Lawyers force bureaucrats to let Burmese boy go to Japan
The government has agreed to issue a temporary passport to a Thaiborn son of Burmese workers so the "stateless" boy can test his skills in a paper aeroplane contest in Japan.
Mong Thongdee, 12, was expected to receive the passport by late yesterday.
He has been invited to join the Origami Airplane Contest in Japan on September 19 and 20.
Mong has been in the public eye this week as he called on various authorities to request a passport or travel documents to go to Japan.
After appearing to get bad news from the Interior Ministry on Wednesday, he was understandably delighted yesterday when the prime minister answered his prayers.
"Thank you Mr Prime Minister. I love you so much. You're so kind," Mong said when he met Abhisit yesterday.
During the meeting, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya assured Abhisit the boy would soon get a passport.
Mong was invited to take part in the Japanese competition after winning a paper aeroplane contest organised by a newspaper in Chiang Mai.
On Wednesday, the boy was tearful when the Provincial Administration Department suggested it could not support his request for a passport. They said the process was complicated because Mong was not a Thai national - his parents are workers from Burma.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry had maintained, however, it would give the boy a temporary travel document if the Interior Ministry gave Mong the okay.
The Provincial Administration Department's initial response upset the Lawyers Council of Thailand, which filed a case yesterday against Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul in the Administrative Court.
Chaovarat was accused of violating Mong's rights and many laws. Many academics also commented that Chaovarat could and should allow Mong to get a temporary passport.
Mong's chances brightened when news emerged yesterday that Wongsak Sawasdipanich, head of the Provincial Administration Department, convened an urgent meeting to discuss the boy's case.
Representatives from vari¬ous authorities including the National Security Council attended the meeting.
Following the meeting, Wongsak said: "We will send a letter to the Foreign Affairs Ministry to say that we will have no objection if Mong is going to attend the Origami Airplane Contest in Japan."
Wongsak said the decision was based on laws, conventions, human rights and national security considerations.
He said it had nothing to do with growing pressure on the Interior Ministry.
Chaovarat said: "I personal¬ly agree that Mong should get a temporary passport but I have to first ensure that all legal aspects are considered."
The Lawyers' Council agreed to withdraw the complaint against Chaovarat after hearing the news.
Kasit explained that giving a temporary passport was not granting Thai citizenship. "They are two separate issues," he said.
Mong was born to a couple, who migrated from Burma's Shan State. However, the parents have not been officially recognised as Burmese citizens.
The boy is thus considered stateless. So far, Mong has lived in Thailand since he was born.
He is now a Grade4 student in Chiang Mai.