SweetieBabie Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Should Thai citizenship be given to those who born in Thailand regardless of their parents origins? Young origami enthusiast distraught after hopes of representing Thailand are grounded at immigration. A Burmese boy born in Thailand was unable to hold back tears yesterday when the Interior Ministry refused to support his request for a Thai passport. Mong Thongdee, 12, needs the travel document to fulfil his dream of competing in the upcoming Origami Airplane Contest in Japan. The event takes place on September 19 and 20 in Chiba. "I understand the authorities' decision," the boy said tearfully. "But I feel very upset." Passport denied Mong has been denied Thai citizenship because his parents, though working legally in Thailand, are Burmese. "As an alien, he may not be allowed back in to Thailand if he leaves the country," Provincial Administration Department director general Wongsak Sawaspanich said yesterday. He said the Interior Ministry could not relax the laws for Mong, a Grade-4 student at the Ban Huai Sai School in Chiang Mai. Paper plane contest Mong was invited to compete in Japan after his paper-plane design stayed airborne for more than 12 minutes to win a local contest. His school director, Duangrit Petima, then decided to help the boy by accompanying him to Bangkok to meet relevant authorities. Aside from the Provincial Administration Department, Duangrit and Mong also called on the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Ministries desperate to help Ministry spokesman Wimon Kidchob said they would issue a temporary passport for Mong only if the Interior Ministry gave its approval. Only two non-Thai nationals had been granted such a document, said Wimon. Wongsak said his department had to stick to the laws; if an exception were made for Mong, it would create a loophole that others could exploit. "We must take laws and national security into account no matter how much we want to help," Wongsak said. After hearing the discussion between Wongsak and his school director, Mong looked distraught. "I have practised so hard. It's a huge disappointment to miss out on the trip to Japan," he said. But he is refusing to be discouraged. "I will continue practicing. I also want to send my best wishes to the Thai representative who will be competing Japan. But I hope that one day I'll be able to travel for such contests too." -The Nation Do you think he can represent as a candidate from Thailand even if he is not Thai ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funky_house Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 If he was born in Thailand, and raised in Thailand, then surely he is Thai. Although I can understand Thai reluctance to issuing passports against current laws. Perhaps the law needs changing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmyfan Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Something need to be change here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Gosh... you're not suggesting there's somthing wrong with Thailand's immigration laws are you? :shock: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LakeGeneve Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 If he was born in Thailand, and raised in Thailand, then surely he is Thai.Although I can understand Thai reluctance to issuing passports against current laws. Perhaps the law needs changing. There are numerous reports on the problem of statelessness in Thailand and many NGOs & Thai academics have been working tirelessly on the issue for decades - search on the net. Numeropus hilltribe communities, ethnic minorities and of course long term refugee (technically refugess don't exisit in Thailand) communities are affected by the issue. "We must take laws and national security into account no matter how much we want to help," Wongsak said. Indeed! A 10 yr old Burmese boy may one day grow, return to Burma, join the Burmese airforce and build faster paper planes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetieBabie Posted September 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 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. 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. 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugo Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 Should Thai citizenship be given to those who born in Thailand regardless of their parents origins? ... Do you think he can represent as a candidate from Thailand even if he is not Thai ? 1. This is up to Thai people/politicians to decide. It's a fundamental question if you like to have more than one nationality as a standard or not. 2. No. He is Burmese. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin_2 Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 1. This is up to Thai people/politicians to decide. It's a fundamental question if you like to have more than one nationality as a standard or not. It's going to happen at some point, just most likely not in this lifetime. Regardless...you are all missing the point here: He made a paper airplane stay in flight for 12 minutes!! How awesome is that? Give the kid a passport for the moon!! Ok...time for Admin to get some sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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