Ministry fast-tracks schoolgirl’s citizenship ahead of US Olympiad

By THE NATION

 

 

A 17-YEAR-OLD stateless schoolgirl’s Thai citizenship has been fast-tracked after it came to public attention that her lack of citizenship would deprive her of an opportunity to participate in an academic contest in New York.

 

The Interior Ministry approved Yonladee “Ploy” Phiyatat’s citizenship, taking into account the fact that she was born in Thailand and has lived here for more than 10 years. The ministry also took into account the fact that she is a student who will represent a government or state organisation in an international competition. 

 

Her citizenship was approved yesterday, just days after her case appeared in mainstream media. 

 

Yonladee, a student at Satree Ranong School, was invited to attend the Genius Olympiad in New York next month, but the US Embassy is known to have always been firm with its rule to not grant visas to stateless persons. 

 

Born to Myanmar parents, Yonladee’s passport application was rejected, because she was not a Thai national. Realising that her statelessness was posing a problem, the schoolgirl decided to take to social media earlier this month to share her problems, and hoping that she could find a way to participate in the Olympiad. 

 

Her post caught public attention and help began arriving. The Office of Basic Education Commission, for instance, was among the first to announce that it would coordinate with relevant authorities to ensure she had all the opportunities she needed. 

 

Yonladee on Thursday travelled from Rayong to Bangkok to obtain the documents she requires for the US visa. “I am so happy to learn of the good news,” the young girl said. 

 

By her side was teacher Monrat Ammorndara, who is very close to Yonladee and had previously expressed an intention to adopt her. 

 

“Now that she is Thai, I have taught her to be grateful and repay the country,” Monrat said. 

 

Yonladee’s classmates said she was outstanding both in academics and extra-curricular activities. 

 

“She is a great friend and always keen to help others. I’m glad she is getting a Thai citizenship,” a classmate said. 

 

With the Interior Ministry confirming that Yonladee has the right to claim Thai citizenship, her next step will be to contact local authorities. Officials have promised to expedite her case so she can make her trip to the US. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30369126

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-05-09

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Sounds like the Ministry is making it up as they go along.

No surprises here.

Interesting that now, in this subsequent article they finally detail why she was stateless.  The original article a few days ago did not mention that she was born to Myanmar parents.  Where are her parents now?

Go get them girl!!

3 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

Interesting that now, in this subsequent article they finally detail why she was stateless.  The original article a few days ago did not mention that she was born to Myanmar parents.  Where are her parents now?

 

They have been living in mueang district of Ranong for about twenty years.

 

They have a fish import business there.
 

Which is why Yolandee attends Satri Ranong School.........in the mueang district of Ranong.

 

Not able to give you Ban name and house/moo number, but I guess it's somewhere near the school:

 

Rongrian Satri Ranong Map - Thailand - Mapcarta

 

 

 

Edited May 9, 20197 yr by Enoon

10 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

They have been living in mueang district of Ranong for about twenty years.

 

They have a fish import business there.
 

Which is why Yolandee attends Satri Ranong School.........in the mueang district of Ranong.

 

Not able to give you Ban name and house/moo number, but I guess it's somewhere near the school:

 

Rongrian Satri Ranong Map - Thailand - Mapcarta

 

 

 

so her parents did not apply for Thai citizenship ever?  Just curious.  It looks like the young girl may catch a break which seems fair since she did not choose where she was born or how or when

What's with the jazz hands

Only way to get things done in Thailand, grind the faces of the officials to smitherines on facebook. Sad country.

6 hours ago, Enoon said:

 

They have been living in mueang district of Ranong for about twenty years.

 

They have a fish import business there.
 

Which is why Yolandee attends Satri Ranong School.........in the mueang district of Ranong.

 

Not able to give you Ban name and house/moo number, but I guess it's somewhere near the school:

 

Rongrian Satri Ranong Map - Thailand - Mapcarta

 

 

 

Funny, the story says she traveled from Rayong to Bangkok to get her paper work. That's 10 hours from Ranong.

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Born to Myanmar parents

Doesn't this make her a Myanmar citizen? Makes it look like she was not stateless.

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

A 17-YEAR-OLD stateless schoolgirl’s Thai citizenship has been fast-tracked after it came to public attention that her lack of citizenship would deprive her of an opportunity to participate in an academic contest in New York.

Typical Thailand... 17 years of nothing then fast-tracked when it has something to gain!!!!

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Her citizenship was approved yesterday, just days after her case appeared in mainstream media. 

It nearly always works.

Lets hope she holds the Burmese flag up if she wins something!

Just now, Orton Rd said:

Lets hope she holds the Burmese flag up if she wins something!

Why would you hope that she did that ?

She is a Thai National now .

7 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Why would you hope that she did that ?

She is a Thai National now .

Only for any glory that might reflect on Thailand, without that possibility she would still be Burmese.  Done for Thai self interest, not hers.

4 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

Only for any glory that might reflect on Thailand, without that possibility she would still be Burmese.  Done for Thai self interest, not hers.

Wouldnt it be better to hold up a Thai flag ?

Actually , why does everything have to be a protest or to make a point ?

She should just go there and get on with it and leave the politics/nationalism to one side 

I guess not that different to what many countries do when it comes to talented athletes. Look at Singapore where it seems all bar one Medal they ever won at olympics were by nationalised athletes. 

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Typical Thailand... 17 years of nothing then fast-tracked when it has something to gain!!!!

Happens all over the world.

If countries see something nice for them naturalisation can be done very fast!

 

great news for the young lady and good luck in her traveling journey. now the minister can keep going and do the same for the hundred thousands + in the same situation, once and for all give the "stateless" kids a citizenship

14 hours ago, Pattaya28 said:

Sounds like the Ministry is making it up as they go along.

No surprises here.

Can anyone direct the me to the ministers offices for: silly walks, unfathomable idiocy, and cake making ?

Give everyone born here citizenship - it's a right not a present.

2 hours ago, sanemax said:

Wouldnt it be better to hold up a Thai flag ?

Actually , why does everything have to be a protest or to make a point ?

She should just go there and get on with it and leave the politics/nationalism to one side 

If only Thais left nationalism out of it every time they come into the limelight however obscurely out come the flags and certain photos. They even did it when Leicester won the premiership in the UK in 2016 and they had zero Thai players.

Edited May 10, 20197 yr by Orton Rd

10 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

so her parents did not apply for Thai citizenship ever?  Just curious.  It looks like the young girl may catch a break which seems fair since she did not choose where she was born or how or when

The parents had no grounds to apply for Thai citizenship , they were not from Thailand and thus were unable to get Thai citizenship

3 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

If only Thais left nationalism out of it every time they come into the limelight however obscurely out come the flags and certain photos. They even did it when Leicester won the premiership in the UK in 2016 and they had zero Thai players.

What flags are you talking about ?

There doesnt seem to be any flags involved in this story , although you would expect some flags to be flown when a person is receding citizenship .

 *Thais should leave their flags out of it, but she should wave a Burmese flag around*?

I dont really understand your logic 

13 minutes ago, sanemax said:

What flags are you talking about ?

There doesnt seem to be any flags involved in this story , although you would expect some flags to be flown when a person is receding citizenship .

 *Thais should leave their flags out of it, but she should wave a Burmese flag around*?

I dont really understand your logic 

The flags will be out if force if she wins something, the possibility of which is the only reason she was fast tracked, what about all the thousands of others born here but effectively stateless because of Thailand for the Thais nonsense thinking?

4 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

The flags will be out if force if she wins something, the possibility of which is the only reason she was fast tracked, what about all the thousands of others born here but effectively stateless because of Thailand for the Thais nonsense thinking?

We really should wait until any flags appear , before we discuss them, because it may never happen .

    She was fast tracked because she wanted to go abroad  , Thailand plans to end statelessness by 2024 , a plan that was started last year giving all kids that were born in Thailand Thai citizenship when they leave school .

   The process to end statelessness is happening now and should be complete within 5 years

1 hour ago, Tropposurfer said:

Can anyone direct the me to the ministers offices for: silly walks, unfathomable idiocy, and cake making ?

2 of the 3 above do have their own designated ministry departments. 

Cake making though, is within the 2nd of the above.

OK ?? 

Sorted. 

1 hour ago, BobBKK said:

Give everyone born here citizenship - it's a right not a present.

I think US is the only country that gives citizenship based on where you were born. According to parents is the usual way.

3 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

I think US is the only country that gives citizenship based on where you were born. According to parents is the usual way.

The 14th Amendment to the Constitution, passed in 1868

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

A 17-YEAR-OLD stateless schoolgirl’s Thai citizenship has been fast-tracked after it came to public attention that her lack of citizenship would deprive her of an opportunity to participate in an academic contest in New York.

 

if she tries nyc pizza she won't return