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Impact of population registration on hilltribe development in Thailand.


 This article reviews the past and present development policy for the highlands of Thailand and assesses the development implications of population registration and citizenship policies for hill tribes. This article presents a demographic profile of indigenous tribes in Thailand. There has been steady improvement in the quality of survey data collection among hill tribes of northern Thailand since 1985. The data still show some variability. This article has four units, each of which is identified with a different level: national, community, household, and individual. In 1995 the Tribal Research Institute (TRI) estimated that the hill tribe population numbered about 694,720 living in 119,216 households and 3695 villages. However, an unpublished survey by the Registration Office of the Ministry of the Interior reported the tribal population as 813,024. 90% of tribals live in nine provinces in the upper northern region. 25.5% of the total hill tribe population live in Chiang Mai province, but 53% of the total population in Mae Hong Son province consists of hill tribes. 40% of villages accessible by roads are unreachable during the rainy season. There are six main ethnic groups among the hill tribe population: Karen (46.3%), Hmong (17.9%), Lahu (10.5%), Akha (6.9%), Yao (5.8%), and H'tin (4.7%). Socioeconomic development in the villages is poor. The birth rate is high. In the past, development programs for hill tribes focused on national security and control of narcotics. Development now focuses on integration and improvements in living conditions. The constraints are distinct cultures, isolation, and economic marginalization. National policy encourages permanent settlement. 42% of villages are currently registered. 65.2% of hill tribe people in 1982-86 had Thai citizenship, and 13% are in the process of obtaining citizenship. Remoteness from government offices and ignorance of the complicated requirements interfere with attainment of citizenship. Development is tied to the registration system.
