Quote:Initial draft rejected by govt for being too soft
ANJIRA ASSAVANONDA


The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is gearing up to submit its own version of a new Nationality Bill to the cabinet after the original proposal put forward by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) was rejected due to national security concerns. Somchai Charoen-umnuaisuk, deputy director of the Bureau of Welfare Promotion and Protection of Children, Youth, the Disadvantaged, Persons with Disabilities and Older Persons, said the ministry expected to finish the draft bill and tender it to the cabinet within the next month.


The bill, which is an amendment of the 1965 Nationality Act, will ease restrictions for people applying for Thai nationality.

The NLA draft proposed by former Chiang Rai senator Tuenjai Deetes failed to clear the cabinet, which argued that the rules and regulations determining the granting of Thai nationality needed careful consideration.


The military-appointed government criticised the proposed bill for being too soft. The cabinet said the bill went too far in reducing regulations for naturalisation, making it easier for aliens to seek Thai citizenship, which it said could pose concerns to national security.


The Social Development and Human Security Ministry yesterday held a public forum to listen to opinions on its version of the draft bill.


Most participants agreed the ministry's version was not that different from the NLA's original. It grants Thai citizenship to anybody born to a Thai father or mother both inside and outside of Thailand and gives equal rights to foreign males and females to apply for Thai nationality if they are married to a Thai.

The bill also allows all Thai citizens to ask for citizenship for their adopted non-Thai children.


Justice permanent secretary Jarun Pukditanakul, who is also vice-chairman of a government panel to improve legislation related to the rights of children, said a new nationality bill was necessary as existing laws were outdated.


Under the old law, for example, the legality of marital status of the parents is a determining factor whether a child will be granted citizenship.


''Children of illegal migrant parents also don't get Thai nationality even though they were born on Thai soil. That's the wrong principle,'' said Mr Jarun.


Hongping Yiu, a 16-year-old stateless girl who participated in the forum, said she had high hopes that the new bill, if accepted, would change her life.


Hongping was adopted by Thai parents after she was abandoned as a baby by her biological Chinese parents. She is studying in Mattayom 5 at a Thai school and even though she has been raised in a Thai family since she was a baby, Hongping has been unable to get Thai citizenship.


''When I go to enrol in schools, I have to use the house registration document to present to the schools. I still don't have an ID card. When the school organised an overseas trip, I couldn't go because I don't have a Thai passport,'' she said.


''I want to be Thai. I want to live a life like any other Thai person in this country,'' said Hongping.


Mr Somchai said the ministry will take into account every comment from the forum in its review of the draft bill.


Ms Tuenjai Deetes, who spearheaded the original NLA draft, said she will ask the assembly to set up a special committee to consider and make adjustments to the bill.


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