"We hinge on nonviolence. There have been no attempts from us to instigate violence" said Tuwadaniya Tuwaemuanga, Chairperson of the Student Network for People's Protection during an interview given under the shade of trees in the central mosque where he and his members have been holding demonstration for the past three days.

According to Tuwadaniya, this demonstration has been organized by Muslim students who live in 4-5 Southern border provinces including Patani, Narathiwat, Yala, Satoon, and Songkhla. They study in various higher education institutions in local and central areas. Having been monitoring the unrest for the past three years, they feel gravely concerned with the situation given the escalating violence and particularly for the injustices inflicted by state officers on local villagers.

Under the big shade inside the compound of the central mosque in Patani, the interview was preceding the negotiation scheduled at 16.00 today (June 2) between representatives from state agencies and the protesting students for whom he had just become chairperson a few hours ago. Until then, the students and villagers who joined them had refused to disclose anything to media and their demonstration had been subject to interpretation of state officers.

He said the students have been very concerned about the situation, but they decided not to come out before fearing that they would have been linked with the unrest perpetrators. In fact, as chairperson of the network, he can confirm that there has been no coordination between his group and those terrorists.

"Neither I know who they are, nor want to know them" said Tuwadaniya.

He observed that lately local villagers have got together to protest in numerous instances, but they have not enough powers to fight for justice from the state. Coupled with the growing call from general public for students to make their stand, he brought up this matter and discussed with groups of students in various institutions including Ramkamheang University and the Thai-Muslim Student Network to explore ways to help out the villagers. It was agreed that it was time for students to serve social cause.

Before, some students have been dispatched by the Thai-Muslim Student Network to investigate the rampage shooting in Kuanrunthee Pondok School in Sabayoy district. Having the change to interview villagers, Pondok students and the director, they have learned more information about the incidence and that has inspired them to initiate further activities.

According to Tuwadaniya, the demonstration stems from the information disclosed to him and other students about the slaughter of four villagers in Tambon Patae, Yaha district, Yala province including a 21 year old lady who was also raped in front of her mother. Her surviving mother brought the story to the attention of local people in her village.

"The incidence inspires me and my fellow students. We want to be part of the efforts to call for justice for the villagers and thus the students have been brought to this place"

He discloses further that originally, the activities have been scheduled from May 29 to June 5 with discussions led by human rights activists, lawyers, and academics to educate the students and villagers. After that they would be taken to the field including in Bannang Star, Sabayoy and Yaha to talk with local villagers and then the debriefing. The information from the trip will be compiled and submitted to concerned authorities later. The students come from various institutions in both Bangkok and local provinces.

Even though several student organizations have lately come out to deny their cooperation with the protesting students, Tuwadaniya insisted that his group had contacted those student organizations and had received very positive response from them, particularly, the Ramkamhaeng Student Organization whose chairperson had even promised to come and visit the students. That they have later denied their support could be attributed to internal pressure.

The Thai-Muslim Student Network's Chairperson said that the central Patani mosque has been chosen for this affirmative action since it is the central place of the Patani city. Historically, there was also a large demonstration back in 1975 following the killings of villagers at Kortor Bridge in Saiburi district, Patani. Similar to the massacre in Patae, there were survivors who could manage to leak the story to others.

However, as former vice-chairperson of the Ramkamhaeng Student Organization in 2006, Tuwadaniya said after the demonstration started for one day, villagers from adjacent areas have come to join them. By word of mouth, the demonstration has grown much bigger with an increasing number of participating villagers who have no other places to vent their frustrations from the abuses they face.

Therefore, ten demands have been made since the first day of the action.

Entering the third day, food supplies have diminished. As Tuwadaniya gauges that the authority will not be able to comply with all the demands, therefore, he will leave it to the villagers and the fellow students to decide if they want to carry on with the protest.

Bracing for the disbanding of the demonstration, the network will soon release ten new demands including the guarantee of safety for peaceful demonstrating students and villagers, the rights to not be held liable for any guilt and transportation of their belongings by the authorities. In addition, Tuwadaniya reiterates that they demand thorough investigation of the abuse against the villagers and that justice be done for them.

"We support the installation of military officers in any places in the country provided that they shall refrain from abusing people and bestow on them justices" said eventually Tuwadaniya.

As a result of the negotiation, the authorities pledge to not bring any legal actions against the demonstrators noting that they simply have exercised their due rights to express opinions. Also, an independent committee will be set up to look into cases brought up by the villagers. Meanwhile, the students were discussing plans for their retreat. Still, the demonstration has been going on under the intense surveillance of state officers to prevent any violent actions against the student

Translated by Pipob Udomittipong