Thailand speeds up stateless citizenship process amid hopes, doubts and border challenges

The Thai government has launched a new initiative to fast-track citizenship for nearly half a million stateless people, promising to reduce the application process from over a year to just five days. In Mae Sai, a northern border town with Myanmar, local government offices are inundated with applicants from various ethnic tribes who have lived along the border for generations or fled conflict years ago. While many applicants are hopeful about the prospect of gaining citizenship and the rights it brings, such as access to healthcare and property ownership, others remain sceptical about the speed and efficiency of the new process. This move comes after a high-profile incident in 2018 when it was revealed that four members of a youth football team trapped in a cave were stateless, prompting the government to expedite their citizenship applications. However, challenges remain for many applicants, particularly those from remote border areas who lack proper documentation. The new initiative aims to address these long-standing issues and integrate stateless residents more fully into Thai society. Al Jazeera's Tony Cheng reports from Mae Sai, Thailand. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #Thailand #ThailandStatelessPeople #ThaiCitizenship #MaeSai #ThaiGovernment #ThailandBorderCommunities #ThailandMyanmarBorder #HumanRights #StatelessRights #ThaiPM