Granting nationality to Origami boy champion uncertain

by Usa Pichai
Thursday, 24 September 2009 14:18

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - The Thai born boy, whose parents are from Burma, has become a role model for stateless children in Thailand after he won prizes at the Origami Airplane Contest in Japan. However, the Thai Ministry of Interior still has not guaranteed granting the boy Thai nationality.

Chaovarat Chanvirakul, the Thai Minister of Interior said that he congratulated Mong Thongdee (12), who is just back from the Origami Airplane Contest in Japan, where he won the third prize for Thailand in the individual category but bagged first prize in the team competition.

“However, to grant him Thai citizenship we have to consider other things too, because in the future it will be difficult if tens of thousands of stateless people in Thailand also ask for nationality,” he said, according to a Thai newspaper Komchadluek.

Earlier, the Interior Ministry Minister Chaovarat Chanvirakul was severely criticized and charges of human rights violation were filed by the Thai Lawyer Council after the Ministry refused to issue travel documents to the boy.

Mong has become a role model for stateless children, particularly in his hometown Chiang Mai Northern Thailand.

Naree Manit, a 10-year old girl, who also has no citizenship because her parents are ethnic Shan from Burma like Mong told Mizzima that her mother tells her to study harder so that she may get a good opportunity like Mong.

“I also want to go abroad like Mong. Friends in school are also waiting for news about the competition and it is good that he got prizes for Thailand.” She said.

Naree is studying in a school for migrant children in Fang district of Chiang Mai where thousands of children are stateless. In Thailand there are more than 200,000 stateless children.

Mong Thongdee was born of Burmese migrant workers working in Chiang Mai. His parents are ethnic Shan. He won the first prize in a paper aeroplane making competition held in Bangkok last year.

Following the competition he was entitled to join the Origami Airplane competition held in Japan on September 19 and 20 where he got the prizes.

The Science Ministry will appoint Mong Thongdee, a Thai born but stateless boy, as its youth ambassador.

"We will offer him scholarships too," Science Minister Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich said on Monday.

She said the scholarships would enable Mong to get a degree and even a doctorate if he wanted.

"He deserves the scholarships because he bolstered the country's reputation and has become an inspiration for other children to learn more about science," Kalaya said.

Mong does not qualify for Thai nationality even though this is where he was born, lives and goes to school because he was born to Burmese migrant workers.

After arriving in Thailand with his prizes, Mong went to Siriraj Hospital to wish His Majesty the King, who was admitted on Saturday, a quick recovery. He also plans to get ordained as a novice for 10 days in dedication to the King.