Bersatu (separatist organization)

Bersatu (also know as the MPRMP or Council of the Muslim People of Patani) is an umbrella organization that is involved in the separatist movement in South Thailand's region of Pattani.

History

Bersatu, which is the Malay word for "unity," was formed on August 31, 1989 by factions of the Patani United Liberation Organization (PULO), the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani (BRN), the Barisan National Pembebasan (BNPP) and the Mujahadeen Patani. [Thai News Agency, August 31, 2006. [http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=24463 20 insurgent bombs in Yala banks, killing 1, injuring 18] , MCOT (retrieved on August 31, 2006).] Under this umbrella organization, these groups began coordinated attacks, using the codename "Falling Leaves," between August 1997 and January 1998. [Liow, Joseph Chinyong. "The Security Situation in Southern Thailand: Toward an Understanding of Domestic and International Dimensions." "Studies in Conflict & Terrorism." 27 (2004):531-48.]

It was reported that some of Bersatu's prominent leaders were arrested or killed during the years prior to 2004. However, the highly coordinated torching of 18 schools in January 2004 led some to suspect that the Bersatu groups were responsible. [Smith, Anthony L. "Trouble in Thailand's Muslim South: Separatism, not Global Terrorism." "Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies", Vol. 3, No. 10, December 2004, p. 3. [http://www.apcss.org/Publications/APSSS/TroubleinThailandsMuslimSouth.pdf] (.pdf file)]

Notes

ee also

*Gerakan Mujahideen Islam Pattani (GMIP)
*Patani United Liberation Organization (PULO)
*Pattani (region)
*South Thailand insurgency