Hill tribes of Thailand Where There Is No Doctor Organization

The hill-tribe people of Thailand are primarily Burmese migrants who inhabit the remote hilly forests of the Thai-Burma-Laos triangle border. They are composed of 6 different ethnic groups, each with its own language and culture, and recognizable by its colorful traditional dress. The Akha, Karen, Lahu, Lisu, Mien and Mon. The people are hard working and sincere people and believe in the fruits of honesty and a teachable mind.These hill-tribes have moved into the remote hilly forests of northern Thailand because the Burmese military government that runs the country is corrupt, aggressive and cruel. There were no human rights at all. Everyone in the country was like a statue, they couldn’t speak out about what was right or wrong. All the decisions were made and directed from the military Juntas and the government.

Everyone was dancing like a puppet in the way the Juntas and government liked. The government did not want and like any smart and educated people in the country. Everyone who the Juntas thought were educated and smart were arrested and thrown into prisons. All the businesses and companies were controlled and run by the Juntas. Only very rich people who made lots of favors to the Juntas could survive.

The middle class and poor people were struggling to survive in heavy taxes. All the farmers had half of their incomes and crops subjected to duties and taxes, and were forced to sell the other half to the government at very, very low prices. All the people, from middle class to farmers were struggling to survive and were all very skinny and malnourished. Millions of families survive by sending their daughters to prostitutions.

Girls age from 11 to 16 were offered to the juntas on a regular basis for million of families to continue to live. Juntas spread armies everywhere in the country and the soldiers were not well fed by the government, so the armies survive by robbing rice and crops from the villages and grabbing cows, pigs and chickens for food. As the armies move around, they burn down houses and villages and rape village girls, women and children. The people of Burma were malnourished and horror struck.
Even so, the plight of these people continues and worsens here in Thailand. Originally, the hill-tribe communities survived through the production of opium and 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.

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 addiction, 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.