Matthew McDaniel

Matthew Duncan McDaniel is an American indigenous rights activist, from Oregon. McDaniel is a former carpenter working to improve human rights for the Akha people of Thailand and Laos.[1][2] He is the founder of the Akha Heritage Foundation. He lived in Thailand from 1991 to 2004.[3][4]

Matthew Duncan McDaniel
Matthew McDaniel and his Akha wife, Michu Uaiyue, at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. May 2006.
Websiteakha.org
Luang Prabang, Laos. July 2005. Matthew McDaniel's family.

Background

On April 18, 2004, McDaniel was arrested at Thailand's border with Burma by Thai immigration authorities, jailed for nine days, and then deported.[5][6][7] In July 2005 he moved from the USA back to Laos. His Thai Akha wife and children left Thailand and went to Laos to be with him. After his wife and children received visas, the family relocated to the United States in May 2006.[8][9] A December 22, 2005 Keizertimes article reported on the difficulty in getting the visas.[10]

McDaniel is opposed to what he claims are missionary efforts to rewrite Akha history and eradicate their culture. This includes a language and oral history, which he says are critical components to their unique identity. He opposes coercive missionary conversion tactics, and the removal of Akha children from their families and villages.[1][7][11] He has frequently questioned why charities such as Rotary International support certain missionary groups. McDaniel has asserted that Rotary International has since pulled their web pages supporting the funding of the Children of the Golden Triangle Mission.[1][12][13] McDaniel also asserted that UNESCO was working with US missionaries who were "destroying Akha culture".[14]

A May 15, 2004 Asia Times article reported:

McDaniel estimates that more than 100 organizations are proselytizing. "There's way too many missionaries coming. It's become a free-for-all. They come in with money from their home churches, with four-wheel drives, living like kings, like they never would back home," said McDaniel, whose forthright campaign upset many people, spurring whispers about his motives. McDaniel was reportedly deported by Thai authorities after being interviewed for this article; the reasons for the deportation are unclear.[7]

A January 2003 Village Voice article described him as "the evangelicals' fiercest critic in Chiang Rai."

Since moving to Thailand 15 years ago, McDaniel has started a small nongovernmental organization called the Akha Heritage Foundation. With an annual budget of $6000, the group provides services that range from the establishing of fish farms and publishing books in the Akha language to documenting human rights violations.[15]

Half Moon Bay Review reported in a May 2009 article:

Bruno, a San Francisco resident, teamed up with McDaniel on what she calls "guerilla aid style" missions to usher medical supplies across the Thai-Burmese border to Akha people. Both were fighting a common enemy – exploitation and oppression – one with a knapsack full of medicine, the other with a video camera. She remembers watching McDaniel motorbike across the border alongside black market traders and sex traffickers, wearing a leather cowboy hat and shouldering a knapsack packed with bandages and ointments for homeless Akha.[16]

Motivations

The following is from an interview with Matthew McDaniel reported in the November 12, 2007 edition of the Statesman Journal:

Question: Where did your passion for the Akha come from? Answer: I was on a bridge that connects Burma and Thailand, and I saw a policeman riding his motor bike and come up behind a little child walking down a dusty street begging for money for his mother. As the policeman went by on the motor bike, I saw him grab the child by the back of the head and slam him face first into the concrete. The little boy later died.[12]

Drug war
See also: Thaksin Shinawatra § The 'war on drugs', and Policies of the Thaksin government § Anti-drug policies

McDaniel accuses the "US Drug War" and the UN Office of Drugs and Crime for helping cause the arrest, forced dislocation, prosecution, starvation, death and extrajudicial killings of Akha people in Thailand and Laos.[17][18][19][20][21] McDaniel has filed reports with the United Nations Commission on Human Rights,[22] and the International Criminal Court.[23]

He documented extrajudicial killings during the anti-drugs push of Thailand's prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2003.[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]

For example, Matthew McDaniel and three of his associates (Itaru Furuta, Katharine Ricke, and Lisa Friedland) documented the June 20, 2003 killing of Leeh Huuh.[19][33] McDaniel reported:

TODAY. Two days ago Leeh Huuh, other son of Ah Nah Burh Chay and Loh Pah Ah Sauh were called to the Phrao police station. The police left a notice with Loh Pah's wife which she had to sign. TODAY at 8am these two men left for the police station. They were ambushed on the road and shot to death. We saw the bodies which we photographed. Police at Phrao police station denied knowledge of the details of the case that we already knew.[34][35]

The first photo below is of Leeh Huuh and his wife in 2002. The next three photos are of Leeh Huuh's body on June 20, 2003. The last photo is of two Akha wives whose husbands had been killed earlier the same day. Leeh Huuh's wife is on the right side. Matthew McDaniel took the photos.

Thailand's English-language newspaper The Nation reported on the drug war in November 2007:

Of 2,500 deaths in the government's war on drugs in 2003, a fact-finding panel has found that more than half were not involved in drugs at all. At a brainstorming session, a representative from the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) Tuesday disclosed that as many as 1,400 people were killed and labeled as drug suspects despite the fact that they had no link to drugs.

Prosecutor Kunlapon Ponlawan said "it was not difficult to investigate extra-judicial killings carried out by police officers as the trigger-pullers usually confessed."[30][36]

The January 24, 2008 edition of The Economist reported that

over half of those killed in 2003 had no links to the drugs trade. The panel blamed the violence on a government 'shoot-to-kill' policy based on flawed blacklists. But far from leading to the prosecutions of those involved, its findings have been buried. The outgoing interim prime minister, Surayud Chulanont, took office vowing to right Mr Thaksin's wrongs. Yet this week he said there was insufficient evidence to take legal action over the killings. It is easy to see why the tide has turned. Sunai Phasuk, a researcher for Human Rights Watch, a lobbying group, says that the panel's original report named the politicians who egged on the gunmen. But after the PPP won last month's elections, those names were omitted.[37]

The New York Times reported on April 8, 2003:

Since the death of 9-year-old Chakraphan, there have been frequent reports in the Thai press of summary executions and their innocent victims. There was the 16-month-old girl who was shot dead along with her mother, Raiwan Khwanthongyen. There was the pregnant woman, Daranee Tasanawadee, who was killed in front of her two young sons. There was the 8-year-old boy, Jirasak Unthong, who was the only witness to the killing of his parents as they headed home from a temple fair. There was Suwit Baison, 23, a cameraman for a local television station, who fell to his knees in tears in front of Mr. Thaksin and begged for an investigation into the killing of his parents. His stepfather had once been arrested for smoking marijuana, Mr. Suwit said. When the police offered to drop the charge if he would admit to using methamphetamines, he opted instead to pay the $100 fine for marijuana use. Both parents were shot dead as they returned home from the police station on a motorbike. Mr. Suwit said 10 other people in his neighborhood had also been killed after surrendering to the police.[24]

On March 4, 2008 the Asia Sentinel reported:

The first war on drugs, as it was known, pretty much evolved into a war on anybody the police decided to shoot. Under former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, more than 2,800 people were killed over a three-month period five years ago —about twice the normal murder rate of about 500 per month. Appointed Premier Surayud Chulanont half-heartedly set up a commission to investigate the drugs war nearly a year after the coup, but it had the effect of absolving the Thaksin administration. The committee found that about 1,370 of those deaths were related to drugs, while 878 were not. Another 571 people were killed for no apparent reason, according to the panel, and police investigated just 80 of those cases.[38]

United Nations

On May 18, 2006 Matthew McDaniel and his Akha wife, Michu Uaiyue, presented a statement at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.[39] The full Michu Uaiyue statement (translated by Matthew McDaniel) is here:

From the description page for the May 26, 2006 United Nations satellite television feed[40] is this info about the statement:

4. SOUNDBITE (Akha) Michu Wurh Zurh, Director Akha Heritage Foundation translated by her husband Matthew McDaniel (English)

She says that because the Thai forestry department has taken about all the land there is no food and a lot of people have to go to places like Bangkok and work in slave jobs in order to get money to survive because of the food situation that the Thai government has created for the Akha people.

5. Close up Michu's son in Akha outfit

6. Close up, Jerry Eaglefeather plays on the flute for 4 Akha children, ages 7, 5, 3 and 1

7. Close up, Akha children applaud

Below are some photos taken by Matthew McDaniel in May 2006 at the United Nations. Click to enlarge them, and to see the captions. Click again to enlarge further.

Horseback ride across USA

A November 30, 2007 Keizertimes article reported that Matthew McDaniel would ride by horseback across the USA to raise awareness of the Akha. The article reported: "He plans to start his journey in Lincoln City, making his way to Los Angeles and New Orleans before finally ending up at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. All told he plans to travel some 4,500 miles. He said the ride could take seven months or more."[5]

Here follows a quote from a November 30, 2007 Salem Monthly article (in Salem, Oregon):

The effort is "a commitment to the Akha people to protect their lands, to send a message to the Thai government that the Queen of Thailand needs to give back the land of the Akha, to raise public awareness and end the removal of children from their villages and families by missionaries," he said.[41]

The McDaniel family's "Ride for Freedom" via horseback and bus began in Oregon March 6, 2009.[42] On riding days McDaniel rode the horse, Hampton. He then hitchhiked back to a large touring-size bus where his family was located. There were found his Akha wife, Michu Uaiyue, and their 5 children aged 8 to 2. McDaniel then drove the bus to the horse. Then when ready he rode the horse another day.[1][43][44] By May 5, 2009 the family had arrived in Half Moon Bay, California (20 miles south of San Francisco).[16]

Hampton the horse is 17.2 hands high and eats 20 pounds of feed a day. A daily ride was around 20 to 25 miles, although they did 60 miles one day. McDaniel mapped the route with his iPhone. Concerning Hampton, he stated: "You have to make a deal with a horse. You can't fake it."[45]

A May 13, 2009 Santa Cruz Sentinel article reported that McDaniel's web site included a journal of the trip. The article also stated:

Using her husband as a translator, Michu declares: "Until the queen gives our land back, people should keep talking about this."[45]

The Akha Heritage Foundation web site links to McDaniel's official YouTube channel that has many videos of the ride. On day 300 (Dec. 30, 2009) McDaniel was in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and had Hampton's horseshoes replaced again.[1][43][46]

On day 382 (Monday, March 22, 2010) McDaniel arrived in New York City. The Keizertimes reported: "By noon he had hit Times Square, Rockefeller Center, the United Nations and finally Central Park, where he had arranged for someone to pick up him and his horse for a respite in rural New Jersey."[42][47]

The next step is the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York City in April 2010.[42]

References
  1. "The Akha Heritage Foundation - akha.org". Matthew McDaniel's website.
  2. Akha hill tribes. Regional map Archived 2016-02-05 at the Wayback Machine. Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China, Burma.
  3. Akha Chronicles. Akha Heritage Foundation.
  4. Akha Weekly Journal. Archive of Matthew McDaniel reports from 1999 to date. An archive with photos.
  5. "Man on a Mission: Keizer man draws attention to plight of Akha people" Archived 2009-03-31 at the Wayback Machine. By Jason Cox. November 30, 2007. Keizertimes.
  6. "American Activist Jailed in Bangkok Awaiting Deportation". By Antonio Graceffo. April 2004. Hackwriters.com
  7. "Thailand's gold rush for God". By David Fullbrook. May 15, 2004. Asia Times.
  8. McDaniel’s new wheels". September 6th, 2007 by Nicholas Farrelly. New Mandala.
  9. "Family in Exile in Laos 2005-2006". The Akha Heritage Foundation.
  10. "Keizer man fights to bring his family to U.S. from Thailand". By Scotta Callister. December 22, 2005. Keizertimes. Article archived here.
  11. "Oregon Foundation Removes Akha Children". By Matthew McDaniel. February 23, 2007. Portland, Oregon Independent Media Center.
  12. "Keizer man a crusader for Thai tribe". By Thelma Guerrero. 12 November 2007. Statesman Journal.
  13. Children of the Golden Triangle CGT Mission. Report from The Akha Heritage Foundation concerning Rotary International support of this mission.
  14. UNESCO and the Akha. January 2006. The Akha Heritage Foundation.
  15. "Cross Purposes. Federally Funded Missionaries Threaten a Southeast Asian Culture". By Steve Hargreaves. The Village Voice. January 29 - February 4, 2003.
  16. Horseman rides 'for freedom' through Coastside. By Greg Thomas. May 13, 2009. Half Moon Bay Review. Half Moon Bay, California. There are some photos of the family inside the bus.
  17. The US Drug War Against the Akha. Ethnic Cleansing, Genocide. Akha.org page by Matthew McDaniel. With many links.
  18. How the Thai Government Killed the Akha and Took Their Land - US Drug War Death Pics in Thailand - Akha.org
  19. "US-Thailand's 'License To Kill'. 2274 Extra-Judicial Killings In 90 Days". The Akha Journal of the Golden Triangle. By Matthew McDaniel. Vol. 1, No. 2, October 2003. Relevant section of journal 2: 2p6.pdf - Cover and first part of journal 2: 2p1.pdf - Link list for all parts of the journals.
  20. "A Jolly Good Drug War". By Matthew McDaniel.
  21. Thailand 2003. Extrajudicial drug-war killings of innocent people. Photo gallery, and press compilation. Captions by Matthew McDaniel.
  22. 1503 Filing Index for first two filings - Akha.org
  23. The Crime of Genocide Akha vs. Thailand - Akha.org
  24. "A Wave of Drug Killings Is Linked to Thai Police". By Seth Mydans. April 8, 2003. New York Times.
  25. Matthew Z Wheeler. "From Marketplace to Battlefield: Counting the Costs of Thailand's Drug War." . May 28, 2003. ICWA Letters. Institute of Current World Affairs.
  26. Timeline of Thailand’s “War on Drugs”. July 7, 2004. Human Rights Watch.
  27. "Institutionalised torture, extrajudicial killings & uneven application of law in Thailand". April 2005. See Annex 5 for a "Partial list of persons reported killed during the 'war on drugs' (revised)." Asian Legal Resource Centre. From Vol. 04 - No. 02: "Special Report: Rule of Law vs. Rule of Lords in Thailand" Archived 2007-09-15 at the Wayback Machine.
  28. "Thailand: Not Smiling on Rights" Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine. July 18, 2005. Asian Centre for Human Rights. See page 24, the section called "Killings in the war against drugs".
  29. "Thailand in the dock" Archived 2011-05-18 at the Wayback Machine. By Subhatra Bhumiprabhas. July 19, 2005. The Nation (Thailand).
  30. "Most of those killed in war on drug not involved in drug" Archived 2008-02-01 at the Wayback Machine. November 27, 2007. The Nation (an English-language newspaper in Thailand).
  31. Amnesty International report: Thailand: Grave developments - Killings and other abuses Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine
  32. Human Rights Watch. Detailed report: Thailand: Not Enough Graves: IV. Human Rights Abuses and the War on Drugs
  33. Book by Preston Peet: Under the Influence: The Disinformation Guide to Drugs. 2004. ISBN 1-932857-00-1. See page 166 for Leeh Huuh info and photo. Page 166 can be viewed online by searching for "Leeh Huuh" using book search tools:
  34. "Akha Slaughter, Two more Akhas killed today, Thailand". By Matthew McDaniel. June 20, 2003. Akha Weekly Journal.
  35. "Akha Slaughter, Two more Akhas killed today, Thailand". June 21, 2003. fPcN interCultural. Friends of Peoples close to Nature.
  36. "Southeast Asia: Most Killed in Thailand's 2003 Drug War Not Involved With Drugs, Panel Finds". November 30, 2007. Drug War Chronicle.
  37. "Thailand's drug wars. Back on the offensive". January 24, 2008. The Economist.
  38. "Thailand to Restart War on Drugs". By Daniel Ten Kate. March 4, 2008. Asia Sentinel.
  39. Statements during the 2006 UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Archived 2008-05-12 at the Wayback Machine. See the linked statements for Thursday, 18 May 2006 (morning session). PDF file of Michu Uaiyue statement translated by Matthew McDaniel: "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-08-29. Retrieved 2008-02-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  40. UNifeed Story: UN / Indigenous Forum. United Nations satellite television feed. Dateline: 26 May 2006, New York City.
  41. "Advocate raises awareness for Akha tribe" Archived 2009-03-31 at the Wayback Machine. By Aaron Hill. November 30, 2007. Salem Monthly.
  42. "Local activist takes his story nationwide". By Jason Cox. Mar 26, 2010. Keizertimes.
  43. Official YouTube channel of The Akha Heritage Foundation.
  44. Matthew McDaniel. Facebook. Photos and history of the Ride for Freedom. See the wall and the older posts.
  45. Cowboy rides through Santa Cruz on human rights mission Archived 2014-08-11 at the Wayback Machine. By Ann Parker. May 13, 2009. Santa Cruz Sentinel.
  46. YouTube - Day 300 Horseshoes. In Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
  47. YouTube - Day 382 New York City and the UN.
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