1. History of Thai Song Dam

Satienkoses (1966) said the words “Song, So-ong, Soeng” have the same definition which means black trousers (sueng). This is the Laotian language (meaning ‘trousers’). The words Laos Song Dam or Laos Song signify people who wear black dress. Pra Boriharndhepthanee (1837) wrote in ’s chronicle (historical record). When we called people who reside in Petchaburi and ‘Thai Song Dam’, we mean ‘Laos Song’ or ‘Lao Song Dam’ which means the same—the people who like putting on black trousers. Luang Wichit Watakarn (1969) wrote a book about one ethnicity of Thai people who are called ‘Thai Song Dam’. Its meaning is derived from the dressing style, especially their favorite color. They like black trousers. Their ancestors’ favorite color since the long history ago was dark blue. Thai Song Dam was originated from Thai race. This ethnicity group was a traditional race of Thai people over the past centuries. M. Sributsara (1987) said Thai Song Dam or Thai Dam originally resided in central China, in which was an abode of Thai ethnicity group, then they immigrated to live in the south to settle down near the Ou River that flows to join Mae Klong River at Luang Prabang in the Sip Song Chau Tai (twelve provinces of the Dai – an area in the north-west of , now ), in which Trang or Dien Bien Fu (currently belonging to Vietnam) is the capital and the northern outskirt. This area is extended to the North of the Kingdom of Laos, bordering on North Korea. Some of Thai Song Dam scattered on to live in some towns like Kwai, Tong, Muay, La, Mo, What, Sang, including 4 towns where Thai Khao residing ( altogether living in all 12 towns). This is why this area was called Sip Song Phu Thai town or Sip Song Chao Tai then renamed to Sip Song Chau Tai, depending on Nanchao (or Nanzhao) kingdom, later depended on Yonokchiengsaen Kingdom. But when this kingdom was destructed by Taimao, Sip Song Chau Tai came to depend on Lanna Kingdom, and during the reign of King Ramkhamhaeng, the great. When Sukhothai Kingdom ascended in the early Ayutthaya period, Sip Song Chau Tai was divided into 2 parts: Sip Song Pan Na or Thai Lue – bordering China and Burma and Sip Song Chau Tai – bordering China and Vietnam. At the moment, Sip Song Pan Na was newly named in Chinese which means Sip Song Pan Na autonomous region.

There were five cities located on an area between northern part and Sip Song Chau Tai in the south that was governed by Muang Luang Prabang. These cities were Kwai, Dung, Muay, La, Lai, then Tang being combined, so all them were called “Five of the six regional cities Hawpan hawser Luang Prabang. Tang, bordering the south of China and the north of Vietnam, was far away from Luang Prabang. Therefore, Luang Prabang’s central government could not reach to every area. So Chao Luang Prabang (governor) authorized the cities to govern themselves, yet they were still mainly governed under the power of Chao Luang Prabang. There was evident that the north cities like Tang depending on China some time and Vietnam for another time, so called ‘Sam Fay Fah’ – three parties’ (Sumit Pitipat and others, 1978). Later on ‘Five of the Six regional cities’ became one province in North Laos, which was called “Kwaenghuapan, Samnue or Wiengchai” A group of Thai Dam dominated the kingdom. Chao Laos called this large group Thai Nuea owing to residing next to Tang of Sip Song Chau Tai and was located near Lum River or Dam (Chongbo) in which Phutai called ‘the Real River’ (M. Sributsara, 1987) Thai Dam lived everywhere over the regional area from Guangxi, and near the Dam River, Daeng River, (the northernmost part of Vietnam). In the those days, some Thai Dam from Sip Song Chau Tai immigrated to live in Thailand because of the political reason as discussed in the following topics.

Immigration of Thai Song Dam to Thailand People of Thai Song Dam or Laos So-ong look like current Chinese ethnicity, especially their complexion color. The current generation live in Petchaburi, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Supanburi. Now they become Thailand’s citizens.

Thai Song Dam or Laos Song Dam or Laos So-ong is an ethnic group who resided on Guangxi, Yunnan, Tonkin, Dam River, Daeng River, and Sip Song Chau Tai in the northernmost part of Vietnam and immigrated to Thailand during Thonburi period in 1779. At the beginning of King , the great, Loatian governor of Vientiane capital defamed King Taksin’s reputation and power. Therefore the king authorized King Rama 1 (King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke) when positioning as the King of War (Somdet Chao Phraya Maahakasadsuek) to deploy the army to defeat Vientiane capital in 1778. In 1779, the King of War commanded Luang Prabang army to overcome Muay, Tan – the city of Thai Song Dam, located on . Over the victory, the army seized and moved forcefully Laotian and Thai Song Dam people to Thailand. Vientiane Laotians lived in Saraburi, Ratchaburi and Chanthaburi; whereas, Thai Song Dam settled down in Ban Nonglao, Khaoyoi District, Petchaburi province.

In 1792 the refugees of Thai Song Dam surged along the border to Thailand again because Muang Tang and Muang Puan rebelled against the rule of Vientiane. Then Vientiane’s governor deployed the army to defeat those cities and captured and expelled Thai Song Dam and Laos Puan from the cities, then they resided in Petchaburi. In the reign of King Rama 3, some main cities rebelled against the rule of Luang Prabang. In 1828, King Rama 3 (Phra Bat Somdet Phra Nangklao Chao Yu Hua) authorized the army to capture Muang Tang and brought Thai Song Dam’s families to Petchaburi once again. In 1836, Muang Hom, Muang Koy and Muang Khua rebelled against Muang Luang Prabang. Chao Uparaja (monarchy) – the position for the victory of state – and Chao Rajawong – the position for a son of Chao Luang, deployed the armies to defeat the cities; and consequently, captured and drove Thai Song Dam to Petchaburi. In 1838, Luang Prabang’s Chao Uparaja, Chao Rajawong, and Chao Nai (the governing position) and those of Vientiane quarreled each other, thus, Chao Rajawong controlled the situation and brought Thai Song Dam to reside in Bangkok. But Thai Song Dam who came during the reign of King Rama 3 lived in Tambol Tahraeng, Amphoe Banlaem, Petchaburi province. However, Thai Song Dam, who were initially moved to live in Banlaem, preferred living in highland (plateau) with forests. So they immigrated to settle down in Amphoe Khaoyoi later on. In 1864, there was turmoil in Tonkin, Sip

Song Chau Tai and North Laos. Haw (J-e-a-n H-a-w) took advantage to invade the cities along Dam River, Daeng River and Trannin Plateau during the reign of King Rama 5 (King Chulalongkorn). The northern cities – Luang Prabang and Vientiane were invaded by Haw. Then the northern governors seek help from Bangkok. So King Chulalongkorn sent the army to overcome Haw in 1878 and collected Thai Dam’s families to the Kingdom of Thailand. During 1885 to 1887, King Chulalongkorn made royal order General Chaophraya Surasakmontri deployed the army to defeat Haw once more and after the war, he carried Thai Dam to live in Thailand. M. Sributsara (1987) added that Thai Song Dam’s immigration was initially due to the need of Vietnam independence from colony. The group called “the National United Party for the Freedom of Vietnam” or in short “” was founded to end colony and power of French over Indo-China. In 1954, Viet Minh attacked Dien Bien Fu (Muang Tang) – French Front where a dense of Thai Dam population lived. The war lasted for some time until Dien Bien Phu was defeated and French troop was surrendered. As a result, about 2,000 Thai Dam citizens immigrated to reside in Luang Prabang and another group about 3,000 people headed for Chiengkwang. Later on this area became crowded, then they moved towards Ban Elai, about 20 kilometers north to Vientiane. Thai Dam had lived here peacefully in Vientiane for about 20 years until Communists occupied Laos. Therefore, some of Thai Dam who loved peace were forcefully moved to Thailand in 1975. Some of the refugees lived in Refugee Camps, some of them went to Laos. Others were the refugees to France, USA, Canada and Australia.