Causes of Non-Citizen Status

1. Lack of awareness and cultural understanding

While this problem affects thousands of people within the nation of Thailand , it is a problem that is essentially invisible to much of the Thai population. Not only are Thais unaware of the issue of citizenship they are also ignorant of the culture and traditions of the ethnic minority populations. Celebration of these rich cultures is not taught in schools nor portrayed positively in the media. The images that much of the Thai population has of the hilltribes, sea people and displaced Thais are that they are dirty, uneducated, ignorant and backward. There is also the belief that these minorities are the cause of the drug trafficking problem in Thailand. See myths about ethnic minorities.

2. The Thai Government views the situation from an economic vantage point and not a human rights or justice-based one.

The government recognizes the economic benefit of maintaining a “second-class citizen” population for cheap labor and to boost the tourist industry (more on racism) . It is not concerned with granting rights to ethnic minorities and creating a more just society.

3. Lack of knowledge / information among ethnic minority populations

Many of these populations are not educated on the steps they are able to take in order to better their own situation and condition. Because of this lack of education, not only does the cycle of poverty continue but so does the cycle of unfavorable policy at the legislative level as there is little pressure placed on the government by these populations.

4. Large numbers of illegal Burmese workers complicates citizenship selection process.

Because of a large presence of Burmese refugees in Thailand there is a large population of illegal workers who are readily exploited. Stateless people in Thailand lacking any sort of legal documentation are often mistaken for or lumped together categorically with illegal Burmese workers. Thus, ethnic minorities who may have generations of residency in Thailand are labeled as illegal immigrants and subject to the same difficulties (fines, arrest, deportation) as an illegal Burmese worker who has just recently entered the country in search of work.

5. Local level governments lack awareness of existing legal processes.

A lack of awareness of existing legal processes at the local government level means that many government officials are unaware of how they can advocate on behalf of non-citizens in Thailand . They are also unaware of how they can work together with these populations to change legislation and policy.

6. Corruption at the district level of government slows and can prevent citizenship application process.

Many district officers who recieve citizenship applications require bribes, because of their remote locations their superiors are often unaware of these practices. Lack of money to pay off these officers means that many cannot apply for their citizenship. Thai Citizenship Project reports these corrupt practices as they learn of them to the provincial governors in order to demand new officers in the district offices.

7. Data gathering is poorly organized and not centralized.

Because survival in hilltribe villages is the primary concern, when a child is born, documentation of their birth is often done improperly or simply overlooked as it is not part of their tradition. Most children are born in villages and not in hospitals (because they are inaccessible both physically and financially) where proper records can be made.

8. Government resettlement programs have moved populations around against their best interest and at times against their will.

These relocations contribute to poor documentation of legal citizens of Thailand . They have forced different villages (and different tribes) to live together, creating unnatural communities and strife. This division within communities makes it difficult to focus on the broader problem of citizenship when adjustment to a new life and home is a more direct issue. In the north, the different hilltribes come from completely distinct backgrounds and traditions and the forced co-habitation is disruptive and detrimental to their traditional culture and society.