Thailand probes student movement advocating for 'Patani State' referendum

PATTANI, Thailand - Thai security agencies are investigating a student movement that is allegedly advocating for a public referendum to establish a 'Patani State' in the southern region of Thailand.

Commander Santi Sakultanak of the 4th Army said the Internal Security Operation Command (Isoc) Region 4, which is spearheading the investigation, has intensified its efforts in collecting information and evidence.

He said security agencies had been keeping their activities under watch.

"The calls for a public referendum to establish an independent Muslim state -"Patani State," are unconstitutional and pose a threat to national security,” he told Bernama.

On June 7, "Pelajar Bangsa," who represented university students from the southern provinces, reportedly organised a mock referendum during a forum to gauge opinions on whether the "Patani people" should have the right to self-determination and hold a legally framed referendum on independence.

The forum -"Self-Determination and Patani Peace" was held at Prince of Songkhla University in Pattani.

Local media reported that during the event, participants were provided with a ballot that posed a question regarding the right of individuals in the southern border provinces to vote on the establishment of a "Patani State", or the separation of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and four districts in Songkhla province (Thepa, Na Thawi, Chana, and Saba Yoi) from Thailand. - BERNAMA