Fleeing One Homeland and Adopting Another: The Construction of State Identity in a Northern Thailand Village

This book is an ethnographic study on the Han Chinese and cross-border ethnic tribes of Yunnan origin who left the Yunnan Province and migrated to northern Thailand via Myanmar. It explores the political and cultural dimensions related to these people’s escaping from one country and submitting to another country. Cover Contents List of Figures Introduction Research Origin and Determining the Research Object Research Purpose Definition of Some Important Concepts History of and Facts about Cross-Border Migration Between China and Southeast Asia, and Identity Issues of Immigrants The Research Framework and Main Ideas of This Book My Experience of and Reflections on the Fieldwork Chapter One Meilianghe Village amid Remote Mountains and Dense Forests Village Space and Ethnic Distribution Religious Life in the Community Infrastructure and Public Service Agencies in the Community The Livelihood and Living Standards of the Villagers Chapter Two Displaced Peoples The Yunnanese Displaced from Home The Lahu in Search of the Golden Arrow Chapter Three From Myanmar to Thailand The Predicament of the Remnant KMT Troops The Founding of Meilianghe Village Escaping from Wars, Military Service, and Epidemics Economic Benefits Hard to Secure and Property Unprotected The Evils of Illicit Drugs The Escape Route Escape—Option for Survival Chapter Four From Problematic Hill Tribes to Royal Subjects Issues related to Hill Peoples in the Eyes of the Thai Government Meilianghe Village in the Early Days of its Establishment Royal Favors Chapter Five Granted Citizenship Gaining Thai Citizenship at the Cost of One’s Life Good Tidings for the Hill Peoples Applying for Citizenship Certificates is an Arduous Process Laws and Procedures Concerning Applying for Citizenship Certificates Corruption During the Citizenship Application Process Various Means of Obtaining Citizenship Certificates Citizenship Certificates—Wings of Freedom Citizenship Certificates—Social Benefits and Security Chapter Six I Am Thai Thailand in the Eyes of the Villagers National Education in Thailand—A Platform for Cultural Integration Serving in the Military—Fulfilling Civic Duties Life’s New Choices—Adapting to Thai Culture Political Involvement—Awakening the Citizenship Consciousness Chapter Seven Adherence to the Chinese Culture The Elderly Man Who Refuses to Abandon His Chinese Identity Establishing the Chinese Language School Traditional Chinese Religion Cultural Identity and the Creation of the Ethnic Yunnanese People in Northern Thailand Conclusion The State, Government, and People “State,” “Government,” and “Hometown” in the Minds of Cross-Border Migrants From Thai Citizenship to State Identity Reflections on State Identity