The Roles of International Conference of Islamic Scholar (ICIS) in Conflict Resolution of South Thailand

Abstract

The conflict in Southern Thailand involving the Malay Muslim Group and the Government of Thailand has long been the beginning of the integration of the Kingdom of Greater Pattani into the Kingdom of Siam (Thailand). The government has made resolution efforts both through dialogue and the military but also never found common ground. This condition causes prolonged conflicts to be feared could threaten the stability of security in Southeast Asia. Some international actors ranging from countries, international organisations to individuals have paid considerable attention to this issue, one of them is Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). This paper attempts to describe the role of NU as one of the largest Islamic Organizations in Indonesia in assisting conflict resolution in Southern Thailand through the International Conference of Islamic Scholar (ICIS).

Keywords: South Thailand, second track diplomacy, ICIS