‘Caution list’ drama upsets Mae Ai locals

Residents in Mae Ai district are upset by a state agency bid to remove their names from a “caution list” in the civil registration database.

Reports say 154 residents in 15 villages in tambon Tha Ton recently received letters to “show up and prove their identities” after some villagers asked to have their identity cards renewed but were knocked back.

This sparked concerns among villagers who fought in court 16 years ago against the Provincial Administration Department’s move to delist the names of 1,243 people from their domicile documents, turning them into stateless people.

However, the Supreme Administrative Court ruled in 2005 the department was not authorised to make such a decision.

The latest ID card problem drama and the letters sent by Mae Ai district office have renewed fears they will lose their Thai nationality.

“They may have misunderstood that the letters ask them to start the nationality verification process again,” Mae Ai district chief Sittisak Apikkulchaisut said. “That is not a case at all.”

Officials are aware that villagers had suffered inconvenience when they went to renew their ID cards, so they were trying to help by having 154 villagers whose names are on the caution list report to Mae Ai district office.

He said it is “unclear” why these names appear on the list which asks officials to keep an eye on their identities and biological records. It is tantamount to putting these villagers on a watch list. This explains why, when some Mae Ai residents working in Bangkok applied for new ID cards at a district office in the capital, their request was rejected.

“Officials said my daughter’s name is on a ‘red list’ [caution list] and told her to contact Mae Ai district office,” said Su Duangchai, a 54-year-old housewife in Mae Ai. This confused her family because it is widely known people can renew their expired ID cards at every district office.

When her family members received letters to identify themselves at Mae Ai district office, their concerns over their nationality status intensified. Ms Su’s family was among the 1,243 villagers who were once at odds with the Provincial Administration Department. She insisted her ancestors were born in Thailand. Her family has lived in Mae Ai district and never committed any crimes.

Mr Sittisak said officials only want them to meet authorities to confirm their identities as this will remove their names from the caution list. The district chief has sent his assistant to talk to the villagers. He hoped to delist all names in two or three days.

Among Mae Ai residents who are confused with the state actions are Chiraphat Kanthiyachai, an assistant village head. “Villagers have lived happily for 16 years until the day they were told to report to officials,” she said.