The Hill Tribes* of Thailand

Hill Tribe children The hill tribe peoples of Thailand are primarily Burmese migrants who inhabit the remote hilly forests of the Thai-Burma-Laos triangle border. Composed of 6 different ethnic groups each with its own language and culture and recognizable by its colorful traditional dress. The , Karen, Lahu, Lisu, Mien and Mon peoples are hard-working and sincere people and believe in the fruits of honesty and a teachable mind.

Hill Tribe woman in traditional dress Even so, the plight of these people is manifold and worsening. Originally, the hill-tribe communities survived through the production of opium and then logging, both of which were understandably halted by the Thai government along with their traditional slash and burn farming techniques. Many have been left with no trade options and infertile land on which to grow substandard crops. Their staple food is rice, roots, yams and a few vegetables but many are having to survive on a diet of rice and chilli leading to serious cases of disease and malnutrition.

The problem is compounded as more than 60% of the hill-tribe population are living without Thai citizenship even though they have been living in the country for over 50 years. The Thai government is concerned that giving the hill-tribe people National ID cards and, thereby, increased mobility, would encourage a surge in drug smuggling as they live close to the Burmese Golden triangle responsible for 70% of drugs in the world market.

In addition, relations between Burma and Thailand have always been strained, Wars over rule and land have led to a dislike and distrust of the Burmese people. As such, the hill-tribe peoples are looked down upon and marginalized by the Thai community and hill-tribe life has become very tough and challenging as a result.

Hill Tribe woman weaving a bag to sell Health is a big issue due to their worsening situation, the problems of insufficient food supplies and the stress and strains of survival. This is compounded by low sanitation, lack of health education and a poor water supply. The old industry of growing poppies and the problems of drug smuggling in the area mean that drug addition, HIV and AIDS are also some of the problems facing these communities. Tobacco related illnesses are also prevalent with 80% of older men smoking country tobacco and 60% of older women chewing it.

For many there is no doctor or health worker and, moreover, as 60% are without National ID they are unable to visit hospitals, clinics and health care centers in Thai society. Those that do have ID do not have the money to get the best medical support and are often given medicines which are little more than placebos having no curative character for underlying diseases; Paracetamol, Vitamin C and symptomatic relief medications.

*hill tribe (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.):

A hill tribe is any one of around twenty ethnic groups living in Northern Thailand. Most of these groups also exist outside Thailand, but the term is most often used to refer to the Thai groups. The word "tribe" itself is somewhat inaccurate, as the groups have no leaders; the term “mountain people” is sometimes preferred although they do not all live in mountains.

The hill tribes together number approximately 550,000. Most of them migrated from Tibet, China, Burma or Laos in the 19th and 20th centuries. The main groups are the Mien (also known as Yao), Karen (Thai Gariang), Akha (Thai Egaw), Lahu (Thai Musay) Hmong (Thai Meo) and Lisu (Thai Lisaw).

The Thai government has opposed some of the hill tribes’ agricultural practices, specifically the growing of opium and the use of slash and burn agriculture. Its campaigns against both of these have met with some success.

Many hill tribe people now make all or part of their living from the tourist industry, either by hosting trekkers or by selling handicrafts. The children in many of the tribes are often dressed in very colourful clothing, and wear valuable bangles and necklaces. Their headress is often bedecked with silver coins and other silver ornaments. Many of the children, even toddlers, smoke cheap cigarettes.

(Thai Egaw), Lahu (Thai Musay) Hmong (Thai Meo) and Lisu (Thai Lisaw).

Dr. David Mar Naw

Dr David Mar Naw explaining how to take the prescribed medicine David Mar Naw is regarded by many in the Ma-an camp as having been sent magically or by God to relieve them of their ills. He remembers well his first visit to the hill-tribes. Inaccessible by car, he walked the last 9 kilometers through the jungle with his small bag of clothes and supplies and knew instantly that he was meant to be there and meant to stay. Quickly, the news of this kind and enthusiastic doctor spread far and wide and young and old with their short and long-term diseases were queuing up to see him.

Over a year later, his burning heart is still with the poor hill-tribes in their suffering and his tearful eyes on the poor and needy hill-tribe children, shivering in their torn, thin clothes. Every day he travels up and down the hills, moving from village to village giving free medical treatment and curing their illnesses. He plays with the children and learns the hill-tribe languages. They share with him their culture and traditions and he advises them on hygienic living and illness prevention. He eats the simple hill-tribe food and sleeps in the bamboo shelters of the hill-tribes.

Dr David Mar Naw examining a patient Reliant on donations for medical supplies and without his own transport, Dr David’s work is arduous and exhausting. He often has to go by foot to the villages traveling the hilly, muddy road for up to 15 kilometers a day carrying the necessary medical supplies to treat the huge crowds of patients who await him. To support him and his work, the poor villagers prepare him two simple meals of rice, crushed fried egg and a hip of pounding chillies in a small bowl during the day. Once his work is done, he sleeps on the floor of one of the small bamboo huts until the crack of dawn when he is up again and on to the next village.

Community Health Program

Quit smoking
Anti-drug
Family planning
Health Education
1. hygienic living
2. disease prevention
3. HIV/AIDS
4. First Aid
Sanitation
1. building toilets and bathrooms
2. making pure water supply systems
3. building drainage and disposal sewage systems
Mobile clinic
1. giving medicines and treatments
2. sending critical cases to the nearest hospital and providing help with medical bills

Donations

You can assist the work of Dr. David Mar Naw by:

Making a cash donation for medical supplies, sanitation projects or school buildings
Working as a volunteer alongside Dr David
Sponsoring one of the hill-tribe children
Donating your second-hand clothes, school books or medicines

Here is a list of medicines which are urgently needed

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