[Tlc] TL-Akha musicians

Mon Nov 19 10:31:13 PST 2007

Forwarded from Dr. Majorie Muecke.
Thanks,
justin

A battle for identity Hilltribe musicians sing of their
struggles at a stirring concert in Chiang Mai

Story by ROJANA MANOWALAILAO

An Akha musician sings of her people's hardships.
Singers from seven hilltribes told stories about the lives of
highlanders through songs at the recent International Pop
Concert by Mekong Hilltribe Musicians, organised to bring
attention to the problems of statelessness, HIV/Aids, human
trafficking and drug abuse in their communities.

Fourteen new songs on the daily struggles that many
highlanders face were delivered in the mother tongues of
Karen, Hmong, Mien, Akha, Lisu, Tai Yai and Lahu at the
concert on Nov 3 at the Chiang Mai University auditorium.

The lyrics were translated into Thai and English and projected
simultaneously on two large screens to a crowd of
approximately 5,000, mostly hilltribe people.

It's You tells about a young Akha girl who leaves her homeland
hoping to find work in the city to save money. But eventually
she is trapped in the sex trade and gets infected with HIV.

''There's no such thing as 'proper' work for the hilltribe
people in the city,'' says Kongchai Sawettaporn, a 34-year-old
Akha who composed the song.

Kongchai said his song portrays the lives of many young
hilltribe women.

Lack of citizenship is the single greatest risk factor for
hilltribe girls in Thailand, leading to their exploitation,
according to United Nations Educational Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (Unesco) research. Without legal status,
hilltribe people are considered illegal aliens and subject to
arrest, deportation and extortion. They cannot travel outside
their home districts, which limits their job opportunities.

Without citizenship, they do not get an official certificate
after finishing school, and that lessens their chances for
higher education and consequently choices of employment.

A survey by Unesco and the Bureau of Social Development this
year of 63,724 hilltribe people in 191 villages in Chiang Mai,
Chiang Rai, and Mae Hong Son found that 37% still did not have
Thai citizenship.

Despite the Education Ministry's policy that all children,
regardless of legal status, are entitled to primary education,
highland children are often excluded from school.

The Unesco survey showed that without citizenship only 43%
were likely to enter lower primary school and only half of
them were likely to move on to upper primary school.

''Some hilltribe people are lured into drugs,'' said
26-year-old Tai Yai singer Laomon Longaii, telling the story
behind his song Don't Sell Drugs.

''If our people had ID cards and land for cultivation,
problems such as drugs and prostitution would likely not
occur,'' he said.

Lofin Sailee, 25, a Mien musician, also composed a song about
a young hilltribe woman lured into the sex trade.

''Does she know her family is waiting for her to return? They
don't care about the small amount of cash she makes from
selling her body. Please return, since it's so lonely without
your shadow,'' he sings in Return Home, Young Lady.

A music graduate of Rajabhat University Chiang Mai, he is the
first in his village to receive a bachelor's degree. He took
out a student loan in Mathayom 4 and sent himself to school,
working as a musician in Chiang Mai restaurants. He has
produced two albums in the Mien language as a means to educate
young Mien people to preserve their own culture and language.

''Being hilltribe we're treated as inferior. Some Mien don't
want to admit that they are Mien. They're ashamed to be Mien
and to speak their own language,,'' he said. ''So they will do
anything to get themselves recognised as lowland people to
gain acceptance.''

Sae Vavee Juepor, 31, an Akha singer, also sends out a message
on preserving hilltribe culture through his song Don't Forget
Your Own Culture.

''What's there to be ashamed of?'' he laments. ''Some simply
say they live in the lowland a long time and speak Thai mostly
so they don't remember how to speak Akha. How could you forget
the origin of your blood? How could you forget your own
language?''

Sae has three albums _ No ID Cards, No Rights and Beloved
Friends From Different Tribes in Thai and Akha United in Akha.

The four-hour concert was broadcast live by Radio Thailand
Chiang Mai, which transmits across Thailand, southern China,
Laos, northern Vietnam, Burma and parts of India, and on the
Channel 11 television station.

The concert was the second to be co-organised by Unesco and
Radio Thailand Chiang Mai.

''We're so small and so our voice cannot be heard,'' said Chi
Suwichan, 27, a Pakayo musician of the Karen tribe.

David A. Feingold, Ph.D.
Director,
Ophidian Research Institute
and
International Coordinator for HIV/AIDS and Trafficking, Office
of the Regional Advisor for Culture,
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural
Organization,UNESCO Bangkok Office
5th Floor Darakarn Building, 920 Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110
Thailand
Tel: (662) 391-0577 (ext.504)
Fax: (662) 391-0866
Home (Bangkok): 258-8796
Visit: http://www.unescobkk.org/culture/trafficking

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
2617 Humanities Building
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu