From isolation to integration : a case study of the Akha hill tribe people in the Chiang Rai province of Northern Thailand, with a special focus on religious aspects

Abstract

Many societies are today challenged because of migratory movements. Diversity of cultural, social and religious traditions may create conflicts of interests and authorities are forced to develop comprehensive integration policies. Thailand has experienced an influx of migrants from neighbouring countries during the last decades. Many of these migrants are disadvantaged tribal people, wanting to integrate into their new home country. This study has been focusing on the integration process for Akha hill tribe people in the province of Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. The main objectives have been to look into socio-political and religious factors that affect the integration process for the minority Akha hill tribe people into the majority Thai society. Authorities in Thailand are conducting a typical assimilative integration policy, meaning that the focus is on how the migratory tribal people have to adapt to the existing majority society. The ambition from the Thai Government may be seen as creating a cultural homogenous nation, that expect migratory tribal people to give up their distinctive culture and traditions (IOM, 2011:131). The findings from this study revealed that there are important political factors that complicate and hinder a good integration process for tribal people into the Thai society. These are especially issues related to citizenship and legal rights. Secondly, the study found a lack of acceptance and a high degree of prejudices from ethnic Thai people towards tribal people in Thailand. The reasons for this were mostly connected to social and cultural factors both in the major Thai society and in the minor tribal societies. Finally, the study revealed that religious factors also have had and still have great impacts on the integration process. Practicing tribal religion and not the dominant Buddhist religion creates fractions between ethnic Thai people and tribal people. Christian activities have amongst other given many tribal children the opportunity to obtain good education, which in this study was found to be a key factor for acceptance and enhanced integration of tribal people into the Thai society.