Satun (Thai สตูล) is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Trang, Phattalung and Songkhla. To the south it borders Malaysia. The name Satun is a Thai corruption of the Malay Setul, meaning mangosteen tree.

Geography

The province is located on the Malay Peninsula, on the shore of the Andaman Sea. The Ko Tarutao (Malay Pulau Tertua) and Ko Phetra (Pulau Petra) marine national parks are part of the province. Close to the border with Malaysia is the Thale Ban national park, a big freshwater swamp area.

History

Until 1813 Satun was a district of the Malayan state of Kedah, then known as Mukim Setul. With the Anglo-Siamese contract of 1909 Kedah was split between the English and Thailand, and due to a large Siamese population Satun went to Thailand. It was at first administrated as part of the monthon Phuket, which in 1925 was included into monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat. In 1933 the monthon were dissolved and the province became a first-level subdivision of Thailand.

Demographics

Satun is one of the four provinces of Thailand which have a muslim majority: 67.8% are muslim, only 31.9% are buddhists. Most of the muslims can trace an ethnic-Malay ancestry.

Because region of Satun belonged to Kedah Sultanate which had a strong relationship with Ayutthaya as well as with Siam of the Chakri dynasty traditionally, its population of Malay muslims commonly marries with Thai Buddhists without serious religious hesitation. This custom created an ethnic group known as Samsam , meaning mixed person.

Also Malay muslims here are substantially assimilated and rarely claim separatism from Thailand compared to the Malay muslims in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala.

Symbols

The provincial seal shows Pra Samut Thewaa sitting on a stone in the sea, with the sunset behind. Pra Samut Thewaa is the god who guards the sea, the stone his divine vehicle. The sunset symbolizes the Andaman Sea, which lies to the west of the province. The provincial tree is the Thai Rosewood or P ha-yungklaep (Dalbergia bariensis ), and the provincial flower is the Snowy Orchid Tree (Bauhinia acuminata ). The provincial slogan is Peaceful, Clean and Pure Nature.

Administrative divisions

Satun is subdivided into 6 districts (Amphoe) and one minor district (King Amphoe). These are further subdivided into 36 communes (tambon) and 257 villages (mubaan).

External links

• Pattani United Liberation Organization (Barisan Pembebasan Patani Bersatu)
• Pattani Separatism
• Province page from the Tourist Authority of Thailand
• Golden Jubilee Network province guide