Mountain People of Northern Thailand 2: THE HMONG

Also known as the Meo and numbering around 85,000 in Thailand, the Hmong are the second largest group of mountain people here (after the Karen) and account for 15% of all tribesmen here. Possibly originating in Mongolia, they are to be found throughout southern China, in Vietnama and Laos.

The Hmong are sub-divided into 'white', 'blue' and 'armband' groups, based on the style of the women's clothing. Confusingly the 'blue', whose womenfolk wear distinctive indigo-dyed pleated skirts with batik designs, are also known as 'black', 'flowery' and 'striped'!

Familty ties are strong in Hmong communities, one of the results of the severe persecution they have suffered for generations in China and Laos, forcing them to constantly search for safe locations. Perhaps their extremely strong urge for independence and freedom has stimulated many concerted attempts by authoritarian regimes to drive them out or wipe them out.

The Hmong came to world attention in the 60's and 70's due to their fierce resistance against the communist Pathet Lao, with background aid from the USA. Hmong groups in Thailand comprise many refugees from Laos and indeed many are still housed in refugee camps

Primarily farmers, they prefer to site their villages at high altitudes (1,000-1,200m) to grow rice, corn and opium. Needlesss to say, they have been the object of much attention by authorities urging them to cultivate other types of cash crop than the infamous poppy. These moves have also caused the Hmong to look for different types of income and over the past 15 years or so they have acquired the reputation of being astute traders, often buying produce from other mountain peoples and selling it for healthy profits in the markets of Chiangmai and Chiangrai.

Their religious beliefs combine worship of ancestors with the spirits of nature and shamanism. They tend to be cautious with strangers, but become friendly and hospitable if their confidence is gained.

(An important new documentary novel on the Hmong, 'Chao Fa' by local Thai author Piriya Panasuwan, is about to be published by Benya, PO Box 1, Sarapee Post Office, Chiangmai 50140. See our review in next month's 'Good Morning Chiangmai News').

Please Prime Minister Stop the drugs! Pay the police! End animal abuse!

David Hardy, Suphat Mahawan, Wiyada Kantarod

Chiangmai and the North

My Chiangmai

David Hardy

Mountain People

The Hmong

That's the Spirit!

David Hardy

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MAMMOTHS NOT FOUND IN CHIANGMAI!

On-going debate on the reported presence of a whole herd of mammoths in south western Chiangmai province!.(...).

MISS THIPAPORN. I am 28 years old and single. I am only 155 cms tall and weigh 45kgs. I don’t smoke or drink alcohol. (...).

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