Thai Catholics celebrate marginalised and disenfranchised ethnic groups
Bangkok (AsiaNews) - For Mgr Philip Banchong Chaiyara, bishop of Ubon Ratchathani (in the northeast) and president of the Episcopal Commission for Social Development, the Thai Church would like to see "greater space" in today's society for the "members of ethnic minorities" who are victimised, marginalised and ostracised, in many cases even denied citizenship and the rights that come with it. With this in mind, the Catholic Church has set aside tomorrow, 12 May, as a day for ethnic groups to be celebrated in all of the country's parishes. In reminding the faithful about Jesus' teachings, the prelate called on them to love one another and take care of the least among us, namely the poor, the abused, the sick, migrant workers, people without citizenship and members of various ethnic minorities.
In sponsoring this event, Mgr Chaiyara said he was moved by Pope Francis's speech on the first day of his pontificate about 'caring for the needy' and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's encyclical Caritas in Veritate. The latter defines care for the poor as a sign of "love and mercy", which are "the Church's greatest proof of what it can do in social affairs and in caring for others.
With some ethnic groups facing a major hurdle, namely the lack of citizenship, the Foundation for the Development of Mountain Communities, led by Toenjai Deethes, kicked off a campaign at the end of April to help them solve their problem, especially in the north.
A first survey carried out this year in three northern provinces-Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son-showed that at least 1,411 people living in 32 villages in six districts have not had their citizenship demand resolved. In turn, this has meant that they do not have health care coverage.
Likewise, Srisuwan Chanya, head of the Association of Environmental Management, released information in January relating to Thailand's "rapidly growing" ethnic groups.
He found that at present, some 10 tribal groups lived across 20 of the country's provinces, for a total of 923,257 people divided in 186,413 households occupying 164,637 homes. The Karen are the largest ethnic group with 438,131 members.
However, as a result of the process of modernisation and the rise of modern media, their language and culture are being negatively affected, causing them major difficulties.
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