Photo courtesy of Pattaya Mail

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

 

A historic moment unfolded in Chiang Rai as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra presented Thai citizenship cards to 72 individuals from ethnic minority groups, marking a monumental step towards addressing statelessness in the country.

 

The ceremony, held at the GMS International Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sunday, December 1, highlighted Thailand’s commitment to inclusivity and human rights, with key officials and representatives from international organisations, including the UNHCR, UNICEF, and IOM, in attendance.

 

The event kicked off with a cultural performance celebrating Chiang Rai’s ethnic diversity before the 38 year old prime minister delivered an address. One of the new citizens could not contain his happiness.

 

“We have waited for this moment for so long. Today, we feel truly Thai, and we are grateful to the government for seeing our importance.”

 

 

PM Paetongtarn acknowledged the struggles of those who had lived in Thailand for decades without formal recognition, emphasising that the new citizenship status would provide access to vital services like healthcare, education, and state welfare.

 

A key highlight was the announcement of new policies to expedite the citizenship application process. Under the revised framework, the waiting period for nationality requests will be drastically reduced—from 270 days to just five days for most cases. Stateless individuals born in Thailand will also benefit from the shorter waiting time, ensuring faster integration into society.

 

Since 1984, Thailand has been working to address statelessness, yet over 500,000 individuals are still awaiting citizenship. The 38 year old Thai premier expressed her determination to tackle this issue, thanking international partners for their ongoing support.

 

With smiles, laughter, and optimism, the ceremony embodied Thailand’s commitment to building a more inclusive future for all its residents, reported Pattaya Mail.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-12-03

 

 

Thailand just forcibly repatriated 5 Cambodian activists. How does that sit with the UNHCR?

If they do it in batches of 72 people at a time then they will be finished towards the end of the next millennium - keep up the good work! 

I applaud Thailand for doing this... 

Most of the stateless hill tribe people were born in Thailand, and have parents and grandparents who were also born in Thailand. So rather than just patting itself on the back for this magnanimous gesture, perhaps Thailand should ask itself how it ever allowed this situation to develop in the first place.

6 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

If they do it in batches of 72 people at a time then they will be finished towards the end of the next millennium - keep up the good work! 

 

   Many other stateless people acquire Thai Nationality all the time , although it usually takes a few years , this ceremony is denote the new fast track process .