.  As we were leaving, one of the event 
organizers thanked PAO profusely for sharing information about 
Muslim-Americans in the United States and "showing us that they were 
doing well and not suffering" as they had thought. 
 
Judging Iraq War Coverage 
------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) At Siam University, about 200 students from various Muslim 
university clubs attended the Embassy Iftar, which included a sermon 
warning students not to drink alcohol.  Many were from the deep 
South and had received financial support from the Ministry of 
Education to study in Bangkok.  A professor who served as advisor to 
Siam's Thai Muslim Students Club said there are about 25,000 
ethnic-Thai Muslim university students in Bangkok.  The student 
president of the club expressed his concern with the "sincerity" of 
the American press and his sense that they were not reporting 
accurately or fully on events in Iraq.  "When American soldiers rape 
local women, they should cover this; likewise, when U.S. soldiers 
attack in Iraq, the press should explain why." 
 
Rubbing Elbows with Bangkok's Muslim Elite 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶8. (SBU) The Ambassador welcomed Bangkok's elite Muslim community 
and some contacts from the deep South for our second annual Iftar at 
the Residence.  Guests included politicians, businessmen, 
journalists and others, spanning the range of professions held by 
the Bangkok Muslim community.  In contrast to our Iftar outreach to 
students and the poor Oun Nuj community, this elite group was much 
more familiar with the United States and discussed a range of Thai 
political and social issues.  One Bangkok born-and-raised Islamic 
studies professor, when asked about his favorite part of Thailand, 
said "the South, since that's where my Muslim brothers and sisters 
live."  (Note:  Since 2004, a number of Bangkok elite Muslims have 
taken on the deep South as a cause, sometimes seeing themselves as a 
potential bridge between their Buddhist neighbors and ethic-Malay 
co-religionists.  However, this role is not generally accepted by 
the ethnic Malays.  End note).  Another Bangkok born, ethnic-Thai 
school administrator, who converted to Islam while attending 
university and now lives in the South, reminisced about mutual 
friends and former classmates with her Bangkok Muslim counterparts. 
 
 
Comment: 
-------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Ramadan provided an opportunity for ethnic-Thai Muslims in 
Bangkok to come together - socially, spiritually, and religiously. 
With the increased violence in the deep South since 2004, more and 
more ethnic-Malay Muslim students are meeting and interacting with 
their ethnic-Thai Muslim counterparts at high schools and 
universities.  Although these students share Thai nationality and 
Muslim religion, they remain culturally -- and often socially -- 
distinct.  Nonetheless, the increased presence of ethnic- Malay 
Muslims, as well as constant press coverage of southern violence, 
has raised the awareness of Bangkok Muslims on the deep South. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Although it is not clear how representative these Iftar 
participants are of Muslims throughout Bangkok - both ethnic-Thai 
and ethnic-Malay -- our outreach provided an opportunity to interact 
with a sampling of students, educators, ordinary folk, and the 
elite.  The non-elite Muslims we met, in particular, expressed 
interest in the international affairs of Muslims worldwide, 
especially in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine.  They also believed 
that the United States is against Muslims and that Americans see 
them as terrorists - not unlike other Muslim communities worldwide 
with access to global media.  With these Iftars, we reached out to 
Muslims personally and on their own terms and turf, speaking in Thai 
and explaining American cultural and religious diversity - with a 
focus on Muslim Americans - to present a different, and unexpected, 
image of the United States. End comment. 
 
BOYCE