Do you guys remember our friend, Dabi? Our Ahka highland friend for whom we raised $1,000+ and sent to English school? So he could be better equipped to advocate for highland issues with international organizations?
All those English classes must have paid off because Dabi is running for a spot in the Thai equivalent state congress!
His platform?
• Ending corruption in local government.
• Working toward better and equitable health care for the poor, especially highland minorities, stateless people, and families affected by HIV/AIDS.
• Advocating for village schools in order to allow children to live with their families longer (Increasingly, young children are moving to sketchy dormitories in cities to go to school. In addition to losing contact with their families, they are losing their traditions and local languages.)
• Resolving delays in citizenship for highland minority people.
But Dabi needs a bit of help. Running a campaign in any country is expensive and I'd love it if we could help out a bit.
So here's the deal. You make a donation of any size and you're entered to win a package of Southeast Asian goodness.
So here's the deal. You make a donation of any size and you're entered to win a package of Southeast Asian goodness.
Embroidered, sequined pillow case: Thailand // Assorted bangles: India // Earrings: India // Peach, hand-woven scarf: Burma
Of course, 100% of the donations go to Dabi and his efforts and donations of any size (even $2!) are appreciated! Winner will be chosen at random next Friday. Thanks so much, friends!
I feel very uneasy about this. How would Americans feel if their leaders' campaigns were funded by international ideologues? I'm amazed at his work and wish him the best, his platforms sound awesome, but this seems like American imperialism to me. 1US dollar goes pretty far in Thailand and may win him an advantage out of proportion with his local popularity. Unless you could show that he has support from a significant amount of Thai people already?
ReplyDeleteAnon,
ReplyDeleteI understand where you're coming from. I'd encourage you to read up on the issues of stateless minorities and citizenship in Thailand (Here's a good place to start: http://www.nationalityforall.org/thailand).
Dabi is Akha, which is a hilltribe minority that is generally denied citizenship, education, etc by the Thai government. He's sort of the Thai equivalent of a child of undocumented migrant workers, putting himself through college and then working to bring attention to the issues faced by his community.
So he is, in fact, NOT backed by a majority of Thai people because he belongs to an ethnic group that many Thai people don't support and do not want to see in power. (more info here: http://www.hrsolidarity.net/mainfile.php/2004vol14no06/2384/) In much the same way that there are people who wouldn't elect a woman, or a homosexual, or a Latino, or a Native American.
Again, I appreciate your concern and I certainly see where you're coming from. I even had the same thoughts myself ("Is it weird - or somehow illegal - that I'm trying to raise money for a foreign election?") but ultimately, I know Dabi personally, I've spent time with the hilltribes in Thailand, and I used to teach ESL to refugees who were displaced by the Thai government's policies, so it's an issue that's close to my heart.
But, of course, if you're not comfortable making a donation, then you shouldn't :)
I love the concern about it here in the comments, and that it is addressed - all respectfully. This is such a great gathering place for good people with thoughts in our heads. Important questions raised, important reasons given.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Jenny <3
ReplyDeleteI think that this is really great that you're supporting this guy, who does seem awesome and I understand that both you and he have the best intentions but I wonder if he can accept foreign support. I'm fairly sure that in the UK all the money for political candidates has to come from inside the country. I would love to support him in some other way though
ReplyDeletei wish i could have donated more, but things are tight this month with an unexpected sick cat. Good luck!
ReplyDelete