DSI, DOPA, and civil society networks traveled to Pilokki village in Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province to help stateless persons.

DSI, DOPA, and civil society networks traveled to Pilokki village in Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province to help stateless persons.

       The DSI collaborates with the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) and civil society networks to help stateless persons, namely, minority groups, unregistered ethnic minorities, displaced elderly Thai people (over 60 years old), stateless children (aka Code-G children), unregistered Buddhist monks and novices, and displaced Thai people in accordance with the project to facilitate fairness in human rights and community rights.

       In the past, the DSI has helped the aforementioned people by providing registration for Thai nationality in many areas, namely, Chiang Mai Province (Omkoi District, Fang District, Mae Ai District, Chai Prakan District, and Chiang Dao District), Chiang Rai Province, Mae Hong Son Province (Mae Sariang District and Sop Moei District), and Prachuap Khiri Khan Province (Bang Saphan Noi District). Some people, namely, the stateless persons and unregistered Buddhist monks and novices in Chiang Mai Province and Chiang Rai Province and the Moken sea gypsy group in Khura Buri District, Phang Nga Province are currently in process of acquiring Thai nationality.

       On May 8, 2023, Pol.Maj. Suriya Singhakamol (Director-General), accompanied by Pol.Capt. Wisanu Chimtrakool (Deputy Director-General), Mr. Angsuket Visuthvattanasak (Director of Bureau of Justice Enhancement Affairs), and DSI personnel traveled to the area of Pilokki village, Pilok Subdistrict, Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province to join the working group of Thong Pha Phum District and the DOPA’s Bureau of Registration Administration (BORA) in recording statements of the minority groups and ethnic groups for the consideration to grant Thai nationality under Section 7 bis Paragraph Two of the Nationality Act, B.E. 2508 (1965) to 149 unregistered students from Baan Pilokki Border Patrol Police School, Piang Luang 3 School, and other nearby schools. Afterwards, the DSI and Thong Pha Phum District will jointly proceed to help the Buddhist monks and novices in the area.

       The Director-General stated that this field work in Pilokki village was the collaboration between relevant agencies and officials, namely, Thong Pha Phum District Chief, the Director of Civil Registration Division, the Department of Provincial Administration, the National Health Security Office (NHSO), the Office of the National Human Rights Commission, the Human Rights Protection Coordination Group, the Office of Thai Health Promotion Foundation, the Director of Baan Pilokki Border Patrol Police School, civil society networks consisted of the Legal Status Network Foundation, the Habitat for Humanity Thailand, and the Association to Promote Access to Health and Social Support (APASS).

       The DSI received information regarding stateless persons from civil society networks and has been consistently providing fairness. The problem of stateless persons is a high-impact problem of Thai people without Thai nationality. These people lack rights to access healthcare, education opportunity, etc., which might become societal problems in the future.

       The Director-General also stated that, under the policy of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice (Ms. Phongsaward Guyaroonsuith), the DSI focuses on enhancing justice for the people. Working on such aspects uncovered numerous problems that need urgent solutions, the DSI deemed that apart from the law enforcement, the root causes had to be addressed for the most efficient solutions. To assist the registrars in granting Thai nationality and issuing ID cards, the DSI would utilize its proficiency in interrogation and examining evidence document, namely, birth certificate, Thai nationality application, school certificate, non-Thai identification card, children’s house registration and parents’ house registration.

       The DSI has been continuously working on this mission with relevant agencies. The problems of Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province were a large number of people without nationality and rumors of officials demanding benefits, resulting in the people’s limited access to their rights. Today’s field collaborative work between public and civil society agencies would be a pilot model for future expanded work in nearby areas and other areas countrywide. The DSI will continue integrating its force with partners to carry out similar works to enhance justice for the people.

Date May 8, 2023