The Policy Approach for Managing the Thai Nationalityless Persons in Ubon Ratchathani Province

Abstract

This research aimed to study the background and conditions of the Thai nationality less persons, their life quality and the guidelines for the policy approach for management of the nationalitlyless persons in Ubon Ratchathani province. The key informants were 15 officials of the private and public sectors and 30 key interviewees. The research instruments consisted of 1) data records and observation, 2) forum records, and field data collection. The last part comprised the field data collection, brain storming and in-depth interviews of the target groups. The interviews covered the background and conditions of the nationality less persons in Ubon Ratchathani, their life quality and the policy of administration of the nationality less persons. The research findings were as follows ; 1) The background and conditions of the Thai nationalityless persons consisted of seven dimensions.(1) Political,social and cultural aspects directly and indirectly affected the nationalityless persons. (2) The nationalityless persons’s personalities. (3) The war and violence had a huge impact on their life. (4) They were denied justice by both the countries of origin and of destination. Our basic human rights were denied. (5) As for their life quality, Thai government tried to push the nationalityless persons back to the country of origin or further to the third country. (6) There were a proxy war and a state power which could affect their life and property. (7) On assistance and state mechanism. 2)The life quality of the Thai nationalityless persons can be described in the following five aspects. (1) Lack of support of the basic necessities for life. (2) Lack of their participation in the state security. (3) Lack of rights: there was no equality in terms of legal rights. (4) Lack of equal treatment according to the human rights and Thai law principles. (5) Lack of legal support in Thailand to cope with the nationalityless person. (6) Lack of unity on parted Thai state in its operation towards the nationalityless persons. 3) The guidelines for the administration policy for the Thai nationality less persons in Ubon Ratchathani province were as follows. (1) On the status and rights of the nationalityless persons. (2) On status to be granted to the nationalityless persons. (3) The status gained under Thai law. (4) On the rights gained by nationalization. (5) Thai government and fundamental human rights guarantee.