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Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre
Ethnic Groups Research Database |
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Record |
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| Subject |
Hmong, politics, government, security, Uthai Thani, Nakhon Sawan, Kampaengphet The ethnic Hmong and security in the central region |
| Author |
Chat Ratanasomboon |
| Title |
The Ethnic Hmong and Security in the Central Region |
| Document Type |
MA.Thesis |
Original Language of Text |
Thai |
| Ethnic Identity |
Hmong,
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Language and Linguistic Affiliations |
Hmong-Mien |
Location of
Documents |
SirindhornAnthropology Center |
Total Pages |
59 |
Year |
1975 |
| Source |
Royal Thai Army War College |
| Abstract |
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The thesis investigated the ethnic Hmong and security in the central region of Thailand. The ethnic migration from the north to the transitional areas between Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani and Kamphaengphet Provinces stemmed from the lack of a proper livelihood and of land ownership, poverty, suppression by the communists, neglect from the state sector, a lack of education, and a lack of publicity from the state. These factors drove the ethnic group to keep migrating to other fertile areas without regard to the damage inflicted on lowland residents.
The state tried to improve the socio-economic conditions of the ethnic group in order to keep them settled and gave them the same rights and freedom as other Thai citizens in low-lying areas.
Originally, the ethnic group resided in the northern and western regions of the country and later migrated to the areas in the three provinces. They settled in forested areas and caused deforestation. Due to their tendency to join the communists, the state intervened by relocating them to the areas for national security.
There were two issues in the relationship between the state and the ethnic group.
Conflicting relationship: some of the immigrants used to fight with the state (p. 26). The ethnic group felt economically and educationally inferior. They were often sick and did not get proper treatment. They also felt that they were commercially taken advantage of by Thai people.
Furthermore, they were prohibited from cultivating opium poppies and were arrested for smoking or possessing opium. They had to pay income taxes, which was beyond their comprehension. They were even arrested for felling trees for house construction. These situations widened the social gap between the ethnic group and state officials and Thai people in general. Additionally, there were clashes between the ethnic group and state officials when the former refused orders from the stateto migrate to designated areas.
Cooperating relationship included the state establishing career promotion projects and economic development to improve the standard of living of the ethnic group. |
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