More than 500 representatives of undocumented Thais and a dozen sea gypsies seeking official citizenship were blocked from coming to Bangkok from Ranong and Prachuap Khiri Khan to join other grass-roots groups at the first-ever Thai Social Forum this weekend.

The villagers hoped to plead their cases today to Paiboon Wattanasiritham, minister of Social Development and Human Security, who was scheduled to attend the forum of some 3,000 activists and representative from grass-roots communities at Thammasat University's Rangsit Campus.

"These people are Thai and have lived on Thai soil for many generations, but the government continues to deny them citizenship," said Preeda Kongpan of the Thai Community Foundation, who was coordinating the villagers' transportation. "They can't even travel freely in their own country to present their cases."

Preeda claimed that the villagers' problem was a legacy of British colonisation when the British government, which controlled Burma, sought boundary demarcation with Siam during the 1920s and 1930s.

Some Thai villages were included in Burmese territory.

Treated as second-class citizens in Burma, these people struggled to return to Thai soil in the border provinces of Ranong, Chumpon and Prachuab Kiri Khan but were repeatedly denied citizenship by the Thai authorities. Preeda estimated that the number of those who hadtried to return to Thailand was 30,000.

Some 20 members of the group did make it to Bangkok, having travelled in small groups a few days in advance of the forum, and were able to hand their letter to the British Embassy in the capital asking for assistance.

The sea gypsies have long been seafarers, but changing economic and political situations have made it difficult for them to continue their nomadic lifestyle. Many settled on Thai soil, but have been ineligible for state welfare.

"Both groups were badly affected by the 2004 tsunami but were unable to get help," Preeda added. "They were also afraid to report employers' abuse or cheating to police for fear of repercussions because they are not official Thai citizens."

Lt-General Palangkul Klaharn, spokesman of the Council for National Security (CNS), which controls martial law, said he had not received reports about the villagers being stopped but the CNS had to respect the decisions made by the Fourth Army Region, which is responsible for the southern provinces.

Paiboon told The Nation that not having Thai ID cards made it complicated for the villagers to travel.

"On humane principles they should be well taken care of, but we also have to take into account the legal aspects. Their problems are complicated ones," Paiboon admitted.

Preeda countered that she had expected this "special" government to give priority to solving the hardships of the people, as it had vowed when seizing power.

"Why block people from trying to voice their problems? If you [the government] don't listen to people, how will you know which problems need to be solved?" she asked.

Giles Ungpakorn, a key organiser of the Thai Social Forum, condemned the CNS for not being true to its promise to allow free gatherings on university premises.

"In fact, I'm not surprised about the blocking of the villagers' way," Giles said. "It just further emphasises that the military has never changed."

Nantiya Tangwisutijit

The Nation