KERAJAAN MALAYSIA HARUS MEMBERI PELUANG RAKYAT UNTUK BERSUARA NEGARA KITA ADALAH DEMOKRASI BUKAN NEGARA KOMUNIS.

Saya sebagai rakyat malaysia yang berketurunan thai untuk menyuara kepada kerajaan malaysia supaya memberi peluang kepada rakyat satu malaysia untuk menyuara hak rakyat kepada kerajaan.Bagi saya negara malaysia adalah negara demokrasi bukan negara komunis sepatutnya kerajaan malaysia boleh berfikir dengan secara rasional memberi peluang hak rakyat kepada kerajaan.

SENJATA-SENJATA API PADA MASA DAHULU.

Beribu-ribu tahun dahulu, di Lembah Bujang, terdapat satu peradaban yang makmur.Kota-kota yang besar dan istana-istana yang mengagumkan. Di satu kawasan, terdapat kilang-kilang membuat peralatan logam;kilang melebur besi. Zaman berganti zaman. Tahun berganti tahun. Peperangan demi peperangan. Hasad dengki, khianat, kekejaman dan penipuan menghiasi tabir. Jatuh dan bangun. Bina kembali peradaban. Berperang lagi...hancur semuanya....bangkit kembali membina empayar...perang saudara...kedatangan bangsa Eropah yang tamak....dijajah...dijajah...dijarah... Bangkit kembali...tentang penjajah...akhirnya merdeka. Kemudian bina negara...bina peradaban kembali. Perlahan-lahan. Anak-anak Melayu pun membuka buku sejarah. Apa yang dilihat mereka? Hulubalang Melayu memegang tombak. Panglima Melayu menghunus keris. Selak lagi..apa dilihat lagi? Gambar lukisan raja Melayu di atas gajah, dengan askar-askar Melayu menentang penjajah Portugis menggunakan tombak dan keris. Bertembokkan pancang-pancang kayu dan batang pisang. Gambar askar Melayu mati ditembak istinggar musuh. Gambar rumah beratap rumbia musnah dibedil meriam. Selak lagi....gambar gabenor British bercekak pinggang dengan orang-orang Melayu berpakaian selekeh di satu sudut. Selak lagi...selak lagi...gambar orang-orang Melayu pasca-penjajahan yang berimejkan selekeh, miskin dan nampak kurang berpendidikan. Membosankan. Dalam artikel pengiring terakhir ini, Srikandi akan mendedahkan realiti sebenar peperangan yang disertai orang-orang di Semenanjung mahupun di pulau-pulau Nusantara (Indonesia). Srikandi akan mendedahkan betapa antara orang-orang Melayu pada masa dahulu pandai mencipta meriam dan menggunakan senjata api..Ini sekaligus menafikan anggapan popular ketika penjajahan dahulu "hendak buat sebatang jarum pun tak mampu" Benarkah begitu? Ketika saya masih kecil lagi, saya masih teringat satu filem lama tahun 80-an berlatar belakangkan zaman dahulu, mungkin sekitar abad ke 17. Kalau tak silap saya, Dato Rahim Razali ada berlakon dalam filem itu. Keistimewaan filem ini ialah, ia memaparkan orang-orang Melayu dahulukala berperang menggunakan meriam-meriam kecil, dalam istilah Melayunya 'Lela Rentaka'. Meriam-meriam ini boleh dikendong menggunakan tenaga dua orang, di bawa ke sana sini. Terdapat satu adegan di mana tentera-tentera bergegas membawa meriam-meriam ini ke medan perang melintasi sawah-sawah padi.Ada adegan tentera yang tumpas terkena bedilan. Aksi letupan yang begitu 'real' dan suasana selepas perang di mana mayat-mayat bergelimpangan di sawah padi dihurung lalat dengan darah bersemburan di sana sini. Filem ini begitu istimewa di mata saya, berbanding filem-filem tipikal lain yang juga berlatarbelakangkan sejarah namun imej peperangan yang membosankan dan kurang tepat; asyik-asyik berperang menggunakan keris dan lembing. Penggunaan meriam yang meluas di dalam filem ini amat menarik dan sehingga kini saya masih teringatkan filem itu yang unik dan menimbulkan misteri kepada saya. Semakin dewasa dan kelebihan menggunakan maklumat yang banyak di perpustakaan semasa melanjutkan pengajian ke luar negara membuatkan saya semakin tertanya-tanya; apakah peranan meriam di dalam budaya orang-orang Melayu dahulukala? Mengapa apabila saya membaca catatan-catatan para conquistador, pengembara Eropah, pedagang dan duta-duta asing, menyebutkan saiz kapal, penggunaan meriam dan kemewahan orang-orang Melayu sebelum era penjajahan? Mengapa apabila membaca buku-buku sejarah di sini, nadanya berlainan? Mengapa catatan pengembara Perancis berlainan sekali dengan catatan Stamford Raffles dan Leyden? Mengapa pandangan para cendekiawan Portugis seperti Eredia dan Pires berlainan dengan pandangan para gabenor dan imperialis Inggeris? Apa yang ingin mereka sembunyikan dari kita?? Apabila orang Thai mengeluarkan filem-filem menceritakan sejarah Patani, mereka menggambarkan orang-orang Melayu Patani biasa menggunakan pistol dan senapang, apatah lagi meriam. Ini tidak kalah dengan filem-filem mereka yang menceritakan peperangan menentang tentera Burma. Mereka betul dari segi sejarah. Mengapa saya kata begitu? Kerana apabila teknologi meriam semakin maju pada abad ke-14, seluruh dunia berlumba-lumba mendapatkan teknologi ini. Kerajaan-kerajaan Eropah, wilayah-wilayah bekas Empayar Abbasiah dan Turki uthmaniyyah, Emperium China dan kerajaan Ayutthia berusaha tidak ketinggalan dalam soal mengambil tahu atau memiliki meriam malah merekrut rakyat mereka mempelajari cara membuat meriam. Jadi ADAKAH SULTAN-SULTAN MELAKA YANG MEMILIKI PELABUHAN PALING KAYA DI TIMUR MENJADI PEKAK, TULI, BUTA DAN BISU DENGAN PERKEMBANGAN INI? Padahal raja-raja Melayu Brunei dan Sulu ketika itu sudah biasa bermain dengan pistol dan menjadi pengeluar meriam kecil terbaik dunia? Sebab itu Sepanyol gerun dan tidak mampu mencabut 'kemelayuan' mereka. Adakah para pedagang yang tiba di pelabuhan Melaka semuanya berpakat untuk menyorokkan berita-berita tentang meriam, istinggar (musket) dan ubat bedil? Adalah amat tidak logik jika Sultan Melaka yang pernah menakluk sebahagian Sumatera dan tanah semenanjung malah mengalahkan tentera Siam menggunakan keris dan lembing sahaja. Tiada satu pun kerajaan yang boleh mengalahkan Melaka ketika itu KECUALI GABUNGAN TENTERA PORTUGIS,KERAJAAN-KERAJAAN KECIL DI SUMATERA DAN JAWA, ASKAR-ASKAR UPAHAN DARI GOA, JAWA DAN SIAM DITAMBAH DENGAN PEMBELOT DAN PENGKHIANAT DALAMAN DARI PARA PEDAGANG ASING DAN ORANG-ORANG MELAYU SENDIRI. Hanya filem-filem dan drama pendekar di Malaysia sahaja menggambarkan pendekar Melayu berperang menggunakan keris dan lembing selepas bergaduh di warung berdinding buluh dan beratapkan rumbia. Sungguh memalukan. Apabila orang luar membuat filem tentang Melayu, mereka menggambarkan pendekar Melayu menggunakan pistol, meriam dan senapang. Malah pendekar Melayu memakai baju kulit dan sesetengahnya memakai baju zirah; baju besi untuk mengelakkan serpihan peluru meriam melukai daging kulit. Dari mana mereka mengorek rahsia ini? Dari catatan-catatan sejarah mereka yang diluar kawalan Raffles,Winsted,Swettenham dan Leyden. Malah semua senjata ini, yang diwar-warkan asing bagi bangsa Melayu, mempunyai istilah Melayunya sendiri: *Cannon = Meriam,Lela *Portable Cannon/swivel gun = Lela Rentaka *Flintlock Musket = Istinggar *Blunderbuss = Pemuras *Pistol = Terakol Mari kita lihat antara senjata-senjata 'terahsia' Melayu ini: Pemuras Pemuras adalah antara senjata yang gemar digunakan oleh orang-orang Melayu dahulukala. Dalam Perang Naning, catatan askar Inggeris menyatakan orang-orang Melayu amat pandai menggunakan Pemuras ini sehingga Inggeris terpaksa menghantar beberapa kali pasukan tenteranya menentang Dol Said dan Perang Naning juga berlaku dalam beberapa siri. Orang-orang Melayu Borneo khususnya orang Brunei dan Sulu adalah mereka yang selalu menggunakan Pemuras. Pemuras atau dalam bahasa Inggeris, blunderbuss adalah sejenis alat bedil muat hadapan dengan laras berkaliber pendek, besar, yang mempunyai muncung peledak hadapan yang berbentuk kembang (funnel-shaped muzzle ). Pemuras ini menggunakan peluru timah hitam (lead) Ia digunakan untuk menembak dalam jarak dekat dan selalu digunakan oleh pasukan berkuda (Dragoons). Perkataan Dragoon ini berasal dari penggunaan Pemuras yang telah dimajukan bentuknya, menjadi lebih kecil, seperti pistol. Orang-orang Melayu memanggilnya sebagai Terakol atau Tarkul. Dragoon atau Terakol inilah asal-usul pistol pada hari ini. Pemuras juga adalah senapang atau bedil yang pertama sekali dicipta untuk tujuan pertahanan. Dalam masyarakat Melayu, senjata Pemuras dan Tarkul adalah agak popular berbanding di dunia barat. Penggunaan Pemuras adalah lebih kerap digambarkan di dalam peristiwa perang Melayu berbanding istinggar atau Flintlock Musket. Mengapa? Ini kerana pada masa dahulu orang Melayu adalah pelaut dan pengembara yang gigih. Penggunaan blunderbuss ini adalah amat popular dikalangan pelaut, lanun dan pedagang. Ini kerana ia sesuai untuk pertempuran secara pantas dan berdepan kerana ia mampu mencederakan beberapa orang musuh dengan hanya satu tembakan dari jarak dekat. Pemuras biasanya amat pendek, dengan laras kurang dari 60 cm (dua kaki), pada ketika laras senapang lantak biasanya melebihi 90 cm (tiga kaki) panjang. Satu sumber menggambarkan senjata dari awal hingga pertengahan abad ke-17, menyenaraikan panjang laras Terakul kancing roda (wheel lock) sekitar 28 cm (sebelas inci), berbanding 41 cm (enam belas inci) panjang bagi Pemuras. Betapa segaknya panglima Melayu menyandang Pemuras berkilat seperti ini. Dalam budaya masyarakat Melayu, Kesultanan Brunei adalah diantara salah sebuah Kerajaan Melayu yang menggunakan Pemuras sebagai salah sebuah alat kebesaran kerajaan atau regalia. Ia menjadi lambang kebesaran Brunei dengan panggilannya yang tersohor 'Pemuras dan Karga'. Karga ialah bekas menyimpan peluru pemuras yang dibuat cantik dan berseni. Pemuras sering dihiasi dengan ukiran yang amat halus dan cantik. Ada juga Pemuras yang dibuat daripada logam berharga seperti Emas dan Perak serta ditatahkan dengan intan permata. Di dunia barat penggunaan Pemuras adalah lebih kerap digunakan oleh pasukan berkuda kerana ia mudah digunakan terutama ketika mengisi peluru. Jika Soviet meletakkan lambang Avtomat Kalashnikova (AK-47) di duit syililing mereka,Mozambique meletakkannya di bendera mereka, bayangkan, kerajaan Melayu seperti Brunei ini meletakkan blunderbuss atau Pemuras ini sebagai lambang kerajaan. Terakol Terakol atau Tarkul adalah antara senjata popular dikalangan pelaut, pedagang dan lanun-lanun Melayu. Tarkul pada awalnya menggunakan teknologi 'wheel lock' (kancing roda) di mana kemajuan teknologi ini membolehkan ia membakar serbuk bedil secara automatik tanpa memerlukan 'fius'. Terakol berbentuk seperti pistol dan ia adalah perubahan bentuk dari Pemuras yang dikecilkan. Terakol digunakan di dalam peperangan Rajah, Datu dan Sultan-sultan di Filipina melawan Sepanyol, juga askar Brunei menentang Rajah Brooke. Terakol juga digunakan di Patani dan Melaka. Dalam Perang Naning juga senjata ini digunakan. Sekitar tahun 1530, Terakol telah menjadi maju dengan penggunaan teknologi flintlock (kancing batu api) dan sejak itu ia lebih dikenali sebagai pistol di Barat. Ketua Lanun,Laksamana dan Syahbandar Melayu sering bergaya menyelitkan Terakol ini di pinggang bersama-sama keris mereka. Istinggar Istinggar (Bahasa Inggeris:musket) pada awalnya ialah sejenis senjata api jenis berat dengan penggunaan fius atau wheel lock. Kemudian ia menjadi sejenis senapang yang menggunakan teknologi flintlock (kancing batu api). Penggunaan flintlock ini meningkatkan kadar tembakan dan mengurangkan kos pembuatan senjata api. Mula diperkenalkan pada 1630 sebagai flintlock musket, istinggar dengan pantas menggantikan teknologi picu senjata api lebih awal, seperti mekanisme kancing sumbu (matchlock) dan kancing roda (wheel lock). Istinggar juga kerap disebut di dalam hikayat-hikayat lama seperti Sulalatus Salatin (Sejarah Melayu) dan juga Hikayat Megat Terawis. Dalam Hikayat Megat Terawis, dikatakan bahawa Megat telah berjaya membunuh seorang hulubalang yang kebal dan hebat bernama Tun Saban. Tun Saban dikatakan sebagai seorang yang tidak lut kepada segala jenis senjata kecuali istinggar yang dibuat khas pelurunya. Istinggar yang digunakan untuk membunuh Tun Saban dikatakan adalah hadiah daripada ulama dari Hadra-maut kepada raja Pagar Ruyung. Istinggar inilah yang dikumpulkan terlalu banyak di dalam kota Melaka oleh tentera-tentera Portugis. Istinggar juga digunakan oleh tentera Johor-Riau terutama ketika membantu Belanda menyerang Portugis. Istinggar juga digunakan oleh penduduk di Perak ketika menyerang Belanda yang membina loji-loji di Sungai Perak. Lela Rentaka Rentaka, adalah sejenis meriam mudah alih, ringan dan kecil dari meriam biasa. Dalam Bahasa Inggeris, ia disebut Lantakas (gabungan Lela dan Rentaka). Rentaka adalah senjata khas orang Melayu, kerana mereka sendiri yang menciptanya, sebab itu orang Inggeris menyebutnya dengan Lantakas. Ini adalah sesuatu yang menarik kerana Rentaka adalah setanding dengan keris dan ia adalah senjata Melayu yang terkenal di dunia Barat. Rentaka inilah yang saya lihat di dalam filem tahun 80-an itu. Kebiasaannya rentaka dibuat menggunakan tembaga atau besi dan berukuran diantara 50cm hinggalah 2 meter. Bagi yang berukuran lebih daripada 1 meter kebiasaannya ia di panggil Lela dan ada yang dipanggil sebagai ekor Lotong kerana mempunyai pelaras yang panjang dan lentik seperti ekor Lotong. Bangsa penjajah pertama yang merasa penangan rentaka ialah Sepanyol. Mereka menggelarnya sebagai arquebuses, portable cannons or swivel gun yakni meriam mudah alih. Berbanding dengan meriam biasa, rentaka kebiasaanya mempunyai hiasan yang lebih terperinci dan cantik seperti ukiran awan larat, naga, buaya, cicak, ikan lelumba malahan turut diukirkan corak pucuk rebung. <!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--> Apa yang unik mengenai senjata ini ialah ianya adalah sebuah meriam mudah alih yang pertama didunia. Rentaka mempunyai mekanisme yang membolehkan ianya dipusing-pusingkan keatas dan kebawah serta boleh dipikul dan dipacakkan di kota, tanah atau belebas kapal dan perahu. Hal ini amat berbeza dengan meriam barat yang sedia di ketahui adalah amat berat dan tidak mudah dialihkan. Ciri mudah alih Rentaka juga menyebabkan bidikannya lebih mudah untuk kena pada sasaran. Pahlawan Moro adalah diantara pahlawan rumpun Melayu yang dikatakan sebagai pembuat rentaka yang terbaik . Orang Moro telah menggunakan rentaka sebagai senjata api utama ketika diserang oleh Sepanyol dan ketika mereka menyerang kapal-kapal Sepanyol. Tentera Sepanyol dikatakan amat takut dengan senjata tersebut kerana diantara banyak-banyak senjata, rentaka adalah salah satu senjata yang menyebabkan kematian dan kerugian terbesar bagi pihak mereka. Selain daripada orang Moro, Kerajaan Brunei juga dikenali umum di kalangan para pedagang dan penjajah sebagai pengeluar rentaka terbanyak dan terbaik di Alam Melayu. kebanyakan daripada rentaka yang ada di Muzium di seluruh dunia sekarang ini adalah berasal dari Brunei kalau tidak Filipina. Di Semenanjung, Jawa dan Sumatera, penggunaan rentaka adalah kurang terutama setelah kejatuhan Kesultanan Melayu Melaka. Kehebatan senjata api buatan bangsa Melayu ini menjadi buah mulut dan kekaguman para penjajah barat seperti Portugis, Sepanyol dan Belanda sehinggakan mereka telah meniru teknologi pembuatan rentaka bagi melengkapkan persenjataan mereka. Sehingga abad ke 18 dikatakan penghasilan rentaka di Alam Melayu semakin berkurangan malahan negara yang mengeluarkan rentaka terbaik dan terbanyak adalah negara Belanda. Meriam/Lela <!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--> *Meriam Seri Patani yang diletakkan dihadapan bangunan Kementerian Pertahanan Thailand Meriam mempunyai sejarah yang panjang, terahsia dan digelapkan dalam sejarah Melayu. Meriam digunakan di tembok-tembok kota Melaka. Meriam digunakan di semasa peperangan melawan penjajah di Selangor. Meriam digunakan di Pasir Salak. Meriam digunakan di Singgora melawan Thai dan Inggeris dan Belanda. Meriam adalah cukup sinonim dengan seni peperangan Melayu. Jika Brunei dan Sulu terkenal mengeluarkan Rentaka (meriam mudah alih) terbaik, maka Patani pula adalah pengeluar meriam paling terbaik di Asia Tenggara suatu ketika dahulu. Sebelum kemunculan meriam, pada awalnya teknologi artileri atau bedilan ini diperkenalkan oleh orang-orang Cina. Kemudian meriam diperkenalkan oleh Empayar Turki Uthmaniyyah, yang juga merupakan pembuat meriam yang menggerunkan seluruh Eropah ketika itu. Kemudian pedagang Belanda pula memperkenalkannya. Meriam yang paling terkenal dalam masyarakat Melayu ialah Seri Nagara, Seri Patani dan Mahalela. Dan meriam Seri Nagara dan Seri Patani ini adalah meriam yang terbesar di Asia Tenggara! Menariknya bukan orang lain yang membuat dan memilikinya, tetapi orang Melayu juga! Meriam-meriam ini adalah milik Kerajaan Patani. Sebagai tindak balas berikutan khabar angin akan serangan Siam ke atas Patani, Raja Kerajaan Melayu Pattani pada waktu itu iaitu Raja Biru (1616-1624) telah menugaskan seorang lelaki Cina-Islam yang bernama Tok Kayan (Lim To Khiam) untuk mengetuai pembinaan meriam-meriam kerajaan. Tiga buah meriam telah dibina iaitu Sri Patani, Sri Nagara dan Mahalela. Sri Patani dan Sri Nagara mempunyai saiz yang sama manakala Mahalela pula lebih kecil iaitu hanya sepanjang 5 hasta 1 jengkal. Meriam-meriam ini telah berjaya menyekat empat kali serangan Siam ke atas Patani iaitu pada tahun 1603, 1632, 1634 dan 1638. Selepas kejatuhan Ayutthaya pada 1767, kerajaan Patani di bawah pemerintahan Sultan Muhammad (1776-1786) telah cuba untuk membebaskan diri daripada ancaman Thai (yang telah mengalahkan kerajaan Ayutthaya). Bagaimanapun, pada 1785 pasukan tentera Thai di bawah kepimpinanan Panglima Phraya Kalahum telah berjaya menewaskan Patani. Dua buah meriam besar iaitu Sri Patani dan Sri Nagara telah diambil sebagai rampasan perang, bagaimanapun Sri Nagara telah jatuh ke dalam laut di Kuala Patani semasa hendak dipindahkan ke dalam kapal. Meriam Mahalela pula telah hilang tanpa dapat dikesan. Pada 1787, Raja Rama I telah mengarahkan pembinaan meriam yang sama saiz dengan Sri Patani yang dinamakan sebagai Narai Sanghan untuk diletakkan bergandingan dengan Seri Patani yang telah di tawan. Jika anda melihat kepada gambar meriam seri Patani di atas, bolehkah anda bayangkan kekuatan meriam tersebut ketika ia membedil kapal-kapal perang Thai. Menurut Hikayat Patani tiga buah meriam kerajaan Pattani ini telah berjaya mengaramkan banyak kapal Thai ketika Kerajaan Thai menyerang Pattani. Anda boleh membayangkan suasana meriam-meriam ini digunakan dan peperangan tersebut dengan menonton filem Queen of Langkasuka. <!--[endif]-->Meriam-meriam Melayu boleh dilihat juga di Kota Melawati dan Pasir Salak pada hari ini. Setelah mengetahui fakta sejarah yang digelapkan dari pengetahuan kita ini, adakah kita masih berfikir nenek moyang kita berperang menggunakan sumpit, lembing dan keris? JIka nenek moyang kita berperang dengan senjata-senjata itu sahaja, alamat kita sekarang bukanlah duduk di Malaysia, tetapi di sebuah negeri Inggeris lain, seperti Australia. Sebab orang-orang Melayu mempunyai senjata-senjata beginilah mereka mampu mempertahankan takhta raja-raja mereka dan sedikit sebanyak mengawal tindak tanduk penjajah yang ganas dan tamak .Bayangkan betapa gigih nenek moyang kita dahulu memikul rentaka, membawa Pemuras di samping parang dan keris, menentang ketamakan dan kebuasan penjajah. Jika nenek moyang kita dahulu lembik tidak berjuang mempertahankan tanah air, mungkin hari ini kita akan menjadi seperti Red Indian atau aborigine Australia. Inggeris walaupun buas dan kejam, namun masih menjaga 'standard' mereka cuba menghormati perjuangan orang-orang Melayu mempertahankan warisan. Mereka cuba mengawal alter amuk para musketeers (ahli senjata api) dan gunners (ahli meriam) Melayu dengan cuba meletakkan para residen mereka terlebih dahulu di setiap negeri Melayu. Apa salahnya Inggeris membawa balatenteranya meranapkan takhta-takhta raja-raja Melayu ini terus atau menghalau mereka sepertimana mereka menumbangkan raja-raja Tamil, Hindi dan Maharaja Moghul di India. Sultan Abdullah memang dibuang ke Pulau Seychelles, namun yang peliknya Inggeris berusaha mengadakan raja baru di Perak dengan membiarkan institusi beraja Perak menabalkan pengganti Sultan Abdullah. Pelikkan? Apa salahnya Inggeris melantik sahaja Hugh Low menjadi 'Raja Perak' sebagaimana James Brooke menjadi Raja Sarawak. Biar warisan raja-raja Perak hancur sebagaimana mereka berjaya menghancurkan dinasti raja China dan India. Tetapi ini tidak berlaku. Bukan sahaja orang Melayu, malah 'Mat Salleh' pun berdegil 'mempertahankan' takhta raja-raja Melayu .Lucu dan aneh. Sebenarnya jika kita bersemangat mempertahankan warisan budaya kita sendiri, orang lain pun akan segan dan hormat pada kita. Seperti juga hari ini, jika kita acuh tak acuh dengan warisan kita sendiri, sebagai contoh Tulisan Jawi, Cina Komunis pun tidak segan silu mahu membuang tulisan Jawi dari papan-papan tanda jalan Sebagai kesimpulannya, dengan pendedahan ini yakinlah kita bahawa orang Melayu adalah bukanlah bangsa yang lemah dan hanya mengenal keris dan tombak sahaja malah pandai menggunakan meriam dan membuatnya juga! Orang Melayu juga biasa menggunakan musket (Istinggar) dan pistol (Terakol). Terakol juga terkenal kerana buatannya yang berseni dan berukiran halus. Sehingga ke hari ini saya masih terngiang-ngiang jeritan hulubalang Melayu meledakkan Rentakanya di dalam filem 80-an itu. Adegan dua orang hulubalang mengandar batang Rentaka yang diikat pada sebatang kayu sambil meniti batas-batas sawah meninggalkan misteri yang aneh kepada saya. Kenapa drama dan filem lain tidak seperti filem yang satu ini? Siapa pengarah filem ini? Sungguh, saya betul-betul tabik pada pembuat filem itu,malangnya saya terlupa tajuk filem itu. Jadi fikirkan,adakah Inggeris dan Belanda takutkan orang-orang Nusantara yang menentang mereka menggunakan sumpit,lembing dan keris (kesampingkan ilmu mistik,kita bercakap soal realiti)? Tidak sama sekali. Para musketeers dan gunners Melayu inilah antara 'penggerun' mereka dan membuatkan Inggeris berfikir 10 kali untuk menghapuskan raja-raja Melayu, mengkristiankan seluruh orang Melayu dengan paksaan dan menjadikan Tanah Melayu seperti Amerika dan Australia. Alangkah bagusnya kalau dalam buku-buku sejarah terdapat gambar ini.Betapa megahnya hulubalang Melayu menyangkutkan blunderbassnya (Pemuras) di bahu.<!--[endif]--> Dalam legenda Melayu, berkaitan ilmu mistik dalam kategori ilmu kebal, antara pantang orang yang mengamalkan ilmu kebal ialah peluru emas. Dan ini adalah benar, dan askar Belanda menggunakan peluru emas untuk menundukkan pahlawan-pahlawan Melayu di Sumatera dan Jawa. Malah Mat Kilau juga dikatakan dikhianati orangnya sendiri berkenaan rahsia ini. Jadi fikirkan,dalam amalan mistik Melayu itu sendiri menyebutkan perihal peluru emas, masakan orang Melayu ketika itu masih terkebil-kebil memegang lembing berhadapan dengan askar Portugis yang bersenjatakan matchlock musket, blunderbuss dan cannon? Bibliografi: Melayu Nusantara Sejarah Kesultanan Brunei Sulalatus Salatin Surat-surat Antonio de Pigafetta dan Maximilius Transylvanus Dan kajian persendirian yang lain. Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/pesilat/public_html/v2/templates/jamesolite/html/modules.php:113) in /home/pesilat/public_html/v2/administrator/components/com_virtuemart/classes/ps_session.php on line 68Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/pesilat/public_html/v2/templates/jamesolite/html/modules.php:113) in /home/pesilat/public_html/v2/administrator/components/com_virtuemart/classes/ps_session.php on line 68 Malaysian Ringgit US Dollar TranslatorSelect LanguageEnglishArabicBulgarianCroatianCzechDanishDutchFinnishFrenchGermanGreekHindiItalianJapaneseKoreanNorwegianPolishPortugueseRomanianRussianSpanishSwedishCatalanFilipinoHebrewIndonesianLatvianLithuanianSerbianSlovakSlovenianUkrainianVietnameseAlbanianEstonianGalicianHungarianMalteseThaiTurkishPersianAfrikaansMalaySwahiliIrishWelshBelarusianIcelandicMacedonianYiddishArmenianAzerbaijaniBasqueGeorgianHaitian CreoleUrduChinese (S)Chinese (T) .example-class,#example-id TROLI BELIAN

CARA PEMASANGAN ANTENNA PARABOLA.

Bagaimana cara memasang antena parabola dengan cara yang baik dan benar? Agar frekuensi sinyal yang kita dapatkan untuk menonton siaran TV atau sebagai peralatan interface internet dengan menggunakan antena parabola baik? Berikut langkah-langkah yang perlu diperhatikan pada saat pemasangan antena parabola tersebut : 1. Posisi Parabola :Letakkan parabola di bidang ( tempat terbuka ) tidak ada halangan ke langit bebas ( bebas dari rintangan seperti : pepohonan, gedung, dll ) serta datar. Untuk menentukan kedatarannya, bisa dengan cara menuang air ke baskom. Bila air penuh tepat lurus di bibir baskom berarti bidang cukup datar terhadap bumi. Bila posisinya miring, gunakan papan yang diganjal untuk mendapatkan bidang yang datar. 2. Penentuan Posisi Parabola :Buatlah garis vertikal dan horizontal pada parabola untuk membantu penentuan posisinya. Titik temu garis ini harus berada tepat di dasar parabola ( gunakan gundu, tempat di mana gundu diam itulah titik dasar parabola ). Setelah digaris, berikan penanda empat arah mata angin seperti gambar berikut: Arahkan piringan parabola ke arah mata angin menggunakan kompas yang diletakkan di dasar parabola ( yaitu titik pertemuan garis vertikal dan garis horizontal tersebut). Atur agar keempat arah mata angin itu sesuai dengan yang ditunjukkan di kompas. 3. Pemasangan LNBF :Pasanglah LNBF pada bracket yang disediakan LNBF pada parabola. Untuk menentukan tinggi bracket yang tepat, bisa dengan cara menggunakan rumus berikut : 4. Pengaturan Sinyal :Jika antena parabola sudah terpasang ( termasuk kabel-kabel konektornya ), kemudian aturlah agar sinyal diterima sebesar mungkin dengan mengkoreksi dudukan ( posisi ) piringan parabola. Kekuatan sinyal yang diperlukan >= 60% dan kualitas >= 70% dengan indikator warna hijau pada receiver yang artinya sudah cukup stabil menerima sinyal. Pada STB, gambar akan tampak baik bila sinyal ada di atas 60%, kualitas di atas 70% dan bar persentase menunjukkan warna hijau ( bisa berbeda di tiap STB ). Untuk lebih jelasnya trik dan tips memsang antena parabola ini, bisa referensi ke situs ini dan search dengan Google aja dech. Semoga bermanfaat

MEMBERI KELONGGARAN UNDANG-UNDANG UNTUK PENIAGA YANG JUAL VCD,DVD DAN LAIN-LAIN LAGI.

Saya sebagai rakyat malaysia yang berketurunan thai malaysia ingin memberi cadangan saya kepada kerajaan malaysia supaya dapat memberi satu kelonggaran undang-undang membeli VCD atau DVD dan sebagainya.Jadi saya memberi pendapat saya kepada kerajaan malaysia supaya kerajaan buat sesuatu untuk mengurangkan cetak rompak.Jika kerajaan merampas VCD dan DVD cetak rompak bagaimana rakyat membeli CD dengan harga yang berpatutan,sekiranya pelanggan hendak membeliVCD,DVD atauCD cetak rompak berbanding dengan yang tulen kerana ia terlalu mahal berbanding dengan CD cetak rompak harga yang murah dan berpatutan.Bagi pandangan saya kerajaan tidak ada hak untuk merampas CD,DVD,VCD cetak rompak kerana pelanggan lebih suka membeli CD yang murah dan berbaloi berbanding dengan CD yang mahal dan tidak boleh diskaun jika original.Bagi saya,saya lebih suka beli cetak rompak berbanding dengan CD yang mahal.Saya tidak memasuk mana-mana pihak tujuan saya buat ini adalah untuk kebaikan satu malaysia dan boleh menerima pendapat bersama-sama.Saya sebagai rakyat malaysia berharap kepada kerajaan supaya tidak merampas VCD,DVD dan CD cetak rompak kerajaan harus membuat sesuatu supaya VCD,DVD dan CD tidak membuat cetak rompak oleh itu kerajaan mengambil perhatian mengenai cetak rompak.Saya bercadangkan kepada kerajaan malaysia dapat memberi satu keprihatinan kepada rakyat satu malaysia untuk membeli CD,DVD dan VCD dengan harga berpatutan.Kerajaan harus mengambil serious mengenai perkara ini.

MEMBERI CADANGAN KEPADA PIHAK JABATAN BOMBA DAN PENYELAMAT UNTUK MENGADAKAN BAHAN-BAHAN SEJARAH DI MALAYSIA.

Pengarah Bomba Kedah/Perlis iaitu Che Kassim Bin Mansor saya sebagai seorang cucu kepada Che Kassim ingin memberi cadangan saya kepada pihak jabatan bomba malaysia untuk mengadakan muzium bomba di malaysia.Saya telah memberi gambar kepada pegawai bomba kedah iaitu tuan ridzuan kebanyakkan gambar yang saya kirimkan kepada balai bomba negeri kedah adalah bertujuan untuk mempamerkan bagaimana bomba dahulu di tubuhkan dan cara bagaimana operasi berbanding hari ini.Gambar yang saya kirimkan kepada pegawai bomba adalah kepunyaan aruah tokwan saya semasa berkhidmat dengan perkhidmatan bomba negeri kedah pada masa itu.Saya sebagai seorang cucu kepada che kassim meminta pihak jabatan bomba adakan satu muzium khas untuk bomba.Jika boleh saya hendak cari keluarga ahli bomba yang berkhidmat dengan aruah tok wan saya untuk mengeratkan hubungan silatulrahim.Saya tidak mahu putus hubungan kalau boleh saya hendak mengeratkan lagi hubungan silaturrahim antara satu sama lain.

SEJARAH JABATAN BOMBA NEGERI KEDAH.

Sebelum tahun 1934 lagi Balai Bomba Alor Star telah pun wujud dan beroperasi dengan keanggotaan seramai 4 orang Fireman. Pada masa itu Balai Bomba merupakan sebuah garaj dan sebuah Land Rover bersama trailer bertempat di Pejabat Tanah Negeri Kedah sekarang ini iaitu berhampiran dengan Balai Besar.Di dalam tahun 1939 dipercayai Balai Bomba telah dipindahkan ke bangunan yang ada sekarang ini di Jalan Raja, Alor Setar. Bangunan tersebut yang mempunyai ruang jentera, pejabat dan 2 unit kuarters. Sebelum ini bangunan tersebut digunakan oleh Polis, Bahagian Trafik disediakan dengan kemudahan Bilik Kawalan dengan satu talian telefon bernombor 221 bagi panggilan kecemasan dan biasa.Semasa Perang Dunia Kedua pada tahun 1941 Balai Bomba berkenaan masih di tempat yang sama. Bantuan keanggotaan dan pengawasan adalah dibawah Polis Alor Setar. Pada masa ini sebanyak 2 buah jentera Bomba iaitu sebuah jentera jenis Dennis No. K 2209 dan sebuah jentera water tender 500 gelen bernombor K 8437. Semasa Malayan Union dalam tahun 1946 Balai ini mempunyai keanggotaan seramai 4 orang Fireman dan seorang pemandu iaitu Encik Yaakob bin Lebai Amin dengan diketuai oleh Leading Fireman Encik Abu Bakar bin Haji Saad yang juga menjalankan tugas pemandu.Di dalam tahun 1949, Perkhidmatan Bomba telah diletakkan di bawah Pentadbiran “Town Board” di mana Balai Bomba Alor Setar telah tertakluk di bawah bidang kuasa Majlis Daerah Alor Setar dimana “Chairman” Town Board adalah berkuasa penuh kepada Perkhidmatan Bomba iniPada tahun 1951, jawatan “Station Officer” diwujudkan dan Encik Kassim bin Mansor yang berpangkat “Superintendent” telah menjawat jawatan tersebut. “Station Officer” bukan sahaja bertanggunjawab kepada Balai Bomba Alor Setar malah dipertanggungjawabkan sebagai Penyelia Perkhidmatan Bomba Negeri Kedah. Pada masa ini keanggotaan telah bertambah mempunyai 3 orang leading fireman iaitu Encik Yaakob, Encik Ghaffar dan Tuan Syed Zain dan terdapat seramai 15 orang fireman.Bagi menampung keperluan keanggotaan ini, maka pada penghujung tahun 1952 penambahan 3 blok quarters (quarters sekarang) telah didirikan dengan pendaftaran PWD 129, PWD 564 dan PWD 565.Pada tahun 1958 sebuah jentera baru jenis Bedford No. K 5281, 500 gelen telah dibekalkan bagi menggantikan jentera Bedford yang sediada yang telah rosak.Di dalam tahun 1961 Balai ini telah mendapatkan penambahan sebuah jentera dari jenis Wheel Escape Ledder (KA 1681) diikuti pula pada tahun 1964 gantian sebuah lagi jentera baru jenis Bedford No. KA 5603. Sepanjang perkhidmatan ini beberapa kebakaran besar telah berlaku di antaranya pada tahun 1951, sebahagian dari Pekan Kuala Kedah telah musnah dan diikuti pula pada tahun 1969 sekali lagi kebakaran berlaku di mana hampir keseluruhan Pekan Kuala Kedah telah musnah.Di dalam tahun yang sama juga, kebakaran di “ Pekan Cowboy” Alor Setar telah memusnahkan sebanyak lebih kurang 112 buah rumah kedai. Selepas Penyatuan Jabatan Perkhidmatan Bomba dan pada tahun 1977 Encik Kassim bin Mansor telah tamat perkhidmatannya dan tempat beliau telah digantikan oleh Encik Abd Majid bin Othman.Sehingga ke hari ini Balai Bomba Alor Setar telah mempunyai 3 jentera bomba jenis water tender 400 gelen, sebuah jentera penyelamat dan sebuah jentera Skylift. Keanggotaannya seramai 127 orang diketuai oleh Penguasa Bomba

PATTANI HISTORY.

Pattani (Patani) or Sultanate of Pattani was a Malay sultanate that covered approximately the area of the modern Thai provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and much of the northern part of modern Malaysia. The King of Patani is believed to have converted to Islam some time during the 11th century, the 6-7th century Hindu state of Pan Pan may or may not be related. Contents[hide] 1 Early history 2 Patani and the Siamese Kingdom 2.1 Sukhothai 2.2 Ayutthaya 3 Patani in the Bangkok Period 4 Chronology of Rulers 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading [edit] Early history Further information: Pan Pan Langkasuka was a Hindu-Buddhist kingdom founded in the region as early as the 2nd century that appeared in many accounts by Chinese travelers, the most famous of whom was the Buddhist pilgrim I-Ching. The kingdom drew trade from Chinese, Indian, and local traders as a stopping place for ships bound for, or just arrived from, the Gulf of Thailand. Langkasuka reached its greatest economic success in the 6th and 7th centuries and afterward declined as a major trade center. Political circumstances suggest that by the 11th century Chola invasion, Langkasuka was no longer a major port visited by merchants. However, much of the decline may be due to the silting up of its harbor, shown most poignantly today by the fact that the most substantial Langkasukan ruins rest approximately 15 kilometers from the sea. Pattani became part of the Hindu-Buddhist Empire of Srivijaya, a maritime confederation based in Palembang. Srivijaya dominated trade in the South China Sea and exacted tolls on all traffic through the Straits of Malacca. Malay culture had substantial influence on the Khmer Empire, and the ancient city of Nakhon Pathom. The founding of the Islamic kingdom of Patani is thought to have been around the mid-13th century, with folklore suggesting it was named after an exclamation made by Sultan Ismail Shah, “Pantai Ini!” ("This beach" in the local Malay language)[1]. However, some think it was the same country known to the Chinese as Pan Pan. Despite claims that the origins of the name Pattani means "this beach", it may been the same country known to the Chinese as Pan Pan. An alternative suggestion is that the Patani kingdom was founded in the 14th century. Local stories tell of a fisherman named Paktani who was sent by a king from the interior to survey the coast to find a place for an appropriate settlement. After he established a successful fishing outpost, other people moved to join him. The town soon grew into a prosperous trading center that continued to bear his name. The authors of the Hikayat Patani chronicle claim this story is untrue, and support the claim that the kingdom was founded by the Sultan. The Pattani kingdom's golden age was during the reign of its four successive queens from 1584, known as Ratu Hijau (The Green Queen), Ratu Biru (The Blue Queen), Ratu Ungu (The Purple Queen) and Ratu Kuning (The Yellow Queen), where the kingdom's economic and military strength was greatly increased to the point that it was able to fight off four major Siamese invasions, with the help of the eastern Malay kingdom of Pahang and the southern Malay Sultanate of Johore. [edit] Patani and the Siamese Kingdom [edit] Sukhothai In the 14th century, King Ramkhamhaeng the Great (c.1239 - 1317) of Sukhothai (also known as Pho Khun Ramkhamhaeng, Thai: พ่อขุนรามคำแหงมหาราช), occupied Nakhon Si Thammarat and its vassal states - including Pattani. [edit] Ayutthaya Patani 1837 The Thai Ayutthaya kingdom conquered the isthmus[when?], bringing it into a single unified state with Ayutthaya as a capital, and many smaller vassal states under its control. This consisted of a self-governing system in which the vassal states and tributary provinces owed allegiance to the king of Ayutthaya, but otherwise ran their own affairs. A sheikh from Kampong Pasai (presumeably a small community of traders from Pasai who lived on the outskirts of Patani) named Sa'id or Shafi'uddin, in various accounts, healed the king of a rare skin disease and after much negotiation (and recurrence of the disease), the king agreed to convert to Islam, adopting the name Sultan Ismail Shah. Afterward, all of the sultan's officials also converted. There is fragmentary evidence, however, that some local people had begun to convert prior to the king's conversion. First of all, the existence of a diasporic Pasai community near Patani shows that local people had regular, close contact with Muslims. But there are also travel reports, such as that of Ibn Battuta, and early Portuguese accounts that claimed Patani had an established Muslim community even prior to Melaka (which officially converted in 1413), which would suggest that non-courtiers, probably merchants who made contact with other emerging Muslims centers of the time, were the first to convert in the region. During much of the 15th century Ayutthaya's energies were directed toward the Malay Peninsula, especially the trading port of Malacca, which fell under the rule of the Malacca Sultanate. Ayutthaya's sovereignty extended over Malacca and the Malay states south of Tambralinga (Nakorn Sri Thammarat). Ayutthaya helped to develop and stabilize the region, opening the way for the lucrative trade on the isthmus. This attracted Chinese merchants seeking specialty goods for the markets of China. The 16th century witnessed the rise of Burma, which under an aggressive dynasty had overrun Chiang Mai and Laos and then made war on Ayutthaya. In 1569 Burmese forces, joined by Siamese rebels, captured and looted the city of Ayutthaya, carrying the royal family into captivity in Burma. Dhammaraja (reigned 1569–90), a Siam provincial governor who had aided the Burmese, was installed as vassal king at Ayutthaya. Thai independence was later restored by his son, King Naresuan the Great (reigned 1590–1605), who rebelled against the Burmese and by 1600 had driven them from the country. Determined to prevent another act of treason like his father's, King Naresuan set about unifying the country's administration directly under the royal court at Ayutthaya. He ended the practice of nominating royal princes to govern Ayutthaya's provinces, assigning instead court officials who were expected to execute the policies handed down by the king. Thereafter, the royal princes were confined to the capital. Their power struggles continued, but were at court under the king's watchful eye. Even with King Naresuan's reforms, the power of the royal government over the next 150 years should not be overestimated. With the fall of Ayutthaya to the Burmese in 1569, Patani had become virtually independent. Chinese merchants, beginning with Cheng Ho in the period 1406-1433, played a major role in the rise of Patani as a regional trade center. They were soon joined by other groups such as the Portuguese in 1516, Japanese in 1592, Dutch in 1602, English in 1612, and of course a great number of Malay and Siamese merchants who worked throughout the area. The United East India Company and the English East India Company established warehouses in Patani in 1603 and 1612, respectively, and carried out intense trading there. Patani was particularly viewed by European traders as a way of accessing the Chinese market. After 1620, the Dutch and English both closed their warehouses, but a prosperous trade continued, mainly with the Chinese, Japanese, and Portuguese, for much of the rest of the century. Following the 1688 invasion by Ayudhya, political disorder ensued for the following half-century during which time local rulers were unable to quell the lawlessness that consumed the region. Most foreign merchants abandoned their trade in Patani at that time. Patani 1782 In the mid-17th century, however, Ratu Kuning (the Yellow Queen), believed to be the last of the four successive female rulers of Pattani, died. Pattani went through decades of political chaos and conflict, suffering a gradual decline. One hundred years later, Ayutthaya under King Ekatat (Boromaraja V) was faced with another the Burmese invasion. This culminated in the fall and complete destruction of Ayutthaya in 1767. Siam was broken apart, Patani declared its independence. King Taksin managed to defeat the Burmese and reunify the country, opening the way for the establishment of the Chakri dynasty by his successor, King Rama I. A resurgent and much stronger Siam, led by Prince Surasi (Vice-King Boworn Maha Surasinghanat), the younger brother of King Rama I, sought the submission of Pattani. [edit] Patani in the Bangkok Period A series of attempted rebellions prompted Bangkok to divide Pattani into seven smaller states during the reign of King Rama II. Yala and Narathiwat remain separate provinces to this day. [edit] Chronology of Rulers Inland Dynasty Sultan Ismail Shah (d. 1530?), founder of the kingdom according to one account, and the first ruler to convert to Islam. In actuality, other rulers must have preceded him. It is also likely that during his reign the Portuguese first visited the port to trade, arriving in 1516. He was called King Phaya Tu Nakpa before his conversion. Sultan Mudhaffar Shah (c. 1530-1564), son of Sultan Ismail Shah, who died during an attack on Ayudhya (Siam). Sultan Manzur Shah (1564–1572), brother of Sultan Mudhaffar Shah. Sultan Patik Siam (1572–1573), son of Sultan Mudhaffar Shah, who was murdered by his half-brother, Raja Bambang. Sultan Bahdur (1573–1584), son of Sultan Manzur Shah, who was considered a tyrant in most accounts. Ratu Hijau (the Green Queen) (1584–1616), sister of Sultan Bahdur, during whose reign Patani attained his greatest economic success as a middle-sized port frequented by Chinese, Dutch, English, Japanese, Malays, Portuguese, Siamese, and other merchants. Ratu Biru (the Blue Queen) (1616–1624), sister of Ratu Hijau. Ratu Ungu (the Purple Queen) (1624–1635), sister of Ratu Biru, who was particularly opposed to Siamese interference in local affairs. Ratu Kuning (the Yellow Queen) (1635-1649/88), daughter of Ratu Ungu and last queen of the Inland Dynasty. Controversy surrounds the exact date of the end of her reign. Kelantan Dynasty Raja Bakal, (1688-1690 or 1651–1670), after a brief invasion of Patani by his father in 1649, Raja Sakti I of Kelantan, he was given the throne in Patani. Raja Emas Kelantan (1690-1704 or 1670–1698), thought by Teeuw & Wyatt to be a king, but claimed by al-Fatani to be a queen, the widow of Raja Bakal and mother of the succeeding queen. Raja Emas Chayam (1704-1707 or 1698–1702 and 1716–1718), daughter of the two preceding rulers, according to al-Fatani. Raja Dewi (1707–1716; Fatani gives no dates). Raja Bendang Badan (1716-1720 or ?-1715), he was afterward raja of Kelantan, 1715-1733. Raja Laksamana Dajang (1720–1721; Fatani gives no dates). Raja Alung Yunus (1728-1729 or 1718–1729) Raja Yunus (1729–1749) Raja Long Nuh (1749–1771). [edit] See also Pattani Province Pattani (region) Siam Thailand South Thailand insurgency PULO Yawi language List of Sunni Muslim dynasties

HISTORY OF THAILAND.

History of Thailand From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search "Siam" redirects here. For other uses, see Siam (disambiguation). The Thais moved from their ancestral home in southern China into mainland southeast Asia around the 10th century AD. Prior to this, Indianized kingdoms such as the Mon, Khmer and Malay kingdoms ruled the region. The Thais established their own states starting with Sukhothai, Chiang Saen and Chiang Mai and Lanna Kingdom and then Ayutthaya kingdom. These states fought each other and were under constant threat from the Khmers, Burma and Vietnam. Much later, the European colonial powers threatened in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but Thailand survived as the only Southeast Asian state to avoid colonial rule. After the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932, Thailand endured sixty years of almost permanent military rule before the establishment of a democratic elected-government system. Contents[hide] 1 Initial states of Thailand 2 Ancient Civilizations 2.1 Dvaravati 2.2 Si Kottaboon 2.3 Southern Thailand 3 Classical Era 3.1 Lavo 3.2 Hariphunchai 3.3 Arrival of the Tais 3.4 Chao Phraya Basin under the Tai 4 Sukhothai and Lanna 5 Ayutthaya 6 Thonburi and Bangkok period 7 End of Absolute Monarchy and Military rule 8 Democracy 9 Notes 10 References 11 See also [edit] Initial states of Thailand This section does not cite any references or sources.Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2009) Prior to the southwards migration of the Tai people from Yunnan in the 10th century, the Indochina peninsula had been a home to various indigenous animistic communities for as far back as 500,000 years ago. The recent discovery of Homo erectus fossils such as Lampang man is but one example. The remains were first discovered during excavations in Lampang province, Thailand. The finds have been dated from roughly 1,000,000-500,000 years ago in the Pleistocene. There are myriad sites in Thailand dating to the Bronze (1500 BC-500 BC) and Iron Ages (500 BC-AD 500). The most thoroughly researched of these sites are located in the country's Northeast, especially in the Mun and Chi River valleys. The Mun River in particular is home to many 'moated' sites which comprise mounds surrounded by ditches and ramparts. The mounds contain evidence of prehistoric occupation. Around the 1st century of the Christian era, according to Funan epigraphy and the records of Chinese historians (Coedes), a number of trading settlements of the South appear to have been organized into several Malay states, among the earliest of which are believed to be Langkasuka and Tambralinga. [edit] Ancient Civilizations Prior to the arrival of the Tai people and culture into what is now Thailand, the region hosted a number of indigenous Mon-Khmer and Malay civilizations. Yet little is known about Thailand before the 13th century as the literary and concrete sources are scarce and most of the knowledge about this period is gleaned from archeological evidence. [edit] Dvaravati Main article: Dvaravati A 13 meter long reclining Buddha, Nakhon Ratchasima The Chao Phraya valley in what is now Central Thailand had once been the home of Mon Dvaravati culture, which prevailed from the 7th century to the 10th century.[1] The existence of the civilizations had long been forgotten by the Thai when Samuel Beal discovered the polity among the Chinese writings on Southeast Asia as “Tou-lo-po-ti”. During the early 20th century the archeologists led by George Coedès made grand excavations on what is now Nakorn Pathom and found it to be a center of Dvaravati culture. The constructed name Dvaravati was confirmed by a Sanskrit plate inscription containing the name “Dvaravati”. Khmer period Thai sculpture of Vishnu, ~10th century Later on, many more Dvaravati sites were discovered throughout the Chao Phraya valley. The two most important sites were Nakorn Pathom and Uthong (in the present Suphanburi Province). The inscriptions of Dvaravati were in Sanskrit and Mon using the script derived from the Pallava script of the Pallava dynasty. The religion of Dvaravati is thought to be Theravada through contacts with Sri Lanka, with the ruling class also participating in Hindu rites. The Dvaravati art, including the Buddha sculptures and stupas, showed strong similarities to those of the Gupta dynasty. The most prominent production of Dvaravati art are the Thammachakras or the Stone Wheels signifying Buddhist principles. The eastern parts of the Chao Phraya valley were subjected to a more Khmer and Hindu influence as the inscriptions are found in Khmer and Sanskrit.[2] Dvaravati was not a kingdom but a network of city-states paying tributes to more powerful ones according to the mandala model. Dvaravati culture expanded into Isan as well as southwards as far as the Isthmus of Kra. Dvaravati was a part of ancient international trade as Roman artifacts were also found and Dvaravati tributes to the Tang court are recorded. The culture came to an end around the 10th century when it was replaced by a more unified Lavo-Khmer polity. [edit] Si Kottaboon While the Dvaravatians ruled Chao Phraya, Isan was the place of the Si Kottaboon culture, which belonged to the native Mon-Khmer people. Si Kottaboon is regarded as a stem culture of Dvaravati with Mon scripts and oval-shaped cities. The Thammachakras of Dvaravati became the Semas or Stone Leaves of Si Kottaboon. The culture tolerated the Khmer Chenla expansions around the 7th century. The southeasternmost part of Isan was the heartland of the Chenla kingdom that expanded over the southern Funan around the 7th century. [edit] Southern Thailand Below the Isthmus of Kra was the place of Malay civilizations. Primordial Malay kingdoms are described as tributaries to Funan by 2nd century Chinese sources – though most of them proved to be tribal organizations instead of full-fledged kingdoms.[3] From the 6th century onwards, two major mandalas ruled Southern Thailand – the Kanduli and the Langkasuka. Kanduli centered on what is now Surat Thani Province and Langasuka on Pattani. Southern Thailand was the center of Hinduism and Mahayana. The Tang dynasty monk I Ching stopped at Langkasuka to study Pali grammar and Mahayana during his journey to India around 800 AD. At that time, the kingdoms of Southern Thailand quickly fell under the influences of the Malay kingdom of Srivijaya from Sumatra. [edit] Classical Era From about the 10th century to the 14th century Thailand was known through archeological findings and a number of local legends. The period saw the Khmer domination over a large portion of Chao Phraya basin and the Isan. The expansion of Tai people and culture southwards also happened during the classical era. [edit] Lavo Main article: Lavo kingdom Wat Phra Prang Sam Yod in Lopburi Around the 10th century, the city-states of Dvaravati coalesced into two mandalas – the Lavo (modern Lopburi) and the Supannabhum (modern Suphanburi). According to a legend in the Northern Chronicles, in 903, a king of Tambralinga invaded and took Lavo and installed a Malay prince to the Lavo throne. The Malay prince was married to a Khmer princess who had fled an Angkorian dynastic bloodbath. The son of the couple contested for the Khmer throne and became Suryavarman I, thus bringing Lavo under Khmer domination through personal union. Suryavarman I also expanded into Isan, constructing many temples. Suryavarman, however, had no male heirs and again Lavo was independent. King Anawratha of Bagan invaded Lavo in 1057 and took a Lavo princess as his wife. The power of the Lavo kingdom reached the zenith in the reign of Narai (1072–1076). Lavo faced Burmese invasions under Kyanzittha, whose mother was the Lavo princess, in 1080 but was able to repel. After the death of Narai, however, Lavo was plunged into bloody civil war and the Khmer under Suryavarman II took advantage by invading Lavo and installing his son as the King of Lavo. The repeated but discontinued Khmer domination eventually "Khmerized" Lavo. Lavo was transformed from a Theravadic Monic Dvaravati city into a Hindu Khmer one. Lavo became the entrepôt of Khmer culture and power of the Chao Phraya basin. The bas-relief at Angkor Wat showed a Lavo army as one of the subordinates to Angkor. However, one interesting note is that a Tai army was shown as a part of Lavo army, a century before the establishment of the Sukhothai kingdom. [edit] Hariphunchai Main article: Hariphunchai A Buddha from Wat Kukkut, Lamphun According to the Jamadevivamsa, the city of Hariphunchai (modern Lamphun) was founded by the hermits; Jamadevi, a Lavo princess, was invited to rule the city in around 700 AD. However, the date is considered too early for the foundation of Hariphunchai as Jamadevi brought no Thammachakras to the north. Hariphunchai may be a later (about the 10th century) offshoot of the Lavo kingdom or instead related to the Thaton kingdom. Hariphunchai was the center of Theravada in the north. The kingdom flourished during the reign of King Attayawong who built the Dhatu of Hariphunchai in 1108. The kingdom had strong relations to another Mon kingdom of Thaton. During the 11th century, Hariphunchai waged lengthy wars with the Tai Ngoenyang kingdom of Chiang Saen. Weakened by Tai invasions, Hariphunchai eventually fell in 1293 to Mangrai the Great, king of Lanna, the successor state of the Ngoenyang kingdom. [edit] Arrival of the Tais The most recent and accurate theory about the origin of the Tai people stipulated that Guangxi province in China is really the Tai motherland instead of Yunnan province. A large number of Tai people, known as the Zhuang, still live in Guangxi today. Around 700 AD, Tai people who did not come under Chinese influence settled in what is now Dien Bien Phu in modern Vietnam according to the Khun Borom legend. From there, the Tais began to radiate into northern highlands and founded the cities of Luang Prabang and Chiang Saen. The Simhanavati legend tells us that a Tai chief named Simhanavati drove out the native Wa people and founded the city of Chiang Saen around 800 AD. For the first time, the Tai people made contact with the Indianized civilizations of Southeast Asia. Through Hariphunchai, the Tais of Chiang Saen adopted Theravada Buddhism and Sanskrit royal names. The Dhatu of Doi Tung, constructed around 850 AD, signified the piety of Tai people on the Theravada religion. Around 900 AD, major wars were fought between Chiang Saen and Hariphunchai. The Mon forces captured Chiang Saen and its king fled. In 937, Prince Prom the Great took Chiang Saen back from the Mon and inflicted severe defeats on Hariphunchai. Around 1000 AD, Chiang Saen was destroyed by an earthquake with all the inhabitants killed. A council was established to govern the kingdom for a while, and then a local Wa man known as Lavachakkaraj was elected the King of the new city of Chiang Saen or Ngoenyang. The Lavachakkaraj dynasty would rule over the region for about 500 years. The overpopulation might have encouraged the Tais to seek their fortune further southwards. By 1100 AD, the Tai had established themselves as Po Khuns (ruling fathers) at Nan, Phrae, Songkwae, Sawankhalok, Chakangrao, etc. on the upper Chao Phraya valley. These southern Tai princes faced Khmer influence from Lavo. Some of them became subordinates to the Lavo-Khmer polity. [edit] Chao Phraya Basin under the Tai There are several legends about the Tai coming to rule mandalas of Central Thailand including Lavo and Suphannabhum. The Suphannabhum mandala had been independent from Khmer influence and composed originally the Western Provinces of modern Thailand including Suphanburi, Ratchaburi, and Phetchaburi. In the 12th century, the Tai Po Khuns of the upper Chao Phraya coalesced around the Po Khun of Sukhothai - an important Khmer outpost. With the weakened Khmer authority, Po Khun Si Nau Namthom of Sukhothai gained the autonomy of upper Chao Phraya valley. However, during the reign of Jayavarman VII, the Khmer power was strengthened and the Tai Po Khuns were subdued and brought under Khmer suzerainty. Suphannabhum was also weakened by Khmer invasions and only the city of Suphanburi itself was left. [edit] Sukhothai and Lanna Main article: Sukhothai kingdom Main article: Lanna Southeast Asia c.1300 CE, showing Khmer Empire in red, Lavo kingdom in light blue, Sukhothai empire in orange, Champa in yellow, Dai Viet in blue and Kingdom of Lanna in purple. The ruins of Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai Historical Park Thai city-states gradually became independent from the weaker Khmer Empire. It is said that Sukhothai was established as a sovereign, strong kingdom by Pho Khun Si Indrathit in 1238 AD. A political feature called by 'classic' Thai historians as, 'father governs children' existed at this time. Everybody could bring their problems to the king directly; as there was a bell in front of the palace for this purpose. The city briefly dominated the area under King Ramkhamhaeng, who established the Thai alphabet, but after his death in 1365 it fell into decline and became subject to another emerging Thai state: the Ayutthaya kingdom in the lower Chao Phraya area. Another Thai state that coexisted with Sukhothai was the northern state of Lanna, centred in Chiang Mai. King Phya Mangrai was its founder. This city-state emerged in the same period as Sukhothai. Evidently Lanna became closely allied with Sukhothai. After the Ayutthaya kingdom had emerged and expanded its influence from the Chao Phraya valley, Sukhothai was finally subdued. Fierce battles between Lanna and Ayutthaya also constantly took place and Chiang Mai was eventually subjugated, becoming Ayutthaya's 'vassal'. Lanna's independent history ended in 1558, when it finally fell to the Burmese; thereafter it was dominated by Burma until the late 18th century. Local leaders then rose up against the Burmese with the help of the rising Thai kingdom of Thonburi of king Taksin. The 'Northern City-States' then became vassals of the lower Thai kingdoms of Thonburi and Bangkok. In the early 20th century they were annexed and became part of modern Siam, the country now called Thailand. [edit] Ayutthaya Main article: Ayutthaya kingdom Southeast Asia c.1400 CE, showing Khmer Empire in red, Ayutthaya Kingdom in violet, Lan Xang kingdom in teal, Sukhothai kingdom in orange, Champa in yellow, Kingdom of Lanna in purple, Dai Viet in blue. Siamese embassy to Louis XIV in 1686, by Jacques Vigouroux Duplessis Ayutthaya in the 17th century The city of Ayutthaya was located on a small island, encircled by three rivers. Due to its superior location, Ayutthaya quickly became powerful, politically and economically. Ayutthaya had different, various names ranging from 'Ayothaya', derived from Ayodhya, an Indian holy city,'Krung Thep', 'Phra Nakorn' and 'Dvaravati'. The first ruler of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, King Ramathibodi I (ruled 1351 to 1369), made two important contributions to Thai history: the establishment and promotion of Theravada Buddhism as the official religion – to differentiate his kingdom from the neighbouring Hindu kingdom of Angkor – and the compilation of the Dharmashastra, a legal code based on Hindu sources and traditional Thai custom. The Dharmashastra remained a tool of Thai law until late in the 19th century. In the 417 years of existence, the Ayutthaya kingdom was frequently plagued by internal fighting but this did not prevent its rise as a major power on mainland Southeast Asia. Ayutthaya's culture and traditions became the model for the next period in Thai history, the Bangkok based Rattanakosin Kingdom of the Chakri Dynasty. Beginning with arrival of Portuguese ambassador Duarte Fernandes in 1511, Ayutthaya, known to the Europeans as 'Kingdom of Siam', came into contact with the West during the 16th century. It became one of the most prosperous cities in East Asia. According to George Modelski, Ayutthaya is estimated to have been the largest city in the world in 1700 CE, with a population of around 1 million.[4] Trade flourished with the Dutch and French among the most active foreigners in the kingdom together with the Chinese and Japanese. The Ayutthaya period is known as "Golden age of medicine in Thailand" due to progress in the field of medicine at that time.[5] Ayutthaya expanded its sphere of influence over a considerable area, ranging from the Islamic states on the Malay Peninsula, the Andaman ports of present day Myanmar, the Angkor kingdom of Cambodia, to states in northern Thailand. In the 18th century, the power of the Ayutthaya Kingdom gradually declined as fighting between princes and officials plagued its political arena. Outlying principalities became more and more independent, ignoring the capital's orders and decrees. In the 18th century, the last phase of the kingdom arrived. The Burmese, who had taken control of Lanna and had also unified their kingdom under the powerful Konbaung Dynasty, launched several blows against Ayutthaya in the 1750s and 1760s. Finally, in 1767, after several months of siege, the Burmese broke through Ayutthaya's walls, sacked the city and burned it down. The royal family fled the city and Ayutthaya's last king Ekkathat died of starvation ten days later while in hiding. The Ayutthaya royal line had been extinguished. Overall there had been 33 kings in this period, including an unofficial king. Five dynasties ruled the Ayutthaya Kingdom: U-Thong Dynasty which consisting of 3 kings Suphanabhumi Dynasty consisting of 13 kings Sukhothai Dynasty consisting of 7 kings Prasart Thong (Golden Palace) Dynasty consisting of 4 kings Bann Plu Dynasty consisting of 6 kings [edit] Thonburi and Bangkok period Main article: History of Thailand (1768–1932) After more than 400 years of power, in 1767, the Kingdom of Ayutthaya was brought down by invading Burmese armies, its capital burned, and the territory split. General Taksin managed to reunite the Thai kingdom from his new capital of Thonburi and declared himself king in 1769. However, Taksin allegedly became mad, and he was deposed, taken prisoner, and executed in 1782. General Chakri succeeded him in 1782 as Rama I, the first king of the Chakri dynasty. In the same year he founded the new capital city at Bangkok, across the Chao Phraya river from Thonburi, Taksin's capital. In the 1790s Burma was defeated and driven out of Siam, as it was then called. Lanna also became free of Burmese occupation, but the king of a new dynasty who was installed in the 1790s was effectively a tributary ruler of the Chakri monarch. The heirs of Rama I became increasingly concerned with the threat of European colonialism after British victories in neighboring Burma in 1826. The first Thai recognition of Western power in the region was the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United Kingdom in 1826. In 1833, the United States began diplomatic exchanges with Siam, as Thailand was called until 1939, and again between 1945 and 1949. However, it was during the later reigns of King Mongkut (1804–1868), and his son King Chulalongkorn (1853–1910), that Thailand established firm rapprochement with Western powers. It is a widely held view in Thailand that the diplomatic skills of these monarchs, combined with the modernising reforms of the Thai Government, made Siam the only country in Southeast Asia to avoid European colonisation. This is reflected in the country's modern name, Prathet Thai or Thai‐land, used since 1939 (although the name was reverted to Siam during 1945–49), in which prathet means "nation". The Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 defined the modern border between Siam and British Malaya by securing Thai authority over the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Satun, which were previously part of the semi‐independent Malay sultanates of Pattani and Kedah. A series of treaties with France fixed the country's current eastern border with Laos and Cambodia. [edit] End of Absolute Monarchy and Military rule Main article: History of Thailand (1932–1973) The Siamese revolution of 1932 was led by a group of young military officers and civil servants. The group held key figures, ministers who were of the royal blood as hostages while the king, Rama VII, was at the summer palace in Hua Hin. The coup, usually called 'The Revolution of 1932', transformed the Government of Thailand from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy. The cabinet was presided by the prime minister. Military men always played a significant role in the politics even before 1932. Already in 1912, during the Rama VI reign, young soldiers had been arrested who had plotted a coup urging a constitution and a change of the king's status. King Rama VII, Prajadhipok initially accepted this change, granting the Constitution but later abdicated from his position due to conflicts with the government. The revolutionary government decided to install his ten year old nephew, Ananda Mahidol as the new monarch. Upon his abdication, King Prajadhipok said that the duty of a ruler was to reign for the good of the whole people, not for a selected few. Thai politics ran into turmoil as the revolutionary government plunged into factions; military and intellectuals. A coup and a rebellion took place. Eventually the military faction took control. The regime became evidently authoritarian under the prime minister Luang Pibulsongkram, one of the members of the Revolutionary military wing. The young King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) died in 1946 under somewhat mysterious circumstances, the official explanation being that he shot himself by accident while cleaning his gun. He was succeeded by his brother Bhumibol Adulyadej, the longest reigning king of Thailand, and very popular with the Thais. Although nominally a constitutional monarchy, Thailand was ruled by a series of military governments, most prominently led by Luang Phibunsongkhram and Sarit Dhanarajata, interspersed with brief periods of democracy. In early January 1941, Thailand invaded French Indochina, beginning the French-Thai War. The Thais, better equipped and outnumbering the French forces, easily reclaimed Laos. The French decisively won the naval Battle of Koh Chang. The Japanese mediated the conflict, and a general armistice was declared on January 28. On May 9 a peace treaty was signed in Tokyo, with the French being coerced by the Japanese into relinquishing their hold on the disputed territories. On December 8, 1941, a few hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan demanded the right to move troops across Thailand to the Malayan frontier. Japan invaded Thailand and engaged the Thai army for six to eight hours before Phibunsongkhram ordered an armistice. Shortly thereafter Japan was granted free passage, and on December 21, 1941, Thailand and Japan signed a military alliance with a secret protocol wherein Tokyo agreed to help Thailand regain territories lost to the British and French (i.e. the Shan States of Burma, Malaya, Singapore, & part of Yunnan, plus Laos & Cambodia) Subsequently, Thailand undertook to 'assist' Japan in its war against the Allies. NOTE: Japan's distrust of Thailand extended to the point of rearming their 'ally' with controlled munitions, including the famous Siamese Mauser, which was manufactured in an unusual caliber. The Seri Thai (Free Thai Movement) was an underground resistance movement against Japan that was supported by the United States and operated freely, often with support from members of the Royal family (Prince Chula Chakrabongse) and members of the government. After Japan's defeat in 1945, with the help of Seri Thai, Thailand was treated as a defeated country by the British and French, although American support mitigated the Allied terms. Thailand was not occupied by the Allies, but it was forced to return the territory it had regained to the British and the French. In the postwar period Thailand had relations with the United States, which it saw as a protector from the communist revolutions in neighboring countries. Communist guerillas existed in the country from early '60s up to 1987, counting almost 12,000 full-time fighters at the peak of movement,but never posed a serious threat to the state. Recently, Thailand also has been an active member in the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), especially after democratic rule was restored in 1992. [edit] Democracy Main article: History of Thailand since 1973 Main article: 2008–2010 Thai political crisis Post-1973 has been marked by a struggle to define the political contours of the state. It was won by the King and General Prem Tinsulanonda, who favored a monarchy constitutional order. The post-1973 years have seen a difficult and sometimes bloody transition from military to civilian rule, with several reversals along the way. The revolution of 1973 inaugurated a brief, unstable period of democracy, with military rule being reimposed after the 6 October 1976 Massacre. For most of the 1980s, Thailand was ruled by Prem Tinsulanonda, a democratically inclined strongman who restored parliamentary politics. Thereafter the country remained a democracy apart from a brief period of military rule from 1991 to 1992. The populist Thai Rak Thai party, led by prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, came to power in 2001. He was popular with the subaltern and rural and urban poor for his populist social programs by destroying the financial stability of the country, his rule came under attack from the elites who saw danger of his parliamentary dictatorship. Also in mid-2005, Sondhi Limthongkul, a well-known media tycoon, became the foremost Thaksin critic because his TV show ordered to close proving injustice in ruling. He continued disclosing the hidden truth of Thaksin government corruption and criminals against humanity, called drug war by killing more than 2,000 innocent people. Eventually Sondhi and his alliances developed the movement into a mass protest and later unified under the name of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). On September 19, 2006, after the dissolution of the parliament, Thaksin then became the provisional government. While he was in New York for a meeting of the UN, Army Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Sonthi Boonyaratglin launched the bloodless romantic coup September 2006 Thailand military coup d'état supported by anti-Thaksin elements in civil society and among the Right Wing Democrat Party. A general election on 23 December 2007 restored a civilian government, led by Samak Sundaravej of the People's Power Party, as a descendant of Thai Rak Thai. In mid-2008, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) led large protests against the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, whom they criticized for his ties to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. On 26 August 2008, the protesters illegally occupied several government ministries, including the Government House which they sacked, to force the government to give in to demands.[6] Beginning August 29, protesters disrupted air and rail infrastructure, including Suvarnabhumi airport. They have never been prosecuted.[7] The chaos ended in December when three of the parties that formed the government were dissolved by the Constitutional Court for election fraud.[8] After this decision, many previous coalition partners of the government then defected and joined the main opposition party, the Democrat party, and refusing elections to immediately form a new government in the favour of the old guard elites.[9]