Satun Province

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Satun (Thai สตูล) is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Trang, Phatthalung and Songkhla. To the south it borders Perlis of Malaysia.

The name Satun is a Thai corruption of its original Malay name, Setul (mangosteen tree).

[edit] Geography

The province is located on the Malay Peninsula, on the shore of the Andaman Sea. It is separated from Songkhla Province by the Nakhon Si Thammarat mountain range, and from Malaysia by the Sankalakhiri mountains.

The Ko Tarutao and Ko Phetra 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.

[edit] History

Until 1813 Satun was a district of the Malay state of Kedah, then known as Mukim Setul in Malay. After that it was administrated by a governor sent from Nakhon Si Thammarat. In 1897, Satun became part of Monthon Triburi (Kedah), which in 1909 was divided between British Empire and Siam as part of Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909. While most of Kedah became part of the British Empire, Satun was awarded to Siam because the population was largely Siamese. It was then included into Monthon Phuket. In 1933 the monthon system was ended and Satun province became a first-level subdivision of Thailand.

[edit] Demographics

Satun is one of the four provinces of Thailand which have a Muslim majority: 67.8% are Muslim and 31.9% are Buddhists. Most of the Muslims have some ethnic-Malay ancestry, though only 9.9% of the population claims to be ethnically Malay.

Because Satun belonged to the Kedah Sultanate, which had a strong relationship with Ayutthaya, as well as with Siam of the Chakri dynasty, its population of Malay Muslims commonly intermarries with Thai Buddhists without serious religious hesitation. This custom created a distinct social group known as Samsam, meaning mixed person. Most Samsams, if not all, are Muslims.^[1]

Malay Muslims in Satun are substantially assimilated and rarely sympathise with separatism from Thailand, in contrast to the Malay Muslims in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala.

[edit] Symbols

[edit] Administrative divisions

Satun is subdivided into 7 districts (Amphoe). These are further subdivided into 36 subdistricts (tambon) and 277 villages (muban). Satun itself is the only town (thesaban mueang), there are further 5 townships (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal area is administrated by 35 tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

Originally, the province was subdivided into 2 districts - Mambang and Thung Wa - and the minor district (King Amphoe) La-ngu. Due to the decline of pepper production in Thung Wa district, in 1930 the government made Thung Wa a minor district and instead declared La-ngu a district. In 1939 Mambang was renamed to Mueang Satun. Khuan Kalong was split off from Mueang district in 1969, from which in turn Tha Pae was split in 1976 and Manang in 1996. In 1973 Thung Wa regained district status. Khuan Don was established in 1975 by splitting it from Mueang district.

[edit] References

1. ^ Andrew D.W. Forbes (1988). The Muslims of Thailand. Soma Prakasan, 12. ISBN 974-9553-75-6. 

[edit] External links

• Province page from the Tourist Authority of Thailand
• Website of the province
• Satun provincial map, coat of arms and postal stamp

Coordinates: 6°37′26″N, 100°04′01″E

de:Satun (Provinz) fa:استان ساتون fr:Province de Satun ms:Satun nl:Changwat Satun ja:サトゥーン県 no:Satun (provins) pl:Prowincja Satun pt:Satun (província) th:จังหวัดสตูล vi:Tỉnh Satun tg:Вилояти Сатун zh:沙敦府