Leadership and Political Participation Models in Local Government Organizations of Hill Tribe People, Klong Lan District, Kamphaeng Phet province

Abstract

Abstract

This qualitative study aimed at studying the leadership and political participation of Local Government Organizations of Hill Tribe People, Klong Larn, Kamphaeng Phet Province during the period of 1^st June 2021-31^st March 2022. The participants consisted of 6 hill tribes namely Karen, Hmong, Lahu, Mien, Lishu, and Lua. The purposive sampling was used in the study to select the 13 official leaders of tribes, 16 unofficial leaders and 10 volunteers of ethnic groups.  The data collected from in-depth interview, group discussion and content analysis. The results reveal that the overall leadership of the ethnic groups aimed 1) to be the representatives of their own tribes to preserve their rights, participate in political activities, make decisions and questions, debate on problems and their needs. 2) to connect and cooperate with organizations e.g. government, development or administrative   agencies in addition, to connect with other tribes for collaborations.

The political participation in local administration of the hill tribes can be concluded that 1) participation in meeting, discussion, debate regularly conducted ahead by their own tribe with the cooperation of their members. Alternatively, the chosen leaders must be the tribe representative to participate in village meeting, community meeting, monthly meeting or organization meeting. 2) The invitation and solicitation to political position, the delegates of tribes are invited for running campaign for political elections even there are fewer members in their parties. Moreover, they were invited by Thai people to participate in politic competing against to each other. 3) Debated and motion in public administration conference. The ethnical leaders can be a part of public administration council can express and raise issues in the conference or consult with the members which lead to full custody in political activities. 4) Tribal leadership, facilitate for the development from government to their own tribes through government officials or political leaders such as land ownership right, a relief from government, projects, development program proposal and etc.  The tribal leaders must have leadership traits and readiness to cooperate with other organizations.  5) Development culture, the hill tribes originally influenced from their own cultures, now political behavior of the hill tribes influenced from decentralization leads to development activities and development culture.

Key words:     Leadership, Political Participation, Local government organization, Hill tribe People