December 1, 2004

Book corrects `distorted' Islamic teachings

PRADIT RUANGDIT

The Chularatchamontri's Office has translated Islamic teachings found in the South and explained how they have been twisted by insurgents to become instrumental in their waging of a separatist war.

Yuranan Pamornmontri, a government deputy spokesman, said the cabinet had received a book from the office with the corrected translations of the teachings.

The book informs readers of exactly how certain Islamic religious beliefs have been distorted, enabling insurgents to easily bend sympathisers to their will.

The deputy spokesman said the government would be willing to print more copies and translate the book into the Yawi dialect or English for distribution.

Niran Pattarakij, the office director, said militants who seized the Krue Se mosque and who later died in clashes with security forces had in their possession documents with similar distorted Muslim beliefs.

The documents, he said, were simply propaganda. The author had rewritten and even invented some Islamic teachings with the purpose of misleading readers.

The documents were full of misinterpretations, inaccuracies and incorrect references and were considered to be a danger to national security.

The office appointed a nine-man team to translate the document and to provide line-by-line corrections.

The panel, which started its work in June, was chaired by Asiz Pitakkumpol, chairman of the Songkhla Islamic Committee, who also stated in the book what the proper teachings were.

The Culture Ministry shouldered the cost of printing 100,000 copies of the corrected version of book which has been given out to state agencies, mosques and residents of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.