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ETHNIC MINORITIES: Anand calls for



Subject: ETHNIC MINORITIES: Anand calls for fair treatment

BANGKOK POST - November 16, 1999

ETHNIC MINORITIES

Anand calls for fair treatment
Mon place their hope in respected abbot

Sanitsuda Ekachai

In the wake of rising nationalism against illegal aliens, former prime
minister Anand Panyarachun expressed sympathy for ethnic minorities in
Thailand and criticised the authorities for violating their basic human
rights.

Withholding Thai citizenship from long-time ethnic residents will cause
more
social harm than good to the country, he said.

Mr Anand's stature itself shows how Thailand can benefit from giving
equal
opportunities to ethnic residents.

"My ancestors were Mon who came to Thailand during the reign of King
Rama
III," said Mr Anand during a visit to Ban Wangga, an ethnic Mon village
on
the Thai-Burmese border in Sangklaburi district, Kanchanaburi.

The village of 5,000 families have been living in Thailand for more than
50
years. Although their second and third generations were born in
Thailand,
they have not been granted Thai citizenship. They are not allowed to
leave
the areas unless seriously sick and in need of hospital care. Their
education is also limited to only Mathayom 3 or junior high school.

Despite their insecure status, the Mon at Wangga are living in peace
thanks
to moral leadership from a highly respected Buddhist monk, Luang Por
Uttama,
who provides the community with basic amenities and whose clout protects
them from state harassment.

The people there, however, fear persecution when the elderly charismatic
monk passes away.

Mr Anand spoke his mind during a cultural trip to Sangklaburi organised
by
Siam Tyre Pcl to study the role of Karen and Mon in ancient warfare of
old
Siam-a contribution unrecognised by state history.

In order to dismantle ethnic discrimination, the public needs to
understand
that ethnic groups' participation helped defend and build the Thai
nation,
said well-known archaeologist Srisak Wallibhotama, who led the cultural
tour.

Khunying Supatra Masdit, minister of the PM's Office, said she would ask
the
Interior Ministry to look into the citizenship problem of the Mon at Ban
Wangga.

The problem of ethnic discrimination is not limited to the Mon at Ban
Wangga, said Mr Anand. "It's true with every ethnic group in Thailand,
particularly the hilltribes.

"They are painted as forest destroyers which is untrue if we study their
traditional farming patterns. The problem stems from the government's
way of
thinking, which treats them as second-class citizens and this leads to
many
social problems," he said.

The government has paid little attention to the problem of ethnic
persecution. "This is not a political, but a human rights problem."

Unlike past traditional practices of old Siam that allowed ethnic groups
to
be part of the society while maintaining their cultural identity,
Thailand's
discrimination against ethnic minorities stemmed from the government's
national security policies which viewed minorities with mistrust.

True nationalism, commented Mr Anand, must be one that respects others'
differences while fostering social harmony among different groups in
society.

The new constitution, he added, also recognises the ethnic minorities'
right
to preserve their cultural identity as well as their right to manage
their
local natural resources.