Voices from People to the Peace Negotiation Table: Lessons and experiences of sustainable peace building in the southern border provinces 2022-2025

Prepared by Center for Conflict Studies and Cultural Diversity (CSCD), Institute for Peace StudiesPrince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus, Kampung Taqwa Association and Minority Rights Group (MRG)Supported by European Union (EU)Voices from Peopleto the Peace Negotiation Table:Lessons and experiences of sustainable peace building in the southern border provinces 2022-2025

Voices from People to the Peace Negotiation Table:Lessons and experiences of sustainable peace building in the southern border provinces 2022-2025ISBN: 978-616-271-821-2First Edition: September 2025Number of Copies Printed: 300Advisor: Srisompob Jitpiromsri Executive Editor: Samatcha NilaphatamaEditorial Board Fareeda Panjor Rohanee Juenara Rohani Daoh Alisa Daoh Proofreader : Leenar Kasor Illustrator: SalmarLayout Design: SalmarPublished by Center for Conflict and Cultural Diversity, Institute for Peace Studies, Prince of Songkla University Printed at Parbpim Limited Company 45/12-14, 33 Moo 4, Bangkruay-Jongthanorm Rd., Bangkanoon, Bangkruay, Nontaburi 11130DisclaimersThis publication has received funding/support from the European Union. The content of this document is the sole responsibility of Center on Conflict and Cultural Diversity, Institute for Peace Studies, Prince of Songkla University, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Knowledge of female researchers in conducting researches on marginal/vulnerable groups 1. Knowledge in organising training for female researchers Intersectionality 20 By Assistant Professor Dr. Amporn Marddent2. Qualitative and quantitative research 27 By Assistant Professor Dr. Srisompob Jitphiromsr, Assistant Professor Dr. Amporn Marddent3. Principles in Group Conversation 47 By Jularat Damrongviteetham, Assistant Professor Abdulkhaliq Arrahimee4. Ethical principles in researches 62 Assistant Professor Dr. Kusuma KooyaiInclusive Peacebuilding in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces Inclusive Peacebuilding in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces 79 Research Report: Quality of Life of Marginalized Populations for Inclusive Peacebuilding in Southern Border Provinces 91 Reflections from a Female Researcher on Fieldwork with Marginalized/Vulnerable Groups (2) 114 Reflections from a Female Researcher on Fieldwork with Marginalized/Vulnerable Groups (2) 118Inclusive Peacebuilding in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces 1. Background and importance 82. Important concepts and thought frames 1071878:: table of contents ::

:: table of contents ::Experiences, Lesson and Learning towardstrategies promoting roles of PWDs and other vulnerable groups in the southern border provinces Forum 1: Dreams, hopes for strategies of the network of PWDs in the southern border provinces Starting points, ideas and strategies for promoting roles of PWDs in the southern border provinces 136 Forum 2: Connecting networks of researchers and civil society for building peace of vulnerable people in the southern border provinces 146 Forum 3 Collaboration and solidarity for driving strategies of PWDs people’s network. Space for exchange: Situations, Challenges in working for PWDs people in the southern border provinces 185Peace Process – Current Conditions: Seen from a lens of comprehensiveness Decade of Negotiations: The starting point and the current situation 202 Genuine peace: voices from bottom that should not be neglected 216 People’s voice: an important key to peace 223 10 vulnerable groups: people who should have a say in the peace process 228 People designing peace: Building future together in the southern border provinces 245 Voices from the southern border provinces: A pathway to a sustainable peace 253 Voices from communities: Realities that must be seen 265 201Summary: A path to comprehensive and sustainable peace 266Conclusion 267Voices from People to the Peace Negotiation Table:Lessons and experiences of sustainable peace building in the southern border provinces 2022-2025135

Formal negotiations between the Thai government and the BRN group have been underway since 2013, representing a significant opportunity for local communities to engage in the peace process and contribute to confidence-building measures. Nevertheless, a major challenge remains: establishing sustainable and inclusive peace that encompasses all sectors of society in the southern border provinces.Of particular importance is ensuring that groups historically marginalized or excluded are provided meaningful opportunities to participate in the peace process, both prior to and during periods of conflict. The Inclusive Peacebuilding in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces project exemplifies such efforts. It is a collaborative initiative involving Center for Conflict Studies and Cultural Diversity, Prince of Songkla University, Kampung Taqwa Association, and the Minority Rights Group (MRG), with support from the European Union. The project is scheduled to run from 2022 to 2025.The aforementioned project is a comprehensive initiative encompassing both research activities and the facilitation of peacebuilding processes. It actively includes marginalized and vulnerable groups, such as persons with disabilities, religious minorities, LGBT+ communities, youth within the community, former combatants in insurgent movements, victims of special law enforcement measures, and vulnerable women. The aim is to ensure that the diverse voices of those who have been historically voiceless are represented and reflected as a unified contribution within the peace process, thereby responding effectively to the crisis of conflict.The Inclusive Peacebuilding in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces operates through a diverse civil society network that engages with marginalized and vulnerable groups. It seeks to strengthen cohesion among civil society actors, including local authorities, national-level officials, religious leaders, and grassroots communities, fostering broad-based movements toward sustainable peace.IntroductionVoices from People to the Peace Negotiation Table: Lessons and experiences of sustainable peace building in the southern border provinces 2022-20255

The project adopts a hybridity approach to peace, which involves creating locally connected networks in a cross-sectional manner. The approach emphasizes strong practical activities aimed at developing options for addressing conflict at the local level. In other words, it is a grassroots civil society network interwoven through sub-grading mechanisms to build confidence and trust within the dynamics of the conflict.These civil society networks work by prioritizing different aspects within the community, engaging in mediation, dialogue, and trust-building conversations. The core principle in addressing the challenges of the southern border provinces is to foster confidence and trust among communities that have historically held mutual stereotypes or perceptions of opposing sides in localized conflicts, which impact social and economic relations in the area.Implementation requires mobilizing both existing networks and emerging networks at the community level to explore the question: What does peace mean to marginalized and vulnerable groups? Addressing this question necessitates actively listening to the voices and needs of diverse groups to ensure their perspectives can be integrated and function collectively within the peacebuilding process.Therefore, this project aims to promote and protect the human rights of minority groups, particularly their rights to exist, participate in public life, and have a voice in state decisions that affect them. In addition, it emphasizes support for those facing complex choices within minority communities, including women, women with disabilities, persons with disabilities, youth, children, and the elderly.The principles of democracy and good governance serve as core components of the project, focusing on ensuring that the Thai state recognizes and respects the rights of minority groups. This is complemented by efforts to enhance knowledge regarding international standards and best practices in peaceful conflict resolution.Editorial BoardSeptember 2025Voices from People to the Peace Negotiation Table:Lessons and experiences of sustainable peace building in the southern border provinces 2022-20256

Inclusive Peacebuilding in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces

Introduction1. Background and importance The peace process for the southern border provinces of Thailand between the Thai government and BRN (Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani) has conducted a formal negotiation since 2013. This is a good opportunity for the local community in order to take part in and feed information to the negotiation process and mutual trust building measures. However, building sustainable and inclusive peace, as well as participation of every sector in the southern border provinces, still remains a significant challenge, especially those groups which have been excluded from the peace process both before and during the conflict. The Inclusive Peacebuilding in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces is a project based on cooperation between the Center for Conflict and Cultural Diversity (CSCD), Institute for Peace Studies, Prince of Songkla University, Kampong Takwa, and Minority Rights Group (MRG), supported by the EU for the period of 2021-2025. This project includes researches and advocacy of the peace process by including peripheral/vulnerable groups such as people with disability, religious minorities (Buddhists, Chinese and so on), sexual minorities, youths, ex-combatants of the insurgents, victims of the enforcement of the special laws, people with no nationality, vulnerable women’s group, etc. Therefore, in order to create confidence that various voices of the voiceless can be reflected in the peace Inclusive Peacebuilding in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces8

process for responding to the crisis of the conflict, the Inclusive Peacebuilding in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces has been engaged with networks of civil society organisations working with peripheral/vulnerable groups, by enhancing unity between civil society, local government officers, religious leaders, and people at the grass root level into a wider movement for peace. This project applies a hybridity approach of peace of building cross sectional local networks by conducting persistent practical activities in order to develop options for conflict resolution at local level, i.e. well-developed networks of civil society at grass root level through a sub-grading mechanism in building confidence and trust in the middle of the dynamics of the conflict. These networked civil society organisations work for important aspects of the communities such as negotiated mediations and dialogues for building trusts. This is because the key element for solving the problems in the southern border provinces is building confidence among communities that used to be in conflict at various levels. Such circumstances surely affect social cohesion and economy in the region. In order to find an answer to the question that what meaning does peace have for people in peripheral/vulnerable gropus, there should be active listening to the needs of people from groups of different groups so that they can work together. Thus this project aims at enhancing protection of people from minority groups, in particular their rights to existence and participation in public life, as well as the decision making of the state that affect them. In addition, this project also prioritise those who have experienced complicated discrimination in their communities, such as vulnerable women, PWDs women, people with disabilities, children, youths and elderly people by introducing democratic principles and good governance as its main components. This project also emphasise rising awareness and respect for minority groups, in parallel with promoting understanding about international standards and the best practices for solving the conflict peacefully. 9

2. Important concepts and thought frames  Marginalisation and intersectionality Providing peripheral communities with equal representative power and consultation is the basis of this research. In regard with marginalization of minority and vulnerable groups, whether they are cultural minorities or ethnic groups, there are many of them in such aspects as precedings, identities, thoughts on the land, otherness, and hegemony, and not trapped by being opposite pairs such as rich-poor and man-women. But this research considers the level of different relationships in the society. For this reason, the orientation of the research is the process (being pressed into-joined), trends in communities that face the trend of a nation state (assimilation), substance of people in the era of transition (every group), and study of every space (Anan Ganjanapan, 2020). On top of that, an important frame of thought in order to understand viewpoints of vulnerable groups is overlapping suppression or intersectionality in the southern border provinces, which represents complexity of the problems in various dimensions, including poverty and drug problems. These problems are overlapping with the discrepancies in social status among people and discriminations based on religion and gender, such as lack of opportunities for PWDs women to access to public services in public health and education. Therefore developments in line with peace should aware of structural changes, and development of education should go in parallel with social development, solution to poverty problems and gender discriminations too. For the southern border provinces, this project is related to empowerment of minority groups leading to changes on participation in democratic process by challenging deep-rooted social separation through activities organized for minority groups to understand themselves in the context of the conflict. Accepting every group and collaborations of marginalized communities in peace building is the heart of genuine peace keeping before, during and after the conflict. For instance, according to a study by the International Peace Institute, whenever women are involved in peace processes, more than 30 percent of the processes 10

reach an agreement that can survive up to 15 years (International Peace Institute, 2021) The World Institute of Disability initiated involvement of civil society leaders with disability in peace building in order to empower peripheral people or vulnerable people, increasing their confidence and political will. (World Institute on Disability, 2021) Peacebuilding Peace building is the heart of genuine peace keeping, before, during and after the conflict. Researchers such as Lisa Schirch explains that concepts in peace building have two meanings. The first meaning is direct peace building at a universal level aiming at understanding factors driving conflicts and reducing conflicts. On the other hand, peace building might means building collaboration or communication channels in order to develop strategies at various levels and with different sectors, such as development of humanitarian aid, administration, and safety, which sometimes might be called directly as “peace building” (Schirch, 2013, p.100). For Schirch, peace building is prevention of conflict turning into violence (conflict prevention), such as showing the problems and driving developments in economy, society, education, public health, security sector reform and displaying potential for use of violence. On top of that, peace building involves efforts in dealing with violence and conflict transformation through peace processes and diplomatic channels, unofficial negotiations, or becoming a third party at a deeper level. Peace building is an effort to change beliefs, perspectives, behaviour and interactions between people or groups, changing these factors into peaceful coexistence (Schirch, 2013). In a more concrete way, peace building is efforts of people in driving economy, security reforms and remedies in order to support peace building. Even though some people working in various sections do not want to call this as “peace building”. However, not all projects related with development or security is not peace building, because peace building have differences. Peace building requires active engagement while a conflict is still going on in order to reduce violence that could possible happen unintentionally, and to show actors 11

currently involved, by highlighting local empowerment in order that conflicts can be managed peacefully together (Schirch, 2013). Therefore, peace building can happen at an individual level in changing personal belief, perspectives, or behaviour. At the same time it also can happen at the level of changing relationship of people involved in a conflict so that people learn about patience and acceptance of injustice among people. Apart from this, at a structural level, peace building is increasing knowledge about institutional structures or systems that affect peace and conflicts. The method of building peace is creating a dialogue for consensus and trust joined by stakeholders. Therefore, peacebuilding is seen as a process for changing relationship of individuals, culture and structures that might lead to danger and threat human security through learning for providing skills in understanding conflicts, listening, facilitating and causing changes in violent conflict situations (Schirch, 2013).  Inclusion Inclusion indicates importance of people’s participation in driving official peace negotiations or structural changes. This is a challenge because peace builders often mention inclusive peace building, but they cannot conduct inclusive peace building. For this reason, there is a possibility that seeking sufficient collaboration in building allies working for peace (sufficient inclusion) (Darby, 2001; World Bank, 2011) might make peace process more sustainable than violence, and create more efforts to push for official peace processes. Apart from that, inclusion should also be applied the entire process, including analyses, planning and evaluation (United Nations, 2012). For the peace process in the southern border provinces of Thailand, creating participation is important, whether they are representatives of those who are affected by violence, women’s groups, civil society organisations, youth groups, or Buddhist groups. Moreover, there are other groups that should take part in the peace process. But an important question is, at what point we should include peripheral people and the voiceless into the peace process. Thus, the Inclusive Peacebuilding in Southern Thailand Provinces suggests that 12

understanding marginal groups in the peace process through understanding the viewpoint of power relationship (discursive power) by participation will make us understand that peacebuilding is not just vertical inclusion but horizontal inclusion that collect the purposes of participation by marginal/vulnerable groups in peace building, especially establishing social justice, at individual as well as social level, and growth of social structure (POLICY BRIEF - Micro-level Peacebuilding Methods for a Just and Sustainable Urban Transformation, 2022). Conflict transformation The concept of conflict transformation emerged in academic circles in the early 1990s (Lederach, 2016) and developed from debates centering on conflict resolution. The main difference is that I see conflicts in a wider perspective and for a long period of time. Furthermore, it also analyses conflicts from perspectives that conflicts can lead to either destruction or more creative aspects. The main question is how various social conflicts can be made into a creatively manageable form (Miall, 2004; Kriesberg, 2011). Instead of seeing conflicts as something undesirable that should be solved, stopped or reduced, conflict resolution tries to lead to acceptance of the fact that conflicts are something inevitable in human societies, or even desirable. If conflicts are dealt with wisely, damages can be turned into the changes in the form of a society acceptable for conflicting parties. At the same time, conflict resolution also changes relationship among people during a conflict. For this reason, conflict transformation is targeting values of considerations and inclusive actions in order to start and keep sustainable changes. This frame of thought prioritizes long-term perspectives or viewpoints, as well as connecting points of a variety of overlapping views. For Lederach (Lederach, 1997), conflict resolution can be understood as changes in 2 viewpoints. The first one is descriptive understanding for describing phenomena of changing social conflicts and following models, whereas perspective understanding is considering paths to take part in such changes. In other words, this does not merely aim at objective explanations, but also try to set roles to be played amid the ongoing conflicts. The explanations of 13

the two paths leads to transformation working in 4 dimensions, i.e. 1) personal dimension, which means changes within or individual wishes, which covers changes in feelings, viewpoints and spiritual aspects, 2) dimension of relationship that consider conflicts from viewpoints of freedom, expression, communication and interaction, or considerations deeper than conflicting agendas, leading to interest into changes created by the conflict in models or methods for people considering themselves, including consideration over the conflict itself, and hopes for possible changes in future, 3) structural dimensions highlighting root causes of a conflict, including models and changes in which a conflict emerges and bring about changes to social structure. This also might include analysis of social conditions that causes a conflict, and in another aspects, changes in current decision making structures and models. At the same time, this also means taking part in transforming a violent conflict into a mechanism that does not resort to violence, modifying some structures in order to reduce hostilities. From another viewpoint, it also strengthen the structure in responding to basic needs of people and participation of people in agendas that affect their live, and 4) cultural dimension, which means changes brought about by a conflict about cultural models of people and channels for these cultures to develop and face the conflict. Considering the dimensions and levels of understanding in conflict resolution following the frames presented before, it is found that conflict resolution methods are comprehensive and wide-ranged, emphasizing changes in a long time frame. The frames of thought or the concepts can be tools or “lens” (according to the term used by Lederach) in viewing conflict transformation at various levels, including creative responses to a conflict, in order to transform expression by violence into peaceful changes through different mechanisms that are free from violence. All these confirm that comprehensive peace process definitely need to indicate changes at ever level. 14

3. Comprehensive inclusion of the project This project aims at reflecting three main agendas, demonstrating determination of marginal /vulnerable groups in working for improvement in quality of life by building spaces for participation in social life with respect and dignity by listening to PWDs people about their life experiences, lessons learnt, and recommendations and advocacies of PWDs people in the southern border provinces. It starts with good strategies, that is 1) building strong leaders of PWDs people 2) creating a mechanism or structure at sub-regional level of the southern border provinces that has negotiation power against the centre, 3) involvement of PWDs people in such process as law making, policy making, important planning such as development of quality of life for PWDs people, and 4) connection with religious leaders, Muslim private organisations and Muslim organisations that have negotiation power. Sustainable development for PWDs people’s quality of life in the southern border provinces leads to changes in the agendas on challenges and localised strategies for the work of PWDs people on the 4 agendas together, namely political participation, economic ability and competence, equal and sustainable happiness, and social participation. Moreover, the action research in developing marginal/vulnerable people’s quality of life for building comprehensive peace in the southern border provinces demonstrates determination in creating local female researchers in order that local people can take part in research design and conduct research by themselves. This is in order to seek knowledge about local people and meaning of the word ‘peace’ for marginal/vulnerable groups of 10 groups, that is widows, those who are working for orphans, PWDs people, elderly people, those who lack security of housing, coastal fishermen, youths with potential, sexual minorities, religious minorities, and victims of torture. The causes for the lack of attention to the circumstances of vulnerable people are studied, and recommendations are taken from researches of vulnerable groups to establish the dimensions of transformation, including personal dimension, relationship 15

between vulnerable groups and other sectors, and structural changes, namely 1) enhancing knowledge, rights and skills for vulnerable people, 2) encouraging political participation at a local level, 3) building an integrated support system, 4) solution to reduce vulnerability by highlighting vocational aspects and stable life. The last part of this book is consultation and the peace dialogue, showing slow progress of the peace dialogue process and problems in building confidence between the state and people toward the peace process. This project has collected voices of communities that crave peaceful coexistence, cessation and transformation of the conflict through negotiations without resorting to use of violence. A peace process must provide concrete outcomes for the people by listening their voices as an indicator of success. This is necessary for reflect a variety of viewpoints and ensure equality among differences, leading to a better social design where every group can live together peacefully in a sustainable way. Therefore, the Inclusive Peacebuilding in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces project shows that sustainable peace requires spaces for genuine participation of marginal and vulnerable groups in the negotiation process to design their own future, not just having their symbolic representatives at higher levels. This project, conducted during 2021-2025 under collaboration with civil society and supported by the EU, has developed networks at grass root level, supporting leaders of vulnerable groups, such as PWDs people, women, religious minorities, sexual minorities, and youth. It also encourage local female researchers so that they can provide information based on their direct experience of being affected by the conflict and violence. In this regard, the action research project suggests that changes for peace should include individual, relationship, structure and culture by highlighting human rights, equal participation and creative conflict management. This research also presents limitations of the peace dialogue process including its slow progresses and lack of confidence, stressing that a peace dialogue must produce concrete outcome responding to the real voices of the people. 16

Refferencesอานัันท์์ กาญจนพัันธุ์์. (2563). ทฤษฎีีและวิิธีีวิิทยาของการวิิจััยวััฒนธรรม: การทะลุุกรอบและกัับดัักของความคิิดแบบคู่่�ตรงกัันข้้าม (พิิมพ์์ครั้้�งที่่� 3). กรุุงเทพฯ: ศยาม. https://isbnsearch.org/isbn/9786164860247Austin, B., Fischer, M., & Giessmann, H. J. (Eds.). (2011). Advancing conflict transformation: The Berghof Handbook II. Barbara Budrich Publishers.Darby, J. (Ed.). (2001). The effects of violence on peace processes. United States Institute of Peace.Global Solutions Initiative. (2022). Sowing seeds for peace: Micro-level peacebuilding methods towards a just and sustainable urban transformation process.International Peace Institute. (2021). Women, peace, and security mandates for UN peacekeeping operations: Assessing influence and impact.Joint Inspection Unit. (2012). Strategic planning in the United Nations system. https://docs.un.org/en/JIU/REP/2012/12Kriesberg, L. (2011). The state of the art in conflict transformation. In B. Austin, M. Fischer, & H. J. Giessmann (Eds.), Advancing conflict transformation: The Berghof Handbook II (pp. 47–64). Barbara Budrich Publishers. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1w6w2gLederach, J. P. (1997). Building peace: Sustainable reconciliation in divided societies. United States Institute of Peace Press.Schirch, L. (2013). Conflict assessment and peacebuilding planning: Toward a participatory approach to human security. Kumarian Press (Lynne Rienner Publishers).World Bank. (2011). World development report 2011: Conflict, security, and development. World Bank.World Institute on Disability. (2021). World Institute on Disability 2021 annual report. https://wid.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Annual-Report-2021.pdf17

Knowledge of female researchersin conducting researches on marginal/vulnerable groups

Knowledge of female researchers in conducting researcheson marginal/vulnerable groups Knowledge in organising training for female researchers The Peace Study Institute, Prince of Songkla University, together with Kampung Takwa and MRG is determined to develop and build female researchers with knowledge and abilities in conducting researches, fieldwork, planning, organising meetings, as well as collecting date and research designing by themselves, supported by experienced researchers and workshops to enable them to have knowledge and conduct researches. For this purpose, a training session for female researchers about basic researches was held during 19-22 October 2023 at the meeting room of Ban Bang Pu School, Bang Pu Subdistrict, Yaring District, Pattani Province. The topics of the lectures are 1) concepts on overlapped suppression 2) quantitative and qualitative researches 3) principles of group discussions, and 4) principles of activities in a research, delivered by lecturers and specialists in conducting researches, namely 1) Asst. Prof. Amporn Marddent, Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, Thammasat University, 2) Asst. Prof. S, Director, Deep South Watch, Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus, 3) Asst. Prof. Kusuma Gouyaï, Director, Institute for Peace Studies, Prince of Songkla University, 4) Jularat Damrongviteetham, Bergh of Foundation (BF), 5) Asst. Prof. Abdulkholik Arrohimi, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus. 19

Intersectionality 1.By Asst. Prof. Amporn Marddent y Intersectionality means that some groups of people are discriminated due to factors from various aspects in society, including gender, ethnicity or social status, which affect access to rights and opportunities in life. For instance, health problems not necessarily caused solely by viruses, but might be caused by lack of access to resources. As a consequence, people might not be denied necessary helps or opportunities. y Researches have been conducted on intersectionality that leads to suppression,discrimination, denial of access to justice. There are also researches that reflect different viewpoints from the mainstreamed ones, for instance, the perspective that women are not always disadvantaged in the society as follows.y Discrimination against skin colours indicates a social structure that affect people, especially women who have to face problems in many dimensions such as ethnicity and gender. y Researchers ask questions about local notions to set roles based on gender. Women have not always accept orders and reproduce, but they also can build and create new things, such as clothes that reflects their abilities and roles in the society. y Researches conducted in Cheq Wong revealed a belief that every living and things and things without life all have their own spirits, such as stones, trees or foetus one month after perception. These beliefs have provide life in the Cheq Wong community sensitivities, and are the reasons behind caring of families through mutual supports, by dividing tasks in balance between a husband and a wife, in taking care of their family and children. y Researches conducted in the Malay archipelago shows that Javanese women have important roles in holding properties and lands, especially in marriage where man moves to his wife’s house. This reduces violence and encourages leading roles of women in the society.y The conflict in the southern border provinces of Thailand is not merely about use of violence, but it also includes domestic violence which causes intersectionality of people who have been neglected, including PWDs people and women. 20

Relationship of people can be either horizontal or vertical, but in some cases, there are overlapped relationships in different forms that cannot be clearly identified, or cannot be in an equal status. For instance, in the case of female researchers in this project, there is a Thai Buddhist from Songkhla Province. All the researchers shares a common ground as women, but she is a Buddhist. Whether this difference might affect the relationship under the condition of a conflict or not reflects the concept of intersectionality which demonstrates the complexity of different variables that affect relationship and status of people. The main purpose of this project is to provide the researchers with not just data, but it also abilities to think ad conduct researches by themselves in future. Therefore, the experienced researchers need to review peoples’ thought from previous researches, because people in a society have dynamics and conditions to change all the time. Accordingly, we find that the research agendas might be repeated or developed according to the changes in the society. Intersectinality, or often expressed as discrimination, means that some group of people are discriminated or supressed due to various factors in a society, for instance, women, children, widows, PWDs people, LGBTQA+, those who are disadvantaged in educational opportunities, or those who have been affected by a conflict, and so on. In the context of a community we might find all of these groups or some of them, and they might not represent the viewpoints of everyone in these groups. However, intersectionality is not a new or scary word, but it reflects realities in society, and researchers are trying to explain these emerging conditions clearly. When researchers conduct interviews, we shall know appropriately and inappropriately they have been treated. These groups have been discriminated against because of the power structure in society, that have affected their rights and opportunities in their life. The picture above shows the complexity of problems caused by health conditions. For instance, a doctor might ask a patient of athlete's foot or tinea pedis about the cause of the disease. The patient says that this was caused by 21

A diagram illustrating a multi-level conceptual understanding of the intersectional oppression of identity and inequality (intersectionality) between health-related stigmatization and other disadvantages, which originate from social inequality and/or the personal identities of individuals living with HIV, leprosy, schizophrenia, and diabetes.Refferrence: Rai, S. S., Peters, R. M. H., Syurina, E. V., Putri, A. I., Marchira, C. R., & Zweekhorst, M. B. M. (2020). Intersectionality and health-related stigma: Insights from experiences of peopleliving with stigmatized health conditions in Indonesia. International Journal for Equity in Health, 19(206). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-020-01318-wwalking through a heavy food in order to get to a temporary shelter. At the same time, other people might get necessary foods and other helps because they have friends or connections that enable them to access these helps. Therefore, in some cases diseases are not necessarily caused by just viruses but it could be the consequence of a society where some people cannot access to necessary helps or resources. Or some children do not have access to education for various factors. For example, they have divorced parents, does not have caretakers, or their 22

parents do not prioritise education. Schools could be too far to commute, or they might not be able to afford school uniforms. Therefore, children’s lack of education is caused by various reasons that affect their life. Another example is discrimination due to skin colours. People with white skin might be seen as clean, civilized and modern, to the extent people of different skin colours try to change their skin colours. On the other hand, people with dark skin might be seen as undeveloped. This perception is clearly represented in advertisements. This power structure comes from economic processes, laws and social acceptance. When coloured people were brought to America or Europe, even though there were laws on freedom, these societies did not recognize these groups. For instance, restrooms were clearly divided between coloured people and white people. “Hidden Figures” is a movie that reflects such stories well. The main character is a black scientist. When she needs to go to a restroom, she has to spend more time than others, because the restroom for her is farther than restrooms for white people. One day her boss asked her why she has to spend an unusually long time for going to a restroom. Her answer is that her restroom is farther than those for others. This incidents has made her boss to review and realize injustice in the society. Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, an American law specialist and feminist, is known for developing ideas about intersections or intersectionality to explain many factors that affect people’s life including gender, ethnicity and social status, especially for women with coloured skin who has been affected social structures much more than women from other groups. Kimberlé conducted a research on daily life of coloured women, and found that there was a clear division of tasks between a husband and a wife as a consequence of the social structure that set decide roles according to gender. Kimberlé observed that if a house is a space for everyone, then why there is no equal division of tasks even though these works do not have to divided based on gender. It can be observed that even among groups of coloured people there are violation of rights among themselves. 23

This indicates that intersectionality of the problems of women that they could even be suppressed by people of the same skin colour, at home or within their own family. Women in the southern border provinces of Thailand also have been affected by the conflict, such as their family members are forcibly disappeared, arrested or tortured, or their houses become target of cordon and search operations. In 2006 they could not access to information or helps from responsible government agencies, so these groups of women are neglected in helps, even though at that time there was some provision of financial compensation. This is because at that time the state had no clear system for taking care of them, solving the problems and providing helps for those who had been affected by the conflict. As a consequence, women from these groups had been neglected in providing helps. Women thinkers and activist encouraged to think about gender study, given that most of these problems are matters of intersectionality. This is because the society often gives opportunities for men who work for earning money and have chances for political interactions. Their circumstances are the opposite of those of women whose roles are designated based on their physical body, and women are regarded as birth giver and main caretaker of a family. Researches thus asked questions on local thoughts that clearly decide roles based on gender that it does not only look at rights but also cultural dimensions too. For instance, researches on production of clothes is an example that reflects beliefs and social orders. Selection of clothes and accessories indicates social status. Wearing clothes ornamented with jewelries might indicate a status as the head of a tribe, or a high status in a society. However, those who have detailed knowledge about production of clothes with a wide range of models for individuals and social classes are women. This leads to a reflection that women do not only have roles in reproduction, but the research sparkled a concept that challenge and refute the stories about women regarded as passive beings who just reproduce and follow orders. On the other hand, women are able to have abilities in creating and producing new thing as well.24

This research is a study on a community in Nusantara called Cheq Wong. They have basic belief that everything has its respective spirit. For example, trees planted in a cemetery or stones located on a graveyard in themselves are merit making by reminding the deceased of Allah. A researcher thus made an assumption that if everything has its own spirit, there must be reciprocal relationships without taking advantages of each other. When the researcher conducted a research in Cheq Wong community about relationships in families, it was found that everyone has reciprocal roles in taking care of families. Husbands have roles in taking care of their families, from sexual intercourses with their wives because they believe that in a sperm there is a life or a spirit. When a woman in family is pregnant, her husband also cannot eat prohibited foods for women too, because when their children are growing in the womb of the mother, both wife and husband have relationship. Therefore, mutual caring between a wife and a husband is balanced. A wife has to take care of children, whereas a husband has duties of working outside the house. It can be seen that division of tasks between women and men in some cultures or tribes in houseworks or child caring reflects importance of working together in a family. Apart from that, there is another research that explains concepts of a group of people in islands near Java. In that area, women have more important roles than men, especially in possession of resources and lands, and they do not have to fight in order to be an owner of a house because there is no marriage. Men go to live in houses of women. The women’s families acquire a reliable, high quality labour. Therefore, chances of violence against women is very limited, because in the families there are a lot of the women’s family members and relatives who are ready to help them. In the societies in this region women have relatively high roles. This is different from European or American societies where women suffrage was recognized only 80-100 years ago, where the social structure was highly male dominant, but the changes in such perceptions also can happen. 25

To sum up, intersectional relationship can be seen from a condition where someone is not acknowledged or when they cannot express their thought clearly. For this reason, researchers have to ask questions about how these people can express themselves without being neglected. Despite the fact that the constitution clearly states that people should have a good quality of life and they should not be discriminated against, regardless of their skin colour, gender or religion, in reality life of many people are not in accordance with what is stipulated in low. However, the violent conflict in the southern border provinces of Thailand is often considered in regard with the use of armed forces and weapons. At the same time, other forms of violence, such as domestic violence, are not sufficiently considered. These use of violence causes intersectionality of people that have been neglected or not acknowledged, for example, PWDs people and women. On top of that, those who are advocating for the peace dialogue process shares the idea that sustainable peace building must be inclusive and open to participation of different groups in the society so that every sector of the society can express their real concerns and needs. This is an important step in comprehensive and equal peace building. Therefore, these agendas are dealt with empathy, compassion and active mutual listening, as well as understanding about coexistence in differences and diversity. ......... .........26

Qualitative and quantitative researchBy Asst. Prof. Srisompob Jitpiromsri, Asst. Prof. Amporn Marddent2.y As a general principle in conducting researches, collecting data and evidences should be based on clear concepts, together with reasons that can explain and offer feasible solutions to the problems. y A research start with an interest in questions to solve problems or explain circumstances through collecting data and clear frames of thought in order to interpret and explain phenomena in a disciplinary way, using data properly for verifying explanations. y G o o d r e s e a r c h c a n e m p o w e r individuals and society. Thus it must be politically reliable and accepted by every sector. Researchers also should collaborate with many sectors for the sake of reliability and acceptance of the research in society. y A research begins with choosing a topic to be studied, for example, vulnerable groups in society, women, children, LGBTQA+, or PWDs people. It should study relationship between groups and communities, including problems faced by these groups. y Variables in a research might have effects with each other, such as high education and high income, but there could be other interfering factors. Researchers must be open in trying and verifying these relations. For instance, researchers should ask a question like “does rain cause plants to grow or not”, or prove if it is true that chickens make sounds at sunrise. Every research should be supported by collected data and experiments to obtain correct outcomes. y A principle in qualitative researches is deep understanding in details of people through different perspectives b y u s i n g i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s a n d observations of actual situations or interviews, depending on time period and trust building in accessing data. y Qualitative research methods include interviews, observations and data collecting in actual situations. Data from these methods help researchers to see changes of perspectives in communities, and reflecting on the data to connect different incidents and situations for deep understanding. 27

y An interview start with introducing ourselves and building a good relationship, paying attentions to the tone of our voice and communication for building trust. Benefits of the research should be clearly explained in order to encourage informants to be engaged in exchanging thoughts and explaining the situation. y Data analysis in qualitative researches aims at explaining detailed explanations to deeply understand contexts and viewpoints of the target groups. Researchers should not immediately make value judgment immediately, but they should try to understand thoughts, beliefs and meanings behind data to obtain comprehensive overview. y Studies of culture, behavior or way of life of a group of people or a communities through participatory observation and taking part in their activities can help researchers to build trusts in these communities as “insiders” or “half insider”. This enhance understandings and questions can be based on actual context of life. y Selections of example groups in a research can be conducted in different ways, such as snowball sampling, at random, or selection based on convenience. This depends on the nature and objectives of the research, so that the data are credible and in accordance with the objectives. y A mixed research between a participatory research and an action researches highlights participation of those who are involved in the research and solutions to problems in the communities by using both qualitative and quantitative methods in order to analyse overlapped power structure and enhance confidence of the communities. y Researches on interesectionality highlights studies and analyses on equality in society, understanding intersectional power, relations with other mechanisms, and social and historical contexts, in order to understand injustice and factors that enhances social justice. 28

Asst. Prof. Srisompob Jitpiromsri: General principle in conducting researchesResearches begin with interests in questions from curiosity and needs in solving problems or explaining different phenomena in the world. It can be conducted by collecting data and evidences and using rational thought frames in order to interpret and explain these phenomena in a rational and disciplined way. Research cannot explain or summarize the outcomes without clear data or evidences. The use of these data should be able to be properly proved to verify the findings. However, data used in researches could be wrong or weak, and when a debate happens, researchers must be able to explain so that the results are accepted, and at the same time a space should be opened so that other people can provide their arguments. When we understand the reasons and problems in depth, the findings can be translated into new body of knowledge or theories, such as knowledge about peace building through studying conflicts from many contexts. When data and theories from many other sources are gathered, they can be made into theories on peace and conflict management that can be applied in solving conflicts at various levels. In addition, a research is not just a process of finding answers or seeking new knowledge, but can be an important tool in empowering and developing society sustainably. Researches of good quality can support development and empowerment of people, communities, society, organisations and agencies. Credibility and validity of good researches can be examined from research designs and clear thought frames. Nevertheless, the important thing for good quality of a research is political credibility. This can be observed in researches in some fields. For instance, investigations on people’s opinions are often questioned about facts and opinions acquired, such as, “does informants really have such opinions”, “where are these data taken”, and “is the research connected with the state with intentions to suppress people”, or “are the researchers take side with the state”. This happens even if the research is conducted based on scientific research methods and proper thought frames. 29

Therefore, a research should be acknowledged by every sector, both the state and those who have different opinions, so that the research results should be generally accepted. This is the important reason why this program collected 20 female researchers from various backgrounds and connected with agencies working at different levels, like Kampung Takwa, to join together to build political credibility. This is similar to the Peace Survey which has been conducted by Prince of Songkla University for 5-6 years, through collaboration with 24 oragnisations, including civil society organisations. This way of conducting a research not just add scientific and technical credibility, but also help preventing criticism and accusations that might happen regarding data collecting, because trainings and data collecting are conducted by many sectors. In summary, a research means collecting data and evidences that requires clear thought frames, as well as reasons that can explain problems and offer feasible solutions. Still the less, social prediction can be more challenging than scientific studies because there are many overlapping factors to be discussed. Thus, qualitative researches highlights understanding, developments, peacebuilding and community empowerment. If a research can achieve these objectives, the researches is regarded as having good quality and being able to be used in the actual contexts. A research process starts from proposing agendas or topics that we want to study, such as groups or communities we will study, status and positions of people in society, institutes/organisation or symbols/meanings. This is followed by consideration of characteristics from a variety of viewpoints of these groups. This project highlights studies on vulnerable groups, i.e. those groups that are disadvantaged in society, including women, children, youth, PWDs people, LGBTQA+ groups, and victims of violence. After that, we will seek relationships between these groups, by examining what problems are faced by them and how the relationship between the group and the community is, and what problems or challenges are faced by the community as well. Prediction on the relationship 30

among the groups we study will help us to understand and analyse the situation properly and in depth. Important variables in a research include age, gender, status, educational background, ethnicity, height, weight, monthly salary, happiness, and relationships among these variables. Variables can have relationships with independent variables and dependent variables, namely independent variables can affect the changes of dependent variables. For instance, high education levels might be connected with high income, while low education levels might lead to low income. However, even though there are such beliefs, they are not always true, depending on other related factors. Other variables, such as financial status of a family, or opportunities in life also can affect job opportunities, either for well-paid job or otherwise. Likewise, drinking drinks with caffeine such as Coke or Seven Up might improve memory, but we also have to ask questions such as whether or not we believe these drinks are really effective, which brands should be drunk, or at what timing, or if there are any other factors that affect memory. All such questions should be examined and data need be collected to examine these relations.Everything is related with each other, and we must be open-minded. For instance, whether a belief that rain makes plants thrive better is true or not must be examined by collecting data. Even studies on ethnicity and gender of people that might determine political orientations must be tested and examined before research results are summarised. This is because in some cases we might miss or misunderstand variables. For example, educational level is not the only variable that affect income level, because better job opportunities might have other factors such as connection, acquaintance with insiders or networks too. In another example, roosters crow in the morning, and we connect them with the sunrise because this is what often happen. Accordingly, we think that roosters crow when the sun rises. However, this connection is not always correct, because even though the sun doesn’t rises, roosters do not crow, or in some 31

days, even the sun rises but there is no crowing of roosters. Therefor, it is important that we need control variables in constant conditions in order that we can examine these connections properly and precisely. Asst. Prof. Amporn Marddent: Basic principles in qualitative researches A general principle in qualitative researches is a deep understanding about details about people by using various viewpoints. Some researches use knowledge and interpretation to analyse data, whereas some others consider explanations and extract meanings from conversations with local people for analysis. Some researches might take years. For instance, foreign researchers conduct field works in the southern border provinces long enough to be able to speak Malay, eat khao yam, play sepak takraw or football with local people. This is an example of participatory observation about changes in the society without conducting interviews, but the researchers must build confidence in order that they can access to the data. On the other hand, when a research has a limited period of time, there should be preparations on specific research questions and interviews in data collecting. Methods of qualitative researchr such as interviews, observation, and data collecting in the actual circumstances are research tools that enable researchers to see changes in the communities clearly. For this reason, researchers themselves are important tools for qualitative researches that help reflect and ponder on acquired data. In addition, qualitative researches also have roles in connecting causes and situations for better understanding. Interview methods stat with introducing ourselves and conversations to build good relationship. The researchers need to pay attentions to tones and communications, explain benefits of the research clearly in order to encourage exchange of data. This also helps the informants to remind their past experiences and realise values in themselves. The researchers must decide the orientation of their works. When they collect data at a certain level, they need to consider to what extent these answers can influence the research summary. When we 32

start collecting qualitative data, we might begin with clear objectives or thought frames, but in some cases, at the initial period there might be no clear thought frames or orientations. In such cases, the researchers should summarise data and analyse them again. The important principle is use of analogies and natural speeches, without derailing from the specified topics. The researchers should remind important topics of the research all the time, and understand questions so that the conversations can go on naturally. On top of that, the researchers must observe reactions of interviewees. For instance, if they become silent or stop talking for a while, or shed tears, these things should be recorded, or use techniques in observing circumstances in order to understand the data in more depth. Data analysing process take places after data are collected. In some researches, analysis might include a very long description like a story in order to provide details and contexts of the region for the understanding of people from outside. This is especially so in qualitative researches that emphasise understanding of people’s viewpoints. The researches refrain from judging and summarising what is spoken by informants straight away, but try to understand their perspectives and contexts in depth so that the whole picture is complete and correct. Thoughts accompanied by certain emotions from conversations or small pieces of speeches of villagers might not be important for others, but researchers must pay attention to thoughts and feelings hidden under the power structure in society. Therefore, an important principle in analysing stories or conversations of people in society is that data collecting in qualitative researches should prioritise details, thoughts, beliefs and meanings that influence relations of people who are “small ones” in society, in order to understand connections and contexts more deeply. For this reason in this project, the female researchers, while conducting interviews with people from their own groups, if they find something interesting, it should be documented as well, not just transcribing speeches in the interviews. 33

Exchanging ideas 1. What are the differences between quantitative and qualitative researches? Qualitative researches cannot be conducted in a large scale, whereas quantitative researches can be conducted widely by using well designed questionnaires. Data can be processed by using percentage and tendencies in different topics, but qualitative researches cannot provide details about feelings or explanations but just numbers and percentages. For instance, questions about feelings that what identities informants belong to, according to the Peace Survey, it was found that 30-50 percent of people in the southern border provinces regard themselves as Muslim, and 10 percent regard themselves as Malay, and some others identify themselves as Patani people. Therefore, in qualitative researches, questions about details cannot be asked. But in qualitative researches, informants can provide explain in detail about their identity. In this regard, each type of research has its own value and benefits that can complement each other. Qualitative researches can provide a clear whole picture, whereas qualitative researches help us understand details and hidden feelings in these data. In any case, at present there is no comparison between qualitative and quantitative researches to show which type is better. This is different from the past perception that qualitative researches are better than quantitative researches because they are more stable and reliable by using clear research methodologies in studying communities. At the same time qualitative researches also regarded as having some advantages. So, it cannot be seen that qualitative researches have no scientific principles, because they also use clear processes and steps in understanding various phenomena in the society. 2. There was a research about Volunteer Defense Corps (Or Sor). This group was chosen because they were in the front line of keeping security, working in areas with risks. Our study was about whether they accepted sufficient financial allowance or not. A survey conducted in 10 check points guarded by Or Sor volunteers in Pattani Province revealed that most of them did not want 34

to work as an Or Sor, but they had to because there was no alternatives. When violent incident happened, they wanted to avoid these incidents or escape from the incident cites. Therefore, Or Sor volunteers wanted that the state should pay more financial allowances for them. 3. The resource person conducted data gathering for a women’s foundation about women whose husbands died in the unrest or their human rights were violated by the special laws in Songkhla Province. This research was a qualitative research, but the researcher felt uneasy because many questions were replied with silence, but the researchers still had to summarise the details. This is different from the Peace Survey that is a quantitative research, and data gathering is much easier because no explanation for the answers is required. The informants only had to tick the answers. 4. Even though qualitative researches seem difficult, the resource person prefer them, because she could discuss research topics in depth, which increases understanding. Moreover, qualitative researches can be continued in other researches as well. The resource person added that qualitative researches take time, and detailed data from observations must be interpreted. If informants do not give permission, the researchers cannot record the voice or take notes on the details. Therefore, the resource person tried to memorise key words. After the interviews, as soon as getting to the accommodation, she wrote down as much details as possible. Moreover, in interpretation, researchers should not think on interviewees’ behalf, but have to try to understand, and this is not easy. Thus, researchers are important tools for qualitative researches in interpreting meanings while interviewing. Namely, they must ask questions about the reasons behind interviewees’ tones, and what are meant by that. They also consider which data are related with other topics. In some cases, when writing research reports, the interviewees might not give permission to publish data taken from them. In such cases, the researchers must admit and respect the informants by not publicising the data following the requests. 35

Characteristics and types of qualitative researches A type of qualitative research is ethnography, but this project is not this type of research, because the researchers are people from the southern border provinces who are regarded as insiders. ‘Insiders’ are people from the reason with the same culture and perspectives. Researchers cannot be an insider of that community directly, but only as a halfie (half insider and half outsider). Lessons learnt by the female researchers after trainings on interviews based on quantitative questionnaires y I felt sorry for the informants because there were so many questions in questionnaires that it took a long time to answer all. y Before interview, I did not understand the questionnaires well enough, so the interviews took a very long time. So before conducting the actual interviews, we need to understand the questionnaire well. The resource persons gave an answer on this matter that if interviewees want to write by themselves, we can let them do so, by telling them that if there is any question they can ask the researchers. However, if example groups want to fill questionnaires at home, the researchers need to stress that according to the research discipline the questionnaires must be filled together, not able to be given to anyone else. Whatever answers given by the interviewees, the researchers can follow their answers, because everyone has complicated views. The important thing is that the researchers do not just ask an individual, but these questions are asked to a large number of people. For this reason, even though some of them might answer all our questions seriously, while others might be not very serious. all the answers can be example groups. If the researchers are not sure about the answers, they still can write down notes below about feelings and observations of the researchers. *After the lecture session, the working team invited villagers from Bang Pu community where the training site is located as an example group for the female researchers to practice quantitative interviews.36

For example, we cannot be a native insider of the Bang Pu community, but some kind of relations, such as being Malay, having experiences of studying in the same region, or having friends, colleagues or teachers in this village. Hence, an advantage of the researchers who are insiders is the relationship with people in the community. They already know the researches and there is no need to introduce themselves or build trusts. Difficulty for insiders is that they are get used to their surroundings and do not fee excited about them. However, if the researchers are halfies, they might find something unusual, ask questions and excited about almost everything. For instance, if there is a boy standing in front of a school, they might want to know why, or why one house is bigger than the others. Ethnographic research is a type of qualitative research that highlights studies and understandings of culture, behaviour, beliefs, values and ways of life of a group of people in a community. Researchers submerge themselves in a community, and there are many research methods, such as studying life of people in the actual contexts, participatory observation, en do on. For instance, Grant Halton conducted a participatory research in a community in the United States. He took part in every activity organised there, and got married with a person form that tribe. Finally he turned into an insider and demanded this tribe’s rights from the government. For understanding about ‘insiders and outsiders’, and research methods in ethnography, a book called “Just Enough” by Mira Manickam should be read. She studied and gathered data in Tanyong Lulo Village, Yaring District, Pattani Province. During the data gathering, she stayed in the village and learnt villagers’ 37

Lessons learnt by the female researchers after trainings on interviews based on quantitative questionnaires  • I felt sorry for the informants because there were so many questions in questionnaires that it took a long time to answer all. • Before interview, I did not understand the questionnaires well enough, so the interviews took a very long time. So before conducting the actual interviews, we need to understand the questionnaire well. The resource persons gave an answer on this matter that if interviewees want to write by themselves, we can let them do so, by telling them that if there is any question they can ask the researchers. However, if example groups want to fill questionnaires at home, the researchers need to stress that according to the research discipline the questionnaires must be filled together, not able to be given to anyone else. Whatever answers given by the interviewees, the researchers can follow their answers, because everyone has complicated views. The important thing is that the researchers do not just ask an individual, but these questions are asked to a large number of people. For this reason, even though some of them might answer all our questions seriously, while others might be not very serious. all the answers can be example groups. If the researchers are not sure about the answers, they still can write down notes below about feelings and observations of the researchers. *After the lecture session, the working team invited villagers from Bang Pu community where the training site is located as an example group for the female researchers to practice quantitative interviews.way of life for 6-7 months, starting from trust building from the people in the village. She observed that men in the village were interested in football and watched football matches very seriously on TV. She then invited these men to play football together. She was acknowledged in the village and trusted as a part of the game. Finally she could access a wide range of people in the community, not just women but other groups too. This type of research is a participatory research in which the researchers continuously record observations, in short notes or long research notes. Her book is think and long because data collected by her has a great amount and very detailed from her observations and participations in various activities in the community. However, this type of research does not merely study people but many other things that are connected with the people’s life, such as studies on a relationship between sheep and road traffic arrangements, sheep and waste managements, and sheep and religious beliefs or act of worshipping. These are studied to understand relationships of people. There are other researches about donation of lamb or beef in qurban (a ritual animal sacrifice of a livestock animal during Eid al-Adha), or a research on batik clothes in order to study their patterns in each period that can be connected with values of women to identify what properties were valued. For this reason, ethnographic researches are interesting and full of life, but requires interpretation about things and people. There are other interesting researches in ethnography. For example, in a research about prostitutes, the researcher approached risky places, sitting inside the mirror box (where customers choose prostitutes) in order to explain the atmosphere and how they worked. At the same time, officers might lock the mirrors in order that there would be no disruption from outside. The researcher observed and collected data about the circumstances from inside. This is a research method that highlights behaviour and experience that women from this occupation have to face every day. 38

Another interesting research was conducted by an Italian researcher about bike taxies in Bangkok. It highlights survey of routes used by bike taxies, and their connections with politics, especially during the period when there were many demonstrations on the street. This research studied how bike taxies that provided transport services in the city could also function as a communication channel and delivered messages to demonstrators and political groups. A research that studied structures of old houses. These houses had long shape because there were a lot of family members. The researcher observed and analysed the arrangements of the space inside these houses in order to understand the dwellers’ way of life, especially the use of different places, such as spaces in front of and behind the houses, where the spaces were modified for specific purposes. In addition there were space in the middle of these houses which were used by family members together to keep relationships and interactions between family members effectively. Apart from this, there are researches about blood relation or family relation, starting from survey on family structure of each person by asking questions about number of siblings, the number of parents’ siblings, and their relatives. These researches enhance understanding about relation in the relatives and social structures related with blood relations. There are researches about blood relation after marriages, and relations that were not caused by marriage. The last example is a research about relations that happen through the behaviour of eating rice from the same pot. This is a social activity that has social and cultural meanings. Eating rice together is not just sharing food, but it is a symbol of relation building and connections among people in a group or a family. Accordingly, eating rice at other people’s house is not easy. It indicates trust and acknowledgement of the house owner to allow others to come to the house and join such an important activity. In many cultures or tribes, eating rice together is regarded as a symbol of a close relationship akin to blood relation, even though there is no genetic relations. 39

Selection of sample groups There are many methods in selection of sample groups for researches, depending on the characteristics and objectives of the research. In general there are main method of sample selection as follows. 1) Specific groups such as a group of people working for society. This type of sample group selection requires careful consideration, because these groups are important in providing specific and valuable data for the research, playing important roles in data gathering based on their experience in various fields, such as elderly people who have historical data or know stories from the past. Interviewing them is usually not difficult because they are willing to share their valuable stories. 2) Snowball sampling is a method of choosing sample groups by starting from a group of a person who are important in the research first. Then they are asked to introduce other people or group who they are related or connected. This relation helps data extend gradually, like a snowball that start as a small piece but when it is thrown it will extend gradually. 3) Accidental sampling is selection of target groups by chance or without a plan in advance. Researchers might meet a person with knowledge or experience about what the research in an unexpected place. For instance, they meet someone who has knowledge about local history in a coffee shop, or get to know someone who is connected with a museum when they visit the museum. 4) Convenience Sampling is an easy and most accessible way of target group selection, and there is no need to spend time or resources in seeking sample groups, such as choosing sample groups from people in the same school, or people in the same place. They are easy to access and there is no need to go to different places, which might take a long time and a high cost.Participatory research and action research Mixture of participatory research and action research is a research process that highlights participation of those who are concerned in order to achieve 40

the research objectives and solve the problems of a community or organisation. The mixture of these two research methods increases flexibility of the research and respond better to needs of the community. In addition, it also enhance self-confidence of the community as they can analyse their own problems. This type of research use both qualitative and quantitative researches in order to analyse supressed power, and how people live their lives by looking at objects or things like sheep, batik clothes of mothers or conversations of vulnerable groups. These are analyses of people under structurally supressed power. Therefore things must be observed beyond this power structure. Research orientations for complicated suppressions 1) Social equality. In order to understand social equality, interactions between many factors should be considered rather than looking at just one factor or condition. Understanding the hearts and minds of people and studying people’s life in depth help us to see the overall picture clearly, and understand complexities of different factors that affect social equality. This type of research enables us to see various factors that affect social equality. 2) Understanding overlapped power. For understanding overlapped power in society, it is necessary to look through different factors and conditions of power relations, such as how discriminations due to gender or ethnicity happen, or who are under such power structure. Studies on way of thought, knowledge and family relationship might help in explaining social interactions, such as interactions in government agencies might reflect relations loaded with power, or a sudden change of topic in a conversation in the kitchen when the husband returns. These are expression of complicated power relation in daily life. Studies and understanding of these behaviours would help us to see the power that influences people’s decision and interactions clearly. 3) Analysis with paying attentions to relations between different mechanisms. Analyses in a research should emphasise relations between different mechanism, rather than stressing differences or existence of each factor. 41

When we conduct interviews in a community, sometimes people might say, “I’m not involved in this, because I’m not the leader of the community”. One solution to this situation is to ask them to pretend to be a leader. In qualitative researches we must let them talk. They might say “I have no power” or I can’t solve this problem”. From these answers, we can set extra questions for better interpretations, such as “Why do you think that you have no power?” Answers to these questions might help us to understand their perspectives and the context better. If necessary, questions about the same point can be asked to other people too. 4) Paying attentions to social and historical contexts. Understanding the contexts of society, history, thoughts and politics that influence what people speak or think is significant, because these factors determine perspective and behaviour of people. As researchers from the region, we already understand these contexts, which help us interpret data meticulously and understand what we are studying better. 5) Understanding of complexities and interactions in an unfair society. Complexities of interactions in an unfair society and discrepancies must be explained and learnt by understanding unfair interactions in the society, which determine perspectives and behaviours of people in the society. Understanding these interactions help us to see the power structure that influences inequality, and helps us to analyse them and bring about sustainable changes in the society. 6) Understanding social justice. Social justice must be mentioned and understood in depth, because this is an agenda that should be critically analysed. We need to try to overcome current unfair administrative power, and consider how this injustice appear in practice, by analysing and reflecting the consequences in people’s daily life in society. After attending the lectures for two days, the working team invited the same group of villagers from Bang Pu village. This is a sample group for the female researchers to practice interviews for qualitative questionnaires. 42

Lessons learnt by the female researchers after training on qualitative questionnaire interviews Exchanging on feelings and technics used in the interviews  Prior to conducting the interview, I tried to understand all the questions, and listed up similar question topics, and divided them into three categories, i.e. general information about interviewee, way of life in the community, and perspectives about the situation and justice.  The interviewee is an acquaintance of the researcher and the village headman. The researcher only had to ask one question, and the village headman could tell almost everything about his working life. After the interview, there was a group of people who joined the conversation, This encouraged him to talk more than the first time. In terms of justice in taking care of families, he said, if we manage our family in a fair way, our community have justice too. The village headman also said in the past he was not rich but his honesty has made his life better. A resource person asked the female researcher whether or not the village headman can provide good care for vulnerable groups, and about intersectionality. For example, what does he have to do as a village headman to ensure justice in his community, or how the vulnerable groups can access to justice and be treated fairly?  The village headman said, vulnerable groups such as PWDs people or elderly people receives welfare money from the state, but the amount is not sufficient to sustain their lives. As a community leader, he tries to take care of them by providing job opportunities and income for these groups continuously, because the village headman has his own business that enables him to help these groups. In regard with family affairs, although this village headman has more than one wife, he tries to treat them fairly, especially one of his wives who is sick. He does not leave her but provide good care and support continuously. During the spread of Covid-19, he could not sell second hand clothes. But his 43

new business was successful, and could provide income and support for the family, and help the community when they faced difficulties.  For comparison, a resource person asked, in agendas about justice, when the researchers interviewed women’s group, do they get similar answers to those from male groups.  When asked about justice, a women said that real perpetrators must be punished. Even if they are youths, they must be punished. Otherwise other villagers will be in trouble. In this case, she doesn’t connect the topic of justice with the family’s situation.  Another women said that justice doesn’t exist. She told her family’s experience. Her son is not a drug addict. He doesn’t smoke, and is educated. When he applied to be a member of Volunteer Defense Corps, he was rejected. Similarly, her daughter who applied for a job in a district office was also rejected. She said, access to a government position was extremely difficult. The process was complicated and there was no transparency. She mentioned a shooting incident in Nong Bua Lamphu province, the police officer who had committed the offence must have some backgrounds, and this incidents were related to injustice in various processes. The resource persons reflected on this point that the answer was interesting because a very abstract question can be connected with incidents near the interviewee and an incident known in society. Complicated structures or small power cannot bring about any change in terms of justice. An individual’s efforts do not go beyond their personal wish. Accordingly the meaning of justice given by here is different from that of the village headman, both in the dimensions of family and community. This also clearly indicates different social statuses. For example, good economy is studying hard and getting into an existed system in the society, whereas bad economy means that someone can fend for themselves but others cannot. Another resource person said, it seemed that we didn’t get direct answers, but an important thing is to record everything we get. because when we observe the patterns of a person, we can analyse these data in the future. Even though we cannot judge whether or not these answers respond 44

to our topics or not, we still can explain the connections among data. This is also beneficial for the next analysis step. Resource persons asked if there were cases in which the sample group did not allow to record or not, and how to solve this problem.  At first we asked permission to record the voice, but he was nervous, and told us that if his voice was recorded, he didn’t dare to speak some topics. Therefore we decided to take short notes.  If we do not record the voice, it will make the interviewee feel safe, flee and comfortable, not feeling too much stressed.  The resource persons thus asked about this topic that if there is no recording, how many percent of the conversations the researchers can explain.  The researchers answered that they could write down about 80 percent, because many topics are similar and clearly related with each other.  A researcher expressed her uneasiness in recording. When a person is speaking while the other is trying to write things down, both of them will lose concentration on the conversation. This in turn caused her to choose to record t he voice. Recording the voice makes the conversation go on more smoothly. The resource persons expressed their opinion on this issue that some researchers feel comfortable with recording the voice, whereas the researchers could not record the voice because it might cause disruption of concentration. According to their observations, the interviewees feel uncomfortable when they had to talk about domestic violence. About this issue, the researchers reflected upon their interviews as follows.  When asked about identity, a interviewee who used to work in Malaysia for a long time said when he was in Malaysia he saw himself as a person from Patani. But after he came back, he felt himself as a Muslim. The resource persons gave an additional observation that the atmosphere of today’s interview was less tense and more relaxed than the previous day. The interviewees were the same people. But the atmosphere might be different 45

in actual situations. It might be easier if we are trusted, by starting with self-introduction and telling our own stories. When they listen to us, they might be more open. Moreover, it was observed that the researchers were more sensitive about intersectionality, and this helps us to collect qualitative data in depth and more systematically. Another point is that if we have too many frames, some issues we got might be regarded as not important, and accordingly they are not interpreted. Thus, we need to take a pause and listen to the recording afterwards in order to obtain data from a wider perspective. This is because data provided interviewees might be interpreted differently, and the answers just do not fit into our frames.  A researcher also shared their experiences of asking personal questions which some people were reluctant to answer, like questions about income. Such questions might be possible by asking the main source of income of the community. When they are asked about their community, they automatically think about themselves first. Another researcher gave a different opinion that their group talked about interviewers’ work first, and that topic was connected with income directly. So their group started from personal stories and moved to stories about the community.  When asked about the place that makes her feel safest, the answer was family. The interviewee asked back the researchers, who might they choose among their husband, child or sibling. Our answer was child. She said, if we choose our children, and our children die, we can give birth to a new one. But if we choose our husband, even if we die he still can marry another women. But if we choose our sibling, even if there is a problem we cannot cut of our blood relation, or if there is a problem with our sibling, we shouldn’t tell anybody because those who understand us best are our siblings. The resource person said, in the future if we have to meet a sample group from vulnerable groups, we must be trained in sharing data or being careful in data collecting, especially about sensitive issues, and in some cases the researchers might be evaluated by interviewees. They always examine us but they don’t tell us directly. 46

Principles in group conversation By Jularat Damrongviteetham,Asst. Prof. Abdulkholik Arrohimib3.y Focus group discussion is a qualitative research method by using a group conversation to gather data about perspectives and opinions. Topics must be clearly set and a safe environment for participants are needed in order that in-depth data from different perspectives can be collected. y Group discussions have advantage such as providing informants with opportunities to express their opinions freely, obtaining new ideas, and flexibilities in collecting data, and observations of gestures and moods of the informants in order to understand their real thoughts.y Challenges in groups discussions are skills of the moderators that require experiences, reluctance of informants on sensitive topics, data that are not in accordance with the topic, and lack of time to dig into certain topics due to diversity of the participants. y Skills needed to moderate group discussions are flexibility in asking questions, giving opportunities for every participant to express their opinion, understanding question topics and agendas, clearly understandable languages, experiences in moderating dialogues, management of speakers so that everyone has chances to speak, systematic recordings and documenting, and recapping information for clarification. y Division of tasks in the data collecting team is significant for the proficiency of the work. The moderator of the discussion must have an assistant for managing the group. Those who are in charge of documenting must spot important agendas, and those who write down points on flipcharts or whiteboard must write them down clearly. Those who observe the participants’ mood must look at their gestures to evaluate their feelings. 47

y Important skills in managing group conversations are as follows: active listening so that participants do not feel disrupted, creating safe atmosphere that encourage free expression of thoughts, use of writing down thoughts in order to avoid uncomfortable feelings, and observation of moods and gestures of the participants to gather additional data to be analysed. y Group discussions with vulnerable groups requires skills to make them feel safe and encourage them to be open to the discussion. Questions and topics must be carefully chosen. The atmosphere should be friendly and not pressuring. The participants’ moods and gestures should be observed in order to adjust the conversation properly. Listening and understanding the participants must be prioritised in order to acquire comprehensive, high-quality data. y Group discussions help us understand thoughts and feelings of vulnerable groups in depth, especially elderly people or those who have been affected by violence. They are also beneficial in clarifying unclear answers, and for developing new solutions or hypothesis efficiently.Jularat DamrongviteethamFocus group discussions or group conversations are a qualitative research method used for data gathering. The objectives are to collect data about perspectives, opinions, and experiences in depth and details. A group discussion requires a discussion moderator and group moderators for facilitating the dialogue, setting agendas and determining the orientation of the conversation in order to obtain data according to the goals. The number of participants are around 6-12 people. If there are too many participants, data gathering might be incomplete or less efficient. The target group must be a group that can build an atmosphere in which all the participants can feel safe. Questions used in group discussions are a set of structured or semi-structured open questions which is designed carefully with clear objectives, so that each participants has chances t o express their opinions and perspectives. 48