Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - Wednesday, July 28, 1999
Aphaluck Bhatiasevi
Their parents' home was burnt down by superstitious neighbours.
The boys have no home to stay and they have no relatives to turn to for shelter.
The two brothers' ordeal is typical of discrimination against northern orphans whose parents died of Aids"Nobody spoke to us or played with us. They say that we're children of Aids-infected people," said Aado.
Aado and his brother are now provided shelter and education by Chiang Rai's Ratchaprachanukroah-30 School under royal patronage.
Without a house registration, he and his brother are unable to obtain Thai citizenship.
A small house is being built for him and his brother in the outskirts of the village with NGO support, so that the village headman will accept them as community members.
"Without an identity card, we cannot go anywhere. And I will not be able to work after my education,"said Aado.
Twelve-year-old Ploy's parents have also died of Aids. Her father contracted the deadly virus and died a few months after falling seriously ill.
Her mother knew she was HIV-positive upon suffering rashes on her body after eating seafood. She died recently, said Ploy, who is now cared for by a child care centre in Mae Ai district.
Grisada Boonrach, Mae Ai district chief officer, said it was difficult for children with Aids-infected parents to remain within their communities.
"Efforts are being made to create better understanding among the public, but in reality many still don't accept children whose parents have died of Aids in their community," said Mr Grisada.
Chiang Rai Ratchaprachanukroah-30 School has some 420 students, 80% of whom have been orphaned by Aids.
Mr Grisada said aged grandparents find it difficult to care for their orphaned grandchildren.
He said Mae Ai district has some 32 child care centres, most of which cater to some 437 children directly or indirectly affected by HIV/Aids.
Mr Grisada said the tambon administration organisation (TAO) is not likely to boost awareness of social problems, and many local communities still opt for infrastructural construction as top priority.
Charoenrit Nitikorn, Mae Ai district's Mae Sao TAO chief said the water resource issue was the locals' top priority, with children's welfare on the backburner.
Currently there are 2,000 children born to HIV parents in Chiang Mai, 110 of whom have contracted the virus, said Mayuree Yoktree of Viengping Children's Home. Some 600 children have lost their parents, she added.
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