DAR AL HARB - THAILAND: THE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP HAS NO CLUE WHAT A HUDNA IS, IF THEY DO THEY ARE COMPLICIT IN JIHAD

Thailand Must Push for Peace Talks in Muslim South, Group Says
By Ed Johnson

March 16 (Bloomberg) -- Thailand's government must push for peace talks with Muslim rebels in the south and persuade the country's majority Buddhist population to support a negotiated settlement to the conflict, the International Crisis Group said.

Insurgents have stepped up attacks in an attempt to derail negotiations and Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's efforts to address Muslim grievances in southern provinces are unpopular in the rest of the country, the group said in a report.

``With only six months to go before elections, there are clear limits to what this government can achieve,'' Francesca Lawe-Davies, an analyst for the Brussels-based organization that tries to resolve conflicts, said yesterday. ``But it should use its remaining time to lay the groundwork for a serious political effort to bring peace to the region.''

Almost 1,900 people have been killed in near-daily attacks including shootings, bombings and beheadings since January 2004 in Thailand's three Muslim-majority provinces bordering Malaysia, according to Thai police. Authorities have blamed the violence on insurgents escalating a campaign for a separate Muslim state. Thailand's 65 million people are 95 percent Buddhist.
The government announced yesterday it will deploy about 2,000 more soldiers to the southern provinces to curb the insurgency. ``We will have to use force to protect our people as it appears those insurgents don't want to settle the violence with dialogue,'' Surayud said in Bangkok.

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MUHAMMAD AND THE TREATY OF HUDAYBIYYA
by Silas


ABSTRACT

During 628 A.D. Muhammad attempted to make a pilgrimage to the Kaba in Mecca. As he neared Meccan troops opposed him and forbid him to proceed to Mecca. However, the Meccans entered into negotiations with him. About ten miles outside of Mecca, by the spring of Hudaybiyya, Muhammad and the Meccans concluded a treaty known as the Treaty of Hudaybiyya. This treaty humiliated the Muslims and Muhammad. Later as he journeyed home, Muhammad told his followers that the affair at Hudaybiyya was in fact a "victory". As proof of the victory Muhammad promised his followers that they would have the "booty" of the Jewish settlement of Khaibar. Weeks later Muhammad attacked and plundered Khaibar.


INTRODUCTION

In March of 628 A.D., (6 A.H.), Muhammad attempted to make the lesser pilgrimage to Mecca. Muhammad had had a vision of going to Mecca and venerating at the Kaba.[1]. The Arabs in charge of Mecca refused to allow Muhammad to enter Mecca and sent their army out to stop him. They did not want it to appear that they were weak and Muhammad had done something against their will. Instead of entering Mecca, Muhammad and the Meccans made a treaty known as the Treaty of Hudaybiyya. This treaty was humiliating to the Muslims. Both Umar and Abu Bakr complained about the treaty's provisions.

Surprisingly, as he returned to Medina, he proclaimed the Meccan rejection of his pilgrimage, and the humiliating treaty, a "victory". Muhammad attempted to mask his degrading compromise with the Meccans by claiming to have a revelation found in Sura 48:1 -

"We have given you a glorious victory so that God may forgive you your past and future sins".

To insure his followers that he had indeed won a victory Muhammad even found a source for the spoils of war. Muhammad promised them the booty of Khaibar. Six weeks later Muhammad attacked Khaibar, conquered the Jews there, and distributed the spoils of war.


Note [1] - I did not find any reference to this vision at the beginning of the story of Hudaybiyya, however, this vision is referred to twice in source material. Further, the Quran mentions the dream Muhammad had to go to the Kaba in 48:27 (given later).

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Pertinent Links:

1) Thailand Must Push for Peace Talks in Muslim South, Group Says

2) MUHAMMAD AND THE TREATY OF HUDAYBIYYA