POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS IN RIGHT TO LEGAL PERSONALITY OF ETHNIC GROUPS IN THAILAND: A CASE STUDY OF THE MOKEN IN SURIN ISLANDS

Abstract

This research was an integrated study focusing primarily on documentary evidence. The objectives were to: 1) find out legislation, directives, and state practices to cope with the problem of statelessness, 2) explore and identify factors affecting the success or failure of the procedures to cope with the problem of statelessness, and 3) propose policy recommendations to alleviate the problem of statelessness of an ethnic group by using Moken village on Surin Islands, Phang Nga Province as an area study. Data were collected from documents and interview with people involved. The findings revealed that: 1) The Nationality Act B.E.2481 follows the general principles of nationality legislation. 2) The rigorous conditions for the accessibility to verification process and recognition of nationality, shortage of staff and budget, habitat of stateless persons in remote areas, and their unique culture were all the factors that slow down the nationality procedure, and 3) the research suggests that some conditions that prevent ethnic people from obtaining nationality recognition under the nationality law should be changed. The Ministry of Internal Affairs should encourage local state officers by increasing their workforce and budget, and ethnic stateless people should change some of their habits.