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home > TRiO and USP Programs > McNair > symposium > 2006 presentations > Noppamas Suttinun
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Susan Hardwick, Mentor Maltreatment of the Akha ethnic minority in Thailand The Akha have suffered civil wars in Burma, relocation by the Thai authorities, and have been subjected to extensive poverty. They are stateless and most do not have Thai citizenship, leaving them open to both political and economic persecution. This research documents the situation of central importance to human rights abuse towards the ethnic hill tribes in Thailand, specifically the Akha, as well as to address the Thai immigration laws which adversely affect the Akha. Another important element of this research lies with the Akha's loss of their cultural identity. Christian missionaries, who impose their values and teachings upon the Akha, have played a role in the destruction of Akha culture. The narratives of the Akha, who are considered to be a hill tribe minority by some, or stateless refugees by others, will show how they have dealt with the issues of cultural survival and how their traditional practices have been violated or eliminated by authorities. |
Noppamas Suttinun