Thais to have ID cards from birth

BANGKOK: -- Thais will soon be given identification cards from birth, instead of the age of 15, after a proposed legal amendment comes into effect, the Deputy Government Spokesman, Yuranant Phamornmontree, told TNA on Tuesday.

The cabinet agreed to the change in principle at its Tuesday’s weekly meeting in order to improve the management of information on household registration.

Under the new law, parents are obliged to register their new born babies within 60 days of their birth.

The ID cards will need to be renewed every ten years, Justice Minister Pongthep Thepkanjana told TNA.

People can automatically use the titles Mister and Miss at the age of 15 without having to apply for permission, he said.

The existing law requires citizens to apply for ID cards when they turn 15.

--TNA 2005-03-09

But will the hill tribe folk, who are being forced off their land, and who are not recognised as citizens, receive these cards?

They are born in Thailand too.

People can automatically use the titles Mister and Miss at the age of 15 without having to apply for permission, he said.

I presume it's a translation of Khun as I've never seen thai's using Mister and Miss? Is this a title? Do you need to appy for permission to use that? Really?

You can get foreigners registered in your tabien baan from time to time (from Cambodia, Laos, Burma, China, etc.), I don't see why this wouldn't apply to hilltribe people or even falangs as well. They even get a 30 Baht health card if they want. People do this for their maids all the time.

A few years down the road, a little gratuity envelope at the amphur and *presto* instant Thai citizen.