DNA samples to help verify stateless

DNA samples of 114 stateless people in Kanchanaburi have been collected in order to confirm their identities before they are granted Thai citizenship.

Som Promrot, director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS), said the agency has gathered DNA samples from 114 stateless individuals in nine out of 13 districts in Kanchanaburi which borders Myanmar.

The nine districts are Muang, Tha Muang, Dan Makhamtia, Tha Maka, Nong Prue, Bo Phloi, Lao Khwan, Sai Yok and Huay Krachao.

Of the 114, 60 have not been enrolled in the civil registration database system. They are among the 9,175 stateless people whose DNA samples were compiled nationwide.

Mr Som said DNA samples were collected from the stateless residents after their identity was certified by their families and local authorities.

The DNA results would be used in granting them Thai citizenship and official documents such as ID cards and birth certificates.

“Kanchanaburi shares a border with Myanmar and has more than 40 border points including natural crossings which has resulted in great ethnic diversity. Therefore, stateless locals have faced problems about civil registration.”

“To address the issue, laws and nationality examination through family ties must be applied,” he said.

The collection of DNA samples was conducted in response to the Ministry of Justice’s efforts to address the issue of statelessness.

Mr Som said the measure would help address inequality and reduce criminal activities including human trafficking which jeopardised national security.

Jamnong Pankiew, a 48-year-old woman who has lived in Lao Khwan district, said she took her two daughters, 17 and 15 years old, to report to authorities with the hope to acquire ID cards.

Without ID cards, her daughters were not enrolled in school, she said, adding that their birth had never been reported to authorities because she had migrated to work at construction across several provinces.

“It would have been costly if I took my daughters to have DNA examination in Bangkok because I would have to pay for both their medical and travel expenses,” she said.