Thailand Grants Citizenship To 572 Overseas Viets

Thailand grants citizenship to 572 overseas Vietnamese

Bangkok: -- Thailand granted Thai citizenship to 572 Vietnamese, who had long-time residency in six northeastern provinces, at a ceremony held in Sakorn Nakhorn province on Friday.

These Vietnamese, born and brought up in Thailand, include 258 from Sakorn Nakhorn province, 112 from Nakhorn Phanom province, 87 from Nong Khai province, 80 from Udon Thani province, 31 from Mukdaharn province, and four from Ubon Ratchathani.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Interior Minister Pramuan Ruchanaseree stressed the Thai Government and Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have been working hard to grant Thai nationality to all overseas Vietnamese who grew up in Thailand and are good citizens of the country. All procedures were processed in accordance with Thailand law.

Deputy Interior Minister Pramuan said the ceremony will be held every two months for more than 4,000 Vietnamese requesting Thai nationality

--VNA 2004-03-12