The Pattani United Liberation Organization (PULO) is one of the active armed terrorist groups that calls for FREE FATANI, as pronounced locally, this group, along with others, is currently fighting for the independence of Thailand's predominantly Malay south. Currently, PULO is targeting civilians (Buddhists, Muslims alike), government officials, soldiers and policemen and carries out operations in the forms of motorcycle drive-by shootings and bombing public places. The struggle of PULO is the continuation of the struggle by the Malay Sultanates and Kingdoms after the area was colonialised and annexed by Siam two centuries ago.

PULO, in its acts of independence, wishes its proposed state would cover the areas historically ruled by Sultanate of Fatani (consisting of Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala provinces), Singora (consisting of Songkhla province), and State of Satul (consisting of Satun province). Mueang Pattani is a city in the far south of Thailand, near the boundary to Malaysia. ... Narathiwat is a town in southern Thailand, capital of the Narathiwat province. ... Yala can refer to several things: Yala National Park, Sri Lanka Yala province, Thailand Amphoe Mueang Yala, capital of the province Yala Yala language, am African language spoken in the Niger-Congo area This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the... Songkhla is both a city and a province in Thailand. ... Songkhla is both a city and a province in Thailand. ... á Satun (Thai สตูล) is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ...

In December 2004, Malaysian politician Datuk Annuar Musa alleged that RM 0.12 million (about USD 40,000) had gone from the Kelantan branch of the Malaysian Islamic Welfare Organisation (PERKIM) to PULO. These funds have been funneled into arms acquisition programs and training.[1] This represents approximately 10% of the revenue PERKIM obtained from sales of a timber concession which was directed into a slush fund. Slush fund was originally a nautical term; the slush referred to the fat or grease that was obtained by boiling meat, the sale of which could then be used to provide the crew with special luxuries. ...