The Changing the Thai Identity of Thai People in Exile in Ban Singkhon Tanintharyi Province, Republic of the Union of Myanmar from 1947-2019

Abstract

The purpose of this research article was to study the development of the identity change of Thai Diaspora in Ban Singkhon, Tenasserim Region, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, 1947-2019. It was a qualitative research through historical means with interviewing, observation and experiential conversation techniques from a group of Thai people living at Ban Singkhon, Tenasserim Region, Republic of the Union of Myanmar who were contemporary in the events specified by the researcher, 10 people were interviewed via online system by developing local people as assistant researchers. Descriptive method was used to summarize and report the study results. The results of the research revealed that Thai diaspora in Ban Singkhon were important in the context of the shared history of Thailand and Myanmar. Because Tenasserim was important to maritime trade since before the establishment of Ayutthaya until after the second loss of Ayutthaya and became diaspora after the separation of the border between Siam and England during the reign of King Rama IV. Thai diaspora of Ban Singkhon had a lifestyle similar to that of Thai people in Bang Saphan area in the South. These people had changed their identity since 1947, which had 3 phases: the identity change of Thai diaspora in Ban Singkhon after independence, the identity of Thai diaspora in Ban Singkhon during the period of ceasefire negotiations for ethnic minorities in Myanmar and the change in the identity of Thai diaspora in Ban Singkhon after the establishment of the ASEAN Community.