Thai to the bone, But still just Second-Class

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Thai to the bone, But still just Second-Class

Isolated from their motherland by a quirk of fate, stateless people are desperate to be recognised

Published: 5/02/2012 at 02:41 AM
Newspaper section: News

Take a walk through villages on the other side of the Tanao Sri mountain range separating Thailand and Myanmar and it's like you've never crossed the border. Everyone is speaking Thai.

COLOUR BLIND: Stateless identity cards are in pink while Thai national ID cards are in blue. PHOTOS: PORNPROM SATRABHAYA

By a quirk of history, the villages in this area were separated from old Siam and became part of what was then known as Burma. Yet the residents have always regarded themselves as Thai and speak mainly Thai.

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About the author

: Writer: Piyaporn Wongruang; Position: Reporter

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koolbreez
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Discussion 9 : 05/02/2012 at 07:57 PM9
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Simple DNA tests can very easily show who their ancestors are, and how pure their blood is when considering if they are Thai by blood. This test should be a major part of the determining factor in proving their nationality, and rights by blood.
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heartie
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Discussion 8 : 05/02/2012 at 05:53 PM8
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I guess these people aren't rich enough, light skinned, small nosed or beautiful enough to be taken seriously. This story only scratches at the surface of the problem. The deep roots and causes I guess are just too 'complicated' to expose (to the foreigners). Every country has skeletons in the closet and Thailand is no exception.
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spiceman
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Discussion 7 : 05/02/2012 at 03:33 PM7
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I think the Jews got it right as they continue to airlift their fellow Jews from all over the world, including Ethiopian Jews from Ethiopia, back to the Jewish homeland of Israel.

Over here in the US, it's really easy to spot fellow Thais. First, they speak Thai, Second, they like hot-spicy food, and they are predominantly Buddhists. So, I think the same criteria can be used over there too. Didn't we have a Miss Thailand who went on to become Miss Universe, who was born and raised in the US? So, what's the problem?
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dao
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Discussion 6 : 05/02/2012 at 03:31 PM6
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If we spent as much time sorting out our stateless people and giving them citizenship as we did forgiving fugitives and moving officials to inactive posts then Thailand would be a lot better off .
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samurai
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Discussion 5 : 05/02/2012 at 02:05 PM5
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There are scores of Thais along the Malaysian side of the border but we don't see them agitating from Thai citizenship and rights associated with being Thai citizens (rather than being of Tai stock). Unfortunately for the Tennaserim Tai who happen to be born on the "unluckier" side, they are rightly seen as refugees rather than citizens who obtained rights of abode via current channels of citizenship. Race and citizenship are 2 separate issues altogether.
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jacksprat
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Discussion 4 : 05/02/2012 at 11:14 AM4
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The European colonisers forced the present borders on the countries of SE Asia. Many people found themselves on the wrong side as a result. The Khmer Rouge "took care" of thousands of Thais who found themselves in Cambodia. I'm not surprised the Burmese want to get rid of them too.
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rickbkk
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Discussion 3 : 05/02/2012 at 11:02 AM3
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The more you learn about Thais and Thailand, the less appealing they/it get.
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soltair
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Discussion 2 : 05/02/2012 at 07:59 AM2
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"By a quirk of history," well if one is honest and looks at Google Earth Preah Vihear had a similar problem.
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daninthai
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Discussion 1 : 05/02/2012 at 07:59 AM1
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Do Thais not understand the concepts of race and nationality are two seperate things? Get an education people.
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Thai to the bone, But still just Second-Class | Bangkok Post: news