200 new citizens get papers
Chiang Rai's Mae Fah Luang district office yesterday issued ID cards to 200 people who were granted Thai nationality.
Presiding over the card-issuing ceremony, district chief Wornnayarn Bunyarat said the move was part of the government’s policy to tackle the problem of stateless people before the Asean Economic Community (AEC) gets up and running in 2015. Those granted Thai nationality would be able to enjoy all the benefits of citizenship including the right to vote, the right to access medical care, an old-age pension and a personal disability allowance, as well as educational and employment opportunities.
Mae Fah Luang has 21 villages located along the Thai-Myanmar border. The area is home to some nine tribal groups, so there was a need for the authorities to carefully examine their status and consider giving their members Thai nationality, Wornnayarn said.
Some 18,000 people are currently waiting to have their requests for Thai nationality approved, he said.