Masaru Goto, Thailand
Lost loved ones: Portraits from the Deep South into the Red Zone

In Thailand, close to the Malaysian border, 80 percent of the population which lives in three Deep South provinces – Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala – are ethnic Malay Muslims. A long time ago, the Sultanate of Pattani, a Muslim kingdom, ruled this region, but the area was annexed by the Thai government in the early 20th century.

In January 2004, Muslim separatist groups calling for independence from the central Buddhist government launched attacks, setting off bombs in the middle of the city and killing Buddhist villagers. The Thai government enacted an Emergency Decree and brought in troops. Young Muslim men have been “blacklisted” by the authorities and assumed guilty with no reasons given. An unknown number of people have “disappeared”, but the local Muslims received no justice, and hence reinforced local Muslims’ support for the separatist groups.

Now, most rural Muslim groups in the south where support for the separatist movement is strong are classified as “red zones”. The government has also reinforced troops located in the Deep South.

I have been documenting the people in the south of Thailand since early 2004. I traveled through rural armed Buddhist villages, as well as Muslim ones which have been classified as “red zones”.

Since 2004, more than 3,000 people have been killed and over 7,000 injured by this conflict. The number of widows have risen to 1,200, and 1,900 children have been orphaned. Violence in the region has affected many, especially those who have lost their family members and loved ones.

I wish to show how the violence in this region has increased to such an extent that it has affected the lives of all who live here – both Muslims and Buddhists.