ANJIRA ASSAVANONDA

The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is gearing up to submit its own version of a new Nationality Bill to the cabinet after the original proposal put forward by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) was rejected due to national security concerns. Somchai Charoen-umnuaisuk, deputy director of the Bureau of Welfare Promotion and Protection of Children, Youth, the Disadvantaged, Persons with Disabilities and Older Persons, said the ministry expected to finish the draft bill and tender it to the cabinet within the next month.

The bill, which is an amendment of the 1965 Nationality Act, will ease restrictions for people applying for Thai nationality.

The NLA draft proposed by former Chiang Rai senator Tuenjai Deetes failed to clear the cabinet, which argued that the rules and regulations determining the granting of Thai nationality needed careful consideration.

The military-appointed government criticised the proposed bill for being too soft. The cabinet said the bill went too far in reducing regulations for naturalisation, making it easier for aliens to seek Thai citizenship, which it said could pose concerns to national security.

The Social Development and Human Security Ministry yesterday held a public forum to listen to opinions on its version of the draft bill.

Most participants agreed the ministry's version was not that different from the NLA's original. It grants Thai citizenship to anybody born to a Thai father or mother both inside and outside of Thailand and gives equal rights to foreign males and females to apply for Thai nationality if they are married to a Thai......

Most participants agreed the ministry's version was not that different from the NLA's original. It grants Thai citizenship to anybody born to a Thai father or mother both inside and outside of Thailand and gives equal rights to foreign males and females to apply for Thai nationality if they are married to a Thai......

Does it relax the requirements for males or tighten the requirements for females??