Informal Chiang Mai Community Group

( c/o SEAMP Thailand,Nantharam 137 Chiang Mai)

Akha-people use to live in the mountains of S.China, E.Burma, N.Laos and N.Thailand. In fact they were pushed into Thailand from Burma and S.China after 1875, because of wars and up-heavals. But Akha in Thailand, counting about 70,000 are part of a Hani/Akha population, of an estimated 2,5 million people, spread over the mountains of S.Yunnan,China; Eastern Burma (Shan-State); N.Laos and N.Vietnam.

In the last twenty five years, however, progressive Akha, in N.Thailand and particularly women, started to move to the cities and especially Chiang Mai. Reason for many was, that they wanted to study and also were affraid that their children would not have a future in the mountains.Chiang Mai,a market -and tourist city, was also seen by them as a place to find, through business and work, help for their families and villages in the mountains. In the last 5-10 years many more joined because of problems of land and forest.

There are now maybe even at least 7,000 Akha men, women and children, in and around Chiang Mai city. Some of them have been succesfull in study and are accountants, NGO-workers and business people, such as in the Nightbazar. Others work for the Government or as wage-labourer in construction, restaurants and the recreation service-sector. Some have -however started to live in slum- kind of situations.

Over these years many of them have become modern Chiang Mai city-people and adapted themselves very well. They are all respected citizens of Chiang Mai city and of Thailand.

There are also the others, who still have heavy problems. Some families have a very low income, because of lack of study or skill. Some of them are refugees from neighbouring countries; some are widows or sometimes children without parents or family to help. They have no money at all for eating and living, and certainly not for study. They often live in bad or miserable circumstances, or even slums.
Some are also abused in child-labour, or as beggars. Some women are also in prostitution, but their number is highly exagerated by the media.

Since 1991, Chiang Mai Akha, who have stayed in Chiang Mai for some time already have come together more often, for mutual support and friendship, marriages, funerals, etc.

In 1992 they decided to start an "Informal Chiang Mai Akha Community Group", with an executive committee, members and a programme.

In 1996/97 this Akha group, counting already 500 members, decided to have a clearer programme of mutual support and help to those Akha in Chiang Mai, who do have heavy problems.

In 2002 it became clear that the number of Akha in Chiang Mai and other cities has grown Increasingly and might as well have passed the 10,000 people. The number of poor people, slum-people and also girls working in Karaoke and massage parlours has increased heavily. This is also the case with younger children including younger boys, who sometimes risk coming into the hands of paedophiles. Smaller girls are often exploited as "flower-children" and there are certain gangs organizing this. A great deal of these later categories are because refugees from Burma, or their children.
Class stratification in the cities, between those who had the good luck to marry foreigners (Be they Japanese, Westerners or Arabs) and the poorest in the slums has increase also. (See Mika Toyota on Akha urbanization)

We can say however that Akha, because of their cultural tradition of "Trading" and business are amongst those minorities which have been able to adapt financially quicker than some other groups. Amongst those minority peoples working in the Nightbazars in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, in the weekend market in Bangkok Akha count a majority.

The programme of the Chiang Mai Akha Community Group is now formulated as follows:

1. To give mutual support to fellow Akha members of the Community group, especially in case of disease and death.
2. To set up a credit-system, with very low interest, for those wanting to start a small business or enterprise.
3. To start a scholarship fund for parents, unable to pay expenses of study for their children themselves.
4. To look for opportunities for housing, school-education, health-care and legal help for the poorest marginalized Akha women and children, in Chiang Mai city.

For more information,please ask the Akha Community Group's Committee :

Darunee/Deuleu Choopoh, Chair-woman.
Atsui Majeu, Vice-Chairman.
Yaphi Jupaw, Secretary.
Mi-sm Dzoedang, Treasurer.
Somsri/Asseu Jupaw, Radio-Speaker.
Adyui Dzoedang, Technical Advisor.
Apha Samluk, member/spokesman.
Ajeh Majeu, member.
Asseu Lehtsjeu, member.
Athu Majeu, member.

The group finances itself through a "family membership fee"; and giving Akha Kantoke diners and Akharaoke sessions.

The Community group has to look for support from outside,however,
For the: Chiang Mai Akha Community Scholarship Fund.