As the world observes International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples this week, it is undeniable that indigenous communities in Thailand continue to endure persecution and discrimination.
The United Nations has designated Aug 9 as the day to recognise the cultural identity and challenges faced by indigenous peoples worldwide while also calling on governments to respect, promote, and protect the rights of these communities.
According to the World Bank, indigenous peoples make up approximately 6% of the global population, yet they account for about 19% of the extreme poor. The situation is not much different here.
According to the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, there are over 60 indigenous societies scattered around Thailand, making up about six million people or nearly 10% of the population. The hill tribes, the sea nomads or Chao Lay, and forest dwellers such as the Mani are among the most marginalised people in the country.
Despite being natives of the land, the indigenous forest dwellers and sea nomads endure deep-rooted racial discrimination. Perceived as non-Thais and outsiders, they are deprived of legal rights, categorised as national security threats, and subjected to arrest and deportation.
The crux of the problem is the misconception propagated by the education system that Thailand belongs to the Thai race. In fact, this region, which has long been a crossroads of trade and cultures, is home to numerous indigenous and ethnic groups. The so-called "Thai" people are actually the result of intermarriages and centuries of cultural assimilation between people of various racial and ethnic backgrounds. In short, the country is a culturally pluralistic society, and there is no such thing as a pure Thai race.
Ironically, while promoting the "exotic" indigenous cultures to promote tourism, Thai law rejects the term "indigenous people" because it undermines the nationalistic belief that the Thais own this country. Instead, the government uses the word chatipan meaning ethnic groups for discussions concerning indigenous peoples.
Due to racism, the indigenous peoples suffer many injustices. They lack access to basic services in education, healthcare, and infrastructure such as roads and electricity, not only because they live in remote areas, but also because they are viewed as illegal encroachers although their communities existed long before the areas became national parks.
Worse, indigenous forest dwellers and sea nomads are criminalised by the national park law. In addition to prohibiting them from using and managing the forests and seas which are their ancestral lands and sources of subsistence, they are also subjected to eviction and imprisonment.
Furthermore, indigenous peoples in Thailand are fast losing cultural pride and identities due to the centralised education system, which draws their youth to the cities and fosters a disregard for their heritage. Indigenous people's knowledge of the natural world, sustainable highland farming, biodiversity, and forest conservation are not represented in the education system and thus will be lost as a result, at a crucial time when rainforest preservation is essential to reducing climate change.
It is clear that the state does not consider indigenous cultures to be a part of Thai national identity. The Thai Heritage Conservation Day and recent National Language Day late last month, for example, focus only on the central Thai culture, disregarding the diverse ethnicities that make up the nation. Without support to preserve local cultures, their languages that contain valuable knowledge of nature and conservation will be lost forever.
To be fair, efforts have been made by the Ministry of Culture to acknowledge the cultural identity of these groups, as demonstrated by the cabinet resolutions on June 2, 2010, and Aug 3, 2010, to protect Chao Lay's way of life and to revive the Karen forest dwellers' way of life respectively. However, these resolutions have not been implemented due to fierce resistance from state agencies, particularly the forest authorities.
According to Section 70 of the 2017 constitution, the government is required to uphold and defend the rights of Thai people from all ethnic backgrounds to live in peace and freedom in accordance with their traditions and customs. Once again, such a lofty objective only exists on paper.
To preserve the indigenous people's way of life, the government must grasp its deep connection to the natural surroundings and sustainable farming. Allowing them to live in their ancestral areas and protect forests is essential for their cultural preservation.
Moreover, addressing the education system's racial nationalism and ethnic prejudice is crucial. Abolishing the draconian forest law that criminalises indigenous people is also necessary.
Only by doing this will we be able to honour International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, fulfil the constitutional mandate and ensure that these cultures receive the respect and protection they deserve.