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THAI INPUTS

Below is a composite report of the inputs given by the following Resource Persons:

Mr. Vithavas Kongkhakul - "Urbanization and Social Changes in Thai Society"

Mr. Geoffrey Walton - "Race Issues and Struggles of Minorities in Thailand"

Mr. Ban Tananone - "The Mission of the Church in Thailand in light of the theme"

Ms. Unchana Sunwannond - "Prostitution in Thailand"

Mr. Sopon Poruchokchai - "Slum Issues in Thailand"

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I. Background information

a) Politics

Unlike other Southeast Asian countries, Thailand never came under colonial rule. It had been under the rulership of the Chakri Dynasty until a bloodless coup in 1932 brought about a constitutional monarchy and the political power falling into the hands of the army. The monarchy, however, still remains the mast revered figure in the Thai Society.

Until 1973, Thailand has been governed for many years by a succession of military dictators. In October 1973, a student revolution (or what is now known as the October Revolution) ousted the military rulers. This brought about a new constitution which provided for a bicameral parliament represented by appointed senators and an elected house of representatives. The government, headed by the prime minister and his cabinet, answers to the parliament. Even after 1973, military influence and involvement in Thai politics continue to be strong.

b) Economics

Agriculture is still the main pillar in the Thai economy. Rice is the main crop. The country has traditionally been a rice exporter, and the crop is still important in foreign currency

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earnings. Timber, maize, cotton, kenaf and rubber are important agricultural products.

However, since the late 1970s, Thailand has been steadily moving towards development in the industrial and tourism sectors, depending heavily on foreign investments. Promises of cheap labour and a stable government are offered to lure foreign capitalists to invest in Thailand.

c) Culture

Thailand is a multi-ethnic society. The population of about 53 million comprises mainly of ethnic Thais with a minority of hill tribes located mostly in the northern corners, bordering the neighbouring countries. In the South, there is a sizeable Malay/Muslim population. Bangkok has many Chinese who have integrated to some degree. There is also a significant number of migrant refugees coming from war-torn areas like Vietnam, Burma, Laos etc.

Buddhism is the main and official religion with Christianity and Islam forming a small minority. However, the present constitution guarantees the freedom of belief.

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II. Emerging Issues

a) Development

In the recent years, there is increasing concern about the extensive logging in the northern region. This industry is not only depleting the natural resources at an alarming rate, but it is also causing serious dislocation of the minority hill tribe people. Their normal/usual livelihood has been seriously affected by the extensive logging by big transnational corporal ions.

Hill tribe people are often forced out of their ancestral land, some having to move to a new place, where their usual/normal forms of cultivation/livelihood are seriously affected. Others are forced to move to the urban areas

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to be exploited cheap labour. The rural-urban migration of peasants and tribal minorities have contributed to the making of slums in Bangkok.

b) Assimilation of Minorities

The Thai government has a policy which attempts to assimilate the minority ethnic groups like the Chinese, the hill tribe people, the southern Muslims and the political refugees, into the majority Thai ethnic group through a process of socialization. However, this policy is a flexible one in which the process of socialization is sensitive to the different ethnic minority groups. Yet, the process employed differs at varying degrees or aspects for the respective groups. For example, the hill tribe people are encouraged to integrate rather than to assimilate themselves to the Thai ethnic group, whereas the Muslims in the South are a Homed to follow their own religious laws and customs.

c) Prostitution

Prostitution is a crime in Thailand. Every party involved, except the customer, is subjected to penalties. In spite of this, the flesh trade is probably the most lucrative business in Bangkok and other tourist destinations. Tourism was developed under Prime Minister Savit, and soon became one of the major foreign income-earning industries of the country. Under tourism, prostitution increased at a tremendous rate and became even more exploitative.

It has been observed that a great number of the prostitutes are rural and hill tribe young women. Procurers often go into villages, pose as prospective husbands and lovers, ask far the hand of some girl, secure permission, and then take her into prostitution in the city. Agents or procurers from prostitution agencies will also go through the village headman to procure girls directly for business. Employment agencies will go to villages, seek out the

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attractive girls, give sums of money to the parents with the promise of good jobs for their daughters in the city, then take them into prostitution.