ONLINE COMMENTS ON THE PROCESS OF GRANTING THAI NATIONALITY TO STATELESS THAM LUANG CAVE SURVIVORS

Abstract

Nationality is the basic human right for everyone, but nowadays at least 10 million people around the world are stateless. They are lacked of human security. Thailand is one of homes forabout 480,000stateless people who are wating for their legal status to be granted. This research,firstly, studied and analysed online comments regardingthe government’s action on granting Thai nationality to stateless Moo Pa (Wild Boars)football players.Secondly, it explored reasons given in the comments. Finally, it discussed political implication concerning these comments. This research employed quantitative research method of online comments on fivesourcesfrom two online platforms;Facebook and YouTube, to investigate the opinions posted between August 2018 and January 2019.

Research result showed that about 56% ofcomments posted between August 2018-January 2019 were relevant to the stateless football players. Theses online comments were categorised into three different groups. The first group congratulated four stateless cave survivors for being grant Thai nationality. The second group requested the same standard forthe rest of stateless people. The third group questioned the government on such action. This research alsodiscussedthe political implication on the granting Thai nationality rapidly to these four special stateless cases. Lastly, this research made three main contributions to theknowledge.