The social movements of Thailand University students in Thailand as depicted in Minfong Ho`s Rice Without Rain.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
THE SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
OF THAILAND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN THAILAND
AS DEPICTED IN MINFONG HO’S RICE WITHOUT RAIN
A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education
By
Aloysius Eko Fajar Nugroho
Student Number: 071214033
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2012
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
THE SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
OF THAILAND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN THAILAND
AS DEPICTED IN MINFONG HO’S RICE WITHOUT RAIN
A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education
By
Aloysius Eko Fajar Nugroho
Student Number: 071214033
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2012
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PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY
I honestly declare that this thesis, which I have written, does not contain the work or
parts of the work of other people, except those cited in the quotations and the
references, as a scientific paper should.
Yogyakarta, 17 July 2012
The Writer
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LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan dibawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas sanata Dharma:
Nama
: Aloysisus Eko Fajar Nugroho
Nomor Mahasiswa
: 071214033
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan
Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang bejudul:
THE SOCIAL MOVEMENTS OF THAILAND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN
THAILAND AS DEPICTED IN MINFONG HO’S RICE WITHOUT RAIN
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan
kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan,
mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data,
mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media
lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun royalti
kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya.
Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal: 17 Juli 2012
Yang menyatakan
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PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
follow your heart,
let your love lead through the darkness
follow your dream,
be yourself, an angel of kindness
there”s nothing that you can’t do
Il divo
My Sisters –Dwi and Cecil-
This Thesis is dedicated to,
My Beloved Parents
My Friends
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My Grandparents
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
After a long process of writing, this thesis finally has finished. Along those
months, I have attained lots of important experiences. This final task required wholehearted commitment since here all steps the writer has been through did not run
smoothly.
For the accomplishment of this thesis, I say the greatest gratitude to the
Almighty God for His spiritual blessing. He has guided me through various ways.
However, I completely believed that all of them were the best favor for me.
The completion of this thesis actually has also been inspired by many people
around me. Firstly, I say also much gratitude to my beloved parents and my sisters for
their magnificent supports. I realize that while writing this thesis, I sometimes fell
down into restless condition. However, through my parents’ gentleness, they always
remind me to wake up and enforced me to make a progress even though it was a very
simple one. Almost every day, my mother texted me some inspiring words that
suggestions and comments were also His priceless blessing.
In addition, in this moment I also thank my sponsor, Henny Herawati, S.Pd.,
M. Hum. for her continuous guidance. In completing this thesis, I have been assisted
much through various things and ways. Her suggestions directed me to notice my
work from other angles and her long experiences also helped me organize all chaotic
ideas in my mind to be a good sequence. I also say much gratitude for her other
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PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
inspiring talents. Not only her ideas had been shared to me, but also her smiles and
patience also enlightened me to create a better work.
Besides, I also appreciated the assistance of all lecturers and other PBI staff.
One thing from other lecturers that sometimes was not comfortable to hear was a
question of how far I did my thesis. The simple question forced me to be more
productive in every single time of my life and taught me how to be responsible of my
duty. I also thank for the kindness of Mba Dani dan Mba Tari. Without their help,
perhaps I would have lost various important information.
Then, I also say gratitude to all friends around me. You have valued endlessly
in my life and it does not matter how big or small your helps for me. It is not fair if I
list only some of you because perhaps I will miss some others’ name. In addition,
they always asked me for the progress of my thesis. Therefore, I was very ashamed if
for some weeks I did not result something for my thesis. Whenever I felt stagnant,
their simple words often inspired me.
Sincerely
Aloysius Eko Fajar Nugroho
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ………………………………………………………………...
Page
i
APPROVAL PAGES ………………………………………………………..
ii
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY …………………………….
iv
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN...................................................
v
PAGE OF DEDICATION ……………………………………………………
vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ………………………………………………….
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………………….
ix
APPENDICES ………………………………………………………………...
xiii
ABSTRACT …………………………………………………………………...
x iv
ABSTRAK ………………………………………………………………………
xv
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION
1. Background of the Study …………………………………………………
1
2. Problem Formulation …………………………………………………….
4
3. Problem Limitations ……………………………………………………..
4
4. Objectives of the Study ………………………………………………….
4
5. Benefits of the Study …………………………………………………….
5
6. Definition of Terms ………………………………………………………
5
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PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
1.
Review of Related Theories ……………………………………………
7
1.1 Rural Community …………………………………………………...
7
1.2 Sympathy ………………………………………………………….....
8
1.3 Geographical Conditions and Food and Drink ………………………
9
2. Review of the Sociocultural-Historical Background ……………………
9
2.1 The Life Conditions of villagers in Rural Areas ……………………
9
2.1.1 Unfair Development of Irrigation Facility ....………………….
10
2.1.2 Poor Health Condition …………………………………………
12
2.1.3 High Land Rent ………………………………………………..
14
2.2 University Student Movement ………………………………………
14
3. Theoretical Framework ……………………………………………………
17
CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY
1. Object of the Study ………………………………………………………..
18
2. Approaches of the Study ………………………………………………….
20
3. Method of the Study ………………………………………………………
20
CHAPTER IV. ANALYSIS
1. The Life Conditions at Rural Villages in Thailand ……………………….
22
1.1 Unfair Development of Irrigation Facility …………………………..
22
1.1.1 The Impact of the Drought Condition ………………………....
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1.1.2 The Portray of Unfair Development …………………………..
24
1.1.3 The Importance of Irrigation …………………………………..
27
1.2 Poor Health Condition …………………………………………………
31
1.2.1 Low Health Quality ……………………………………………
31
1.2.2 Poor Access of Health Treatment ………………………………
33
1.2.3 Health Treatment of Traditional Healer ……………………….
34
1.2.4 High Health Cost ……………………………………………….
35
1.3 High Land Rent ………………………………………………………..
36
1.3.1 Routine of Paying High Land Rent …………………………….
36
1.3.2 Disappointment on the Routine ………………………………… 37
2. The Portray of the Social Movements by the University Students ……….
39
2.1 The University Students in Village ……………………………………
39
2.1.1 The Arrival of the University Students ………………………..
39
2.1.2 The Clarification on the Agricultural Land Rent Act …………
41
2.1.3 The Concern of the Student Group in Villages ……………….
43
2.2 The Demonstration by University Students and Farmers …………….
44
2.2.1 Purpose for the Upcoming Demonstration ……………………
44
2.2.2 Participation of University Students and Farmers
in Enforcing Land Rent Change ……………………………….
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CHAPTER V. CONCLUSION AND SUGESTIONS
1. Conclusions ………………………………………………………………...
50
2. Suggestions …………………………………………………………………
52
2.1 A Suggestion: For Future Researchers ………………………………...
52
2.2 A Suggestion: the Implementation of the Study
into English Course of Prose …………………………………………..
53
REFFERENCES …………………………………………………………………. 55
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LIST OF APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1.
BIOGRAPHY OF MINFONG HO ………………………..
57
APPENDIX 2.
SUMMARY OF RICE WITHOUT RAIN .…………………
61
APPENDIX 3.
LESSON PLAN ……………………………………………
62
APPENDIX 4.
LEARNING MATERIAL …………………………………
66
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ABSTRACT
Nugroho, Aloysius E. F. (2012): The Social Movements of Thailand University
Students in Thailand as Depicted in Minfong Ho’s Rice Without Rain,
Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Department of
Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education,
Sanata Dharma University.
This thesis is a literary study on a novel entitled Rice Without Rain by Minfong
Ho. This novel presented the life conditions of inhabitants in rural areas. The poverty
existing in the regions can be seen through various complexities of villagers. In the
meantime, the arrival of a group of university students from Bangkok really change
the way of thinking of the inhabitants there. They are inspired to decide a courageous
decision to resist the system of high-land rent.
This study, therefore, focuses on some life conditions and the social
movements of university students. Both points are covered into the two following
aims. Firstly, this study is aimed to find out the life conditions of people at rural
villages in Thailand in particular in the areas of the development of irrigation facility,
health access, and land rent system. Then, the second aim is to portray the social
movements of Thailand university.
Then, the method of this thesis was a library study. The discussion, therefore,
used various books for the main and secondary sources. In addition, this thesis also
implemented various sources from internet. In analyzing the objectives, this study
mainly applied socio-cultural historical approach. Particular moments in the novel
were fixed to some notes of Thailand historical reviews and some social theories.
Then, this study reports some important findings. In relation to the life
conditions of villagers in rural regions, there was an unfair development of irrigation
facility. Then, the inhabitants were also lack of appropriate health access. In addition,
they still had to pay land rent very high even though a dry season exists. Then, the
social movements of the university students cover two movements. The first one was
in the village and their movement showed their awareness on the rural people. The
second movement is a huge demonstration and its goal was to resist the obligation of
high land rent. The participations of farmers and students in the demonstration
portray a role change of them in stating their demands.
In conclusion, some complications occurred along Thailand rural villages.
The problems were responded by university students. Then, the social movements of
the university students showed the role changes of farmers and students and great
awareness of the students toward rural people’s condition.
Key Words: irrigation facility, health, land rent, and social movements
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ABSTRAK
Nugroho, Aloysius E. F. (2012): The Social Movements of Thailand University
Students in Thailand as Depicted in Minfong Ho’s Rice Without Rain,
Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan
Bahasa dan Sastra, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata
Dharma.
Skripsi ini merupakan studi karya sastra novel berjudul Rice Without Rain oleh
Minfong Ho. Novel tersebut menceritakan kondisi kehidupan penduduk di daerah
pinggiran Thailand. Kemiskinan di daerah tersebut dapat dilihat pada kesulitan para
penduduk. Disaat berbagai krisis terjadi, kedatangan sekelompok mahasiwamahasiswi universitas dari Bangkok mengubah cara berpikir penduduk disan
sehingga terinspirasi untuk melawan sistem sewa tanah yang sangat mahal.
Oleh sebab itu, penelitian ini fokus pada beberapa kondisi kehidupan dan
pergerakan sosial oleh mahasiswa-mahasiswi. Poin-poin tersebut akan dirangkum
kedalam dua pokok rumusan permasalahan. Pertama, penelitian ini diarahkan untuk
menemukan kondisi di desa pinggiran Thailand menyangkut pembangunan fasilitas
irigasi, akses kesehatan, dan sistem sewa tanah. Kemudian, tujuan kedua tersebut
untuk menggambarkan pergerakan sosial oleh mahasiswa-mahasiswi Thailand.
Kemudian, metode di penelitian adalah studi pustaka. Sehingga, diskusi
menggunakan berbagai buku untuk sumber pokok dan tambahan dan internet.
Didalam menganalisa beberapa permasalahan tersebut, studi ini secara menyeluruh
menggunakan pendekatan sejarah budaya dan sosial. Kejadian-kejadian didalam
novel tersebut dicocokan dengan beberapa catatan dari ulasan-ulasan sejarah Thailand
dan beberapa teori sosial.
Kemudian, studi ini menghasilkan beberapa hasil. Berkaitan dengan kondisi
penduduk desa pinggiran terdapat pembangunan tidak merata pada fasilitas irigasi.
Dilain pihak, kondisi kesehatan penduduk memprihatinkan. Kemudian, mereka masih
diwajibkan membayar sewa tanah sangat tinggi walaupun musim kemarau melanda
.Kemudian, pergerakan sosial oleh mahasiswa-mahasiswi mencakup dua pergerakan.
Pertama di desa dan pergerakan tersebut menunjukkan perhatian mereka terhadap
masyarakat pinggiran. Pergerakan kedua demonstrasi secara masal menentang
kewajiban sewa tanah yang tinggi tersebut. Partisipsi dari para petani dan mahasiswamahasiswi didalam demonstrasi tersebut menggambarkan perubahan peran di dalam
mengutarakan permintaan mereka.
Sebagai kesimpulan, beberapa krisis terjadi disepanjang daerah pinggiran
Thailand. Di sisi lain permasalahan tersebut ditanggapi oleh mahasiswa-mahasiswi.
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Kemudian, pergerakan sosial oleh mahasiswa-mahasiswi universitas tersebut
menunjukkan perubahan-perubahan peran dari para pelajar dan kesadaran tinggi dari
para pelajar tersebut terhadap kondisi masyarakat pinggiran.
Kata-kata Kunci: fasilitas irigasi, kesehatan, sewa tanah, dan pergerakan-pergerakan
mahasiswa
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
This chapter encompasses some sections. The first section consists of the
reasons to conduct this study. The subsequent section is the problem formulation.
Here, there are two questions presented for the directions of this study. Then, the
third section is the problem limitations of this study as the boundaries of the
intended scope. The next section is the objectives of this study. Then, the
following section mentions the benefits of this study. The section of definition of
terms explains the terms used in order to avoid any misunderstanding.
1.
Background of the Study
From the title of the novel, it stores an underlying meaning inside the group
of the words. The word Rice can be understood as the achievement of fulfilling
the basic element of human beings. Without the fulfillment, perhaps their
existence is in danger. However, the attainment needs efforts for those who have
desire to reach it. The efforts gradually turn into their habit as their daily
activities. However, a serious question can occur in relation on how sufficiently
they can reach the fulfillment after a long process if the means does not belong to
them. The dependency toward an uncertain condition seems worse due to the
obligation to landowners. The availability of other complication can create the
uneasy state much worse because of regular natural force. The power of nature
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PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
2
seems unavoidable but men with their mind can create something to solve the
problem. In other word, the creation hopefully can reduce the problem of them
who suffer of it. Then, how people have to face the significant diversity due to an
unfair development can be noticed in this novel.
In this Minfong Ho’s novel entitled Rice Without Rain, the readers are
provided with the living of Thais especially those inhabiting in the rural areas.
They restlessly live in unstable conditions of poverty and injustice. For example,
as farmers their lives commonly rely on the agricultural resources. However, they
cannot maximally harvest the rice in all occasions. The obstacles are not merely in
relation to the drought environment. There is also a lack of the government’s
commitment to distribute a fair development of irrigation infrastructure.
Therefore, all villagers cannot access the facility maximally. Ironically, the areas
near Bangkok are developed completely so that they can manage their farming
activities even in such barren conditions. The evident differences show an unfair
distribution of public facility for all citizens. Then, the problem of poor harvests is
also experienced by family from higher status who are honored by people living
there. For example, the headmaster of the village also experiences the same
difficulty. This novel also told “…Jinda wondered? But their storage bin was
nearly empty, and every grain of rice precious. Maybe she should just add more
water?” (p. 34). Commonly people with high status rarely experience the
condition. Then, if the opposite possibility exists, it is not as extreme as other
people with lower status.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
3
In the novel, farmers also
face the repression of land owners.
The
repression exists in the form of high charge to pay the land rent. The amount is
intolerable, since all peasants must pay a half of their crops in each harvesting
time. Even in the terrible condition, the farmers are still unfairly forced to fulfill
the obligation.
The condition in the rural area like in Maekung also occurs in the other rural
areas in Thailand.
The complexities amid the people are responded by the
students of universities in Thailand. They have a desirable commitment to reveal
efforts in order to resist for paying high rent. The university students’ movements,
moreover, are considered as revolutionary movements. According to Babbie
(1982), he agrees that “revolutionary movements are social movements aimed at
substantial social change, often including the overthrow of rulers and even the
system of rule” (p.302). The efforts of students are a good sign of responding
toward the conditions. Babbie (1982) also states “no social force can become a
movement unless it appears among people who are somewhat receptive to it” (p.
302). This idea is suitable to the unity of Thai university students. The insufficient
conditions have caused their discontent. Moreover, all of them have the same
main concern of the changes in Thailand. Then, it is also unavoidable that all of
the available conditions including the rural villagers’ suffering becomes the
attention of the university students.
Furthermore, because the content of the novel tells some complexities of
Thai people in the rural areas and the movements of university students, it
awakens the curiosity of the writer to gain deeper understanding connecting to the
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
4
life conditions of villagers in Thailand and the portray of social movements of
university students as seen in the novel.
2.
Problem Formulation
This study is conducted to answer the following questions.
a) What are the life conditions of villagers in the rural areas in Thailand as
depicted in Minfong Ho’s Rice without Rain?
b) How do the social movements of Thailand university students portray
the conditions in Thailand as seen in Minfong Ho’s Rice without Rain?
3.
Problem Limitations
This study limits the scope of the discussion on two major points. The first
point only covers the life conditions of villagers and it consists of three subpoints. Firstly, it deals with the poor facility of irrigation. Secondly, it discusses
on the health conditions of villager in the rural areas. Thirdly, the next point is
connected to the system of high land rent. Then, the last point mainly consists of
the portray of the social movements of Thailand university students.
4.
Objectives of the Study
This study reveals two related objectives to discuss, as follow:
a) To find out the life conditions of villagers in the rural areas in Thailand
in particular in the areas of the development of irrigation facility, health access,
and land rent system as depicted in Minfong Ho’s Rice without Rain
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5
b)
To portray the social movements of Thailand university students in
Thailand as depicted in Minfong Ho’s Rice Without Rain
5.
Benefits of the Study
This study is also supposed to gain some benefits for others.
a) For PBI students
Through this study, PBI students will attain some benefits. The content
enriches them with various conditions of villagers in the rural areas in Thailand in
the period of 1970s. The concerns focus on particular points, including high land
rent system, limited distribution of public facility, and low health condition.
b) For future researchers
The accomplishment of this study hopefully can share benefits for future
researches. The future researchers with the same interest can apply this study as
the other reference. The implementation can widen their insight toward their
directions of the studies so that better discussions can be reached.
6.
Definition of Terms
There are some terms important to be defined in order to avoid any
misunderstanding among various readers. Here, the terms to define are only the
words of Thailand university students and social movements.
a) Thailand University students
Based on American Heritage Dictionary the words “university students”
can mean one who is enrolled or attends classes at school, college, or university.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
6
In addition, they can be understood as one who studies something. In this study,
Thailand university students here refer to those students who joined the massive
demonstrations in 1973-1976.
b) Social movement
Based on the Webster online’s dictionary, a social movement means a
type of group action. In addition, size of the group is large and it is known as
informal groupings of individuals and/or organizations. This dictionary explains
the words, as below.
Social movements are a type of group action. They are large
informal groupings of individuals and/or organizations focused on
specific political or social issues, in other words, on carrying out,
resisting or undoing a social change.
Then, Babbie (1982) also emphasizes “social movements provide an
outlet for such feelings and a vehicle for changing the conditions that cause them”
(p.303). The intended social movements of this study are the huge demonstration
consisting of a large number of Thailand university students in 1976 and the
students’ trips to the rural areas.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
To support the discussion and solve the problems, this study requires
various sources. Therefore, this chapter mainly presents theories and review of
Thailand history. The first part provides several theories used. Then, the next part
mentions the historical reviews. They are going to be specifically presented in the
following sections.
1.
Review of Related Theories
All theories used in this study are applied to enhance the discussion. Firstly,
to figure out the condition of rural villages, this study selects the theory of rural
community. Secondly, this study chooses the theory of sympathy and it is
intended to provide a reason why the rural people’s life conditions attracted the
concerns of university student movements.
The last one is the theory on
geographical conditions and food and drink. Furthermore, it is applied to mention
the dependence of flora and fauna resources of a certain environment; and quality
and quantity of food of certain inhabitants.
1.1
Rural Community
Soekanto (2010) agrees the common livelihood for the villagers is through
processing natural potency of agriculture. However, it is possible that only some
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PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
8
farmers have their own land (p.136). Then, their way of processing the land can
be done traditionally and inefficiently because they are unfamiliar to apply the
agricultural mechanism. Their orientation is merely in relation to their fulfillment
of their daily life needs. Their degree of excitement is based on how well they
fulfill their needs (p.137).
1.2 Sympathy
Sorikin (1927) says more about how individual uniqueness can affect
sympathy from others.
…similarities in taste, ideas, beliefs, manners, and morals
“unmistakably” facilitate the relationship of liking, sympathy, and
solidarity among the individuals and groups, while the
dissimilarities in this field tend to produce the relationship of
repellence or antipathy (p. 727).
The social background attracts others especially if both parties share the same
ideas. The interesting part is that the sameness can direct to a unity to gain certain
purposes. This theory is implemented in the discussion on why university
students unite each other in order to conduct the movements.
1.3
Geographical Conditions and Food and Drink
A geographical environment can influence the society’s sorts of food and
drink. Sorikin (1927) in this section shows the relation that “There was also some
dependence between the flora and fauna of a geographic environment and the
quantity and quality of food and drink of a society” (p.112).
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
9
In spite of the previous correlation, Sorikin (1927) also groups some peoples
into some sorts in order to classify them into the kinds of their foods. He classifies
that “Principal kinds of food and corresponding peoples…rice: Oraons, S. Indians,
Chinese, Koreans, Mundas, Japanese, Looshais, N. Aragans, Tonkingese,
Laosians, Siamese… (p. 112).
Sorikin also explains (1927) the value of wealth of certain products is
related to the social circumstances in which it is located. It was clearly stated that
“…the products of a geographic environment become economically valuable,
depends not only on the nature of these products but also on the character of a
society (p. 114)”.
2.
Review of the Sociocultural-Historical Background
This part provides some information in relation to historical notes occurring
in 1970s. The classification can avoid the misunderstanding in implementing them
into this study. Its role is to support the discussion combined with some theories
above to solve the intended questions.
2.1 The Life Conditions of villagers in the Rural Areas
There are three kinds of unfair conditions related to the novel.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
10
2.1.1 Unfair Development of Irrigation Facility
In her book entitled Thailand in Transition, Prizzia explains (1985) that
“there were some facts that many villagers in rural areas had faced an unfair
experience from the ruling government”.
Allan the editor of Library of Nations South-east Asia (1987) informs that
civil people in some regions started doubting of the government’s commitment of
development (p.138). He reports that “In the late 1960s, poor farmers, particularly
in the north, the north-east, and the south, grew increasingly resentful towards the
government’s lack of commitment to rural development” (p.138).
For example, Prizzia (1985) reports the real development on a dam project
of Bhummibhol actually should be responded positively by the civilians there.
However, the project, located in remote area in Tak province, was not fairly
distributed to all civilians in certain areas.
Prizzia (1985) describes that project as bellow.
This project is located in a remote area of rural Thailand and began
with elaborate designs that would provide not only irrigation for
agricultural purposes but also electricity for rural households in the
area. The irrigation aspect of the plan was never fully implemented,
however, and huge cables carried the dam’s energy output to
provincial capitals and Bangkok while most of the villagers in the
immediate vicinity of the dam remained without electricity or easy
access to water. (p.104)
U.S Library of Congress (n.d) reports the irrigation facility did not scope
all lands. It specifically clarifies the condition in the following citation.
In the North, where nearly a quarter of the nation's more than 4.5
million agricultural households were located (1983 estimate), over
half the land is mountainous. In the upper part of the region, which
is characterized by narrow valleys, average holdings were only
about 2.2 hectares. In the parts of this upper area that had
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
11
controlled irrigation, the typical farm only had slightly more than
one hectare. A farm on nonirrigated land consisted of about two
hectares, part of which was rain-fed paddy and part upland. (p. 1)
Reunglertpanyakul (n.d) clarifies how the condition in central plain was
significantly different and even in the limited development the unfairness also
occurred. He states the condition, as bellow.
Throughout the 1960s to the early 1980s, agricultural growth was
achieved with little change in farm management. Farm inputs were
used to a limited extent, except in the central plain region where a
full-scale Green Revolution took place. (p. 2)
In other reviews of Thailand history, Reunglertpanyakul (n.d) identifies
irrigations functioned very essential for the continuity of farmland processing. He
specifically states that “irrigation is a most important infrastructure for modern
agriculture” (p.175). In other statement, the dependency toward natural rain
affected the quantity of harvest. He also supports why the function of irrigation
should be considered. It is stated that “…if farming is to rely on natural rain,
intensive farming system cannot be established. Irrigation not only prolongs the
farming period but also allows farmers to regulate the water levels according to
the requirement of their crops” (p.175). In reality, the development of irrigation
had been the project of the government. In the contrary, it seems not maximal.
Reunglertpanyakul (n.d) clarifies that “the Thai government has recognized this
importance and has undertaken many projects. Their performance, however, have
been relatively poor” (p.175).
O’Mara and Le-Si (1985) in their study share their findings on the
percentage of the number of families resulted crops of rice compared to others.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
12
They (1985) state that “rice growing households are 98 percent of the 4 million
farm families, accounting for 55 percent of total population…” (p. x).
Cooper (1979) reports there was a declining quality of soil fertility. It
affected the life of many families especially in northern Thailand. It was such
limited yields of the period that a lot of them were not able to fulfill their need
sufficiently because of limited yields in the period (p.324).
2.1.2 Poor Health Condition
The other problem is health quality in the rural villages. During the period
of time, all people in the rural areas faced poor health conditions. There were
some conditions such as inadequate sanitary facilities, malnutrition, and the likes.
Bureau of Policy and Strategy of Ministry of Public Health of World Health
Organization (2005) reports the conditions of health faced by rural population
were such as poor living condition, limited facilities of sanitation, deteriorated
natural environment, and malnutrition (p. 7).
WHO (2005) also reports that the northern areas were actually a remote
place with barriers in relation to geographical condition.
WHO (2005) lists that conditions as bellow.
The northern region shows significant social and economic
development, in part because it also includes Thailand second
largest city, Chiang Mai. This means better education as well as
access to appropriate medical programs and services….In addition,
the mountainous regions in the north create physical barriers, which
isolate many groups and make it difficult for health services to
reach these people. This endangers not only those isolated
communities, but may have public health effects if a new infectious
disease is first introduced in these areas (p.15).
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
13
In fact, the development of health access was not a new project for Thais.
Before modern medicine came to rural areas, the indigenous people had their way
to care their health problems. WHO, moreover, adds (2005) that “health
development activities based on people’s participation had long been taking place
in rural Thai communities…the rural people had depended largely on selfmedication, utilizing traditional medicine or relying on the services of traditional
healers” (p. 37).
Sermsri in his journal (2002) agrees that in 1970 the majority of rural people
went to traditional healers than government health centers (p.169). Then, he adds
the reasons of the limited use of access provided by the government health center,
as bellow.
The under-utilization refers to a balance of government efforts
concerning health centers and the output of patient use. The Thai
government put a lot of investment in building health centers and
training health personnel to provide decent care to the majority of
Thais in rural areas, but only a few local villagers came to use the
services offered by these health centers. A significant problem in
using government health care was that the cost of the services,
including economic and social costs, was higher than that of
traditional practitioners” (p.169).
2.1.3 High Land Rent
Referring to the other historical notes on the practices of land rent in
Thailand, there were two kinds of payment for the land rent. SEAMEO (2000)
clarifies both models in the following section.
Rent is paid either in kind or in cash, depending on individual
arrangements and the prevailing customary practices. In certain
areas, rent in kind is required but the landowners contribute part of
the farm expenses toward production of the paddy. For example,
ploughing may be done by buffaloes owned by the landlord. In
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
14
general, the usual mode of rental payment is in cash and the
landowners do not bear any cost of production at all (p.1).
U.S. Library of Congress (n.d) reports that in the early of 1970s, Thai
people especially poorer farmers initiated to express their discontent toward the
common way of the high land rent. They focused mainly on the amount of the
rent. Meanwhile, the discontent was also caused of no legal agreement between
both parties, they were used to make verbal agreement “that rarely exceeded one
year and carried no guaranties of renewal” (p. 1).
2.2 University Student Movement
Besides, Allan (1987) clarifies the starting point of the university student
movements. He explains how in the years, students commenced to be aware of the
national conditions. The real action was to respond to the worker’s conditions.
Meanwhile, the universities became another focus of discontent.
Many of the students had become critical of foreign economic and
cultural influences and began to be aware of the conditions of
urban and rural workers (p.138).
Actually, it was realized that after for a long period, they were lead by
authoritarian rule. Therefore, the social movements really enlightened the
civilians’ life. The role of student movements essentially affected the political
change in Thailand at the time.
In a book entitled Library of Nations South-East Asia, Allan (1987)
mentions that “with their departure a long period of authoritarian rule to an end
and a series
of civilian governments followed,…,parliament, responding to
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
15
popular wishes, legislated on agricultural rents for the minority of peasants who
were not freeholders ” (p.138).
Then, Prizzia (1985) explains the influence of the student movement in
1973. It was described that the participation of various groups occurred and it
seemed different from the previous condition.
The student revolution of 1973 which overthrew the Thanom
military regime forced open the Thai political system; … ;the
participation of previously locked-out groups representing various
sectors of Thai society; … ;during this period (1973-1976), most of
their demands were at least temporarily met by the Thai
government…(for wages, land… (p.104).
Prizzia (1985) adds other notes toward the impact of the uprising especially
for farmer position. She (1985)
explains that “...while farmers’ associations
conducted marches and also began to organize and play an effective role in trying
to achieve land reform and price controls in rice production and distribution” (p.
104).
Then, U.S. Library of Congress (n.d) explains that in 1973 the civilian
cabinet that governed the period of time revealed their concerns on rent and land
reform. In fact the actions were not implemented soon. As a result, farmers
commenced to appeal their dissatisfaction and it resulted demonstrations on May
and June 1974. Therefore, the impact was forthcoming of passing the rent reform
law. Then, it was recognized as the Agricultural Land Rent Control Act of 1974. It
was composed of some points “providing for six-year, indefinitely renewable
rental contracts. Rents were to be payable once a year only, and procedures for
determining the amount was specified. Moreover, if a poor harvest occurred, the
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
16
rent was to be reduced, and none would be paid if the harvest were less than onethird normal (p. 1).
From the other source, SEAMEO (n.d) reports that the reform on land rent
shared a good solution to achieve a better life of farmers. Comparing to the
previous condition, through the application of the act, farmers could manage a fair
share with landlords. It reports the contents of the 1974 Farm Rent Control Act, as
bellow.
Under the 1974 Farm Rent Control Act, maximum ceilings on rent
allowable to be charged depend mainly on the type of crops grown
and their productivities. They are stated in most cases in terms of
proportion of the total produce, and not in monetary terms. As for
paddy, the maximum rental ceiling is about a third of the total
paddy production. Whether this is too high to be meaningful has to
be judged on the localities (p. 1).
Okada and Wakai (2006) reports the amount of land rent increased in the
period of years. The increase spread only in some regions. In addition, it was very
obvious during 1970s.
The Ratio of Rented farming land to total farming land in Thailand
underwent a rapid increase, particularly in northern and central
regions…in i963,the ratio was less than 5 %, but increased rapidly
in the 1960s and 1970s (p. 237).
Then, they also explain the failure of the land rent reform law in 1975.
Although the agricultural land reform passed the Legislative
Assembly of Thailand in 1975, the raised ratio remained high and
unchanged afterward. The Thai government proclaimed that the
reform was failed. (p. 237) … The land reform law passed in 1975,
and it was rethought in 1985 because of its insufficient impact (p.
239).
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
17
Jumbala (1974) also states the political change occurred in Thailand.
However, there were no significant progresses in other sectors, such as social and
economic sectors (p.540).
3.
Theoretical Framework
This study applies socio-cultural historical approach. Therefore, some
theories and reviews of Thailand history are implemented in the analysis section.
Specifically, theories of rural community; and geographical conditions food and
drink are used to discuss the first problem about the life conditions of villagers.
Then, theory of sympathy is to discuss the second problem on the purpose of the
demonstration in Bangkok.
In addition, the reviews of Thailand history are applied in analyzing both
problems. Firstly, reviews of unfair development of irrigation facility, poor health
condition, and high land rent are used to analyze the first problem. Then, reviews
of university student movement are to discuss the second problem.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
This chapter provides some sections. Firstly, it presents the object of the
study. This part clarifies the description on the novel used in this study. Then, the
second part is on the approach of the study. Here, the approach is explained in
order to gain enough reasons why this study selects the approach. In addition, the
last point of this chapter states on the method of the study. This part mentions the
steps of conducting this study generally.
1.
Object of the Study
Rice Without Rain is included into a group of fiction works especially a
novel. This novel is written by Minfong Ho. This novel was firstly published in
1986 by Andre Deutsch Ltd, London. Then this novel was reprinted again in
1989, 1990, 1992 (twice), 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2007,
2008, and 2010. The edition used in this study is the 2010 edition. It is published
by Marshall Cavendish. Ho has gained many awards for her novel Rice without
Rain, for example from Commonwealth Book Awards from The Commonwealth
Book Council and Best Books for Young adults from American Library
Association.
18
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
19
This novel tells us about the living of villagers in the rural areas. As
readers, we can see that
they face various unfortunate situations comparing to
those living in central plain. As seen in the novel, one of the existing problems for
rural people is the duty of paying high land rent among landowner and tenants. As
farmers, this obligation leads to real complication in their life. Then, as stated
previously, the farmers live near Bangkok are sufficient with richer access of
farming input, such as irrigation facility. The facility actually shares significant
impact on the amount of each harvest. However, for farmers in the rural areas they
are far from the access. Therefore, they cannot expect for stability on the crop
amount of each harvesting time. The unstable condition forms a significant gap
because the period of farming activities for rural people is shorter than farmers
near Bangkok. Then, the tenants find another problem when their crops are
completely harvested. They have to pay the charge of the rent through sharing a
great amount of the crops. The amount seems exaggerating because in all
occasions it does not change whether or not the weather is good for farming
activities.
In this novel, the novel also presents the arrival of the students in the
village. The group of university students critically pays much attention on the
obligation of high land rent. The arrival of students from Bangkok in Maekung is
not easily accepted by all villagers there. Actually, the rumors informed in radio
create an obstacle for them. A lot of news mainly corners the position of students
in Thailand. Villagers have much suspicion on all strange movements in their
surroundings. This prejudice is grasped tightly by all villagers though their
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
20
purposes are good. All broadcasted news creates a negative image for all strangers
that they can be a member of such extremist groups well-known as Communist.
They camp along the highland such as in the north. Their existence is reported that
they can harshly threaten villagers’ life. The problem is also experienced by Ned’s
group while coming to Maekung. Actually, the arrival of the students is directed
to share a lot of assistances for villagers, such as the idea against the requirement
of paying high rent to landlord.
2.
Approach of the Study
The content of this novel tells on the life conditions of villagers in the rural
areas. Some moments presented in the novel are suitable with the notes of
Thailand history. Therefore, this study is analyzed through sociocultural-historical
approach. As said by Rohrberger and Woods, they (1971) explain in their book
that “the sociocultural-historical approach insisted that the only way to locate the
real work is in reference to the civilization that produced it” (p.9). Besides, they
also explain how some elements of a group referring to the work take a part into
its subject matter. Therefore, this study implements reviews of Thailand history in
the period of 1970s. The role of each historical note presents particular events
similar to the events in the novel. Then, the other point is related to the study of
relations among people in their life.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
21
3.
Method of the Study
This study applies library research. All sources used to discuss the
objectives of this study are from books, internet sources, and the like which
provide various information needed. They can be divided into primary source and
secondary sources. The primary source used in this study is a novel entitled Rice
Without Rain written by Minfong Ho. Then, for the secondary sources, this study
uses various social theories and reviews of Thailand history.
Rice without Rain novel written by Minfong Ho was selected as the primary
source of this study because this novel provides a story on Thai people’s life.
Then, after selecting the primary source, this study applied some steps. Firstly, the
writer read the novel and the first step was directed to find out the general
understanding on the novel. Here, the interest of the study was not immediately
gained. However after the second reading was conducted and the essential points
were listed, the direction for the study was attained. The next step was to find out
supporting theories and historical reviews of Thailand to discuss the intended
problems.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
This chapter discusses the two objectives. The first objective covers the life
conditions of villagers in the rural areas. Then, the last one is in relation to the portray
on the existing social movements. They are supported by varying information
provided in chapter II either the theories or reviews of Thailand history.
1.
The Life Conditions in the Rural Villages in Thailand
As revealed in the novel, villagers in some areas in Thailand live in hard
condition. Various complexities occur in their life. In The life conditions focuses
three major points. The first deals with unfair development of irrigation facility. The
second point is the poor health condition and the last point is the high land rent.
1.1
Unfair Development of Irrigation Facility
1.1.1 The Impact of the Drought Condition
Commonly, villagers relay much of their life on natural potency. This novel
tells that villagers in the rural regions manage efforts in processing their farm lands to
produce rice as their crop. On the contrary, such potency is not completely enjoyed
due to the long barren condition.
22
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
23
As written in the novel, the majority of villagers in those areas are facing hard
dr
THE SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
OF THAILAND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN THAILAND
AS DEPICTED IN MINFONG HO’S RICE WITHOUT RAIN
A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education
By
Aloysius Eko Fajar Nugroho
Student Number: 071214033
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2012
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
THE SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
OF THAILAND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN THAILAND
AS DEPICTED IN MINFONG HO’S RICE WITHOUT RAIN
A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
in English Language Education
By
Aloysius Eko Fajar Nugroho
Student Number: 071214033
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION
FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
2012
i
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
ii
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
iii
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY
I honestly declare that this thesis, which I have written, does not contain the work or
parts of the work of other people, except those cited in the quotations and the
references, as a scientific paper should.
Yogyakarta, 17 July 2012
The Writer
iv
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN
PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS
Yang bertanda tangan dibawah ini, saya mahasiswa Universitas sanata Dharma:
Nama
: Aloysisus Eko Fajar Nugroho
Nomor Mahasiswa
: 071214033
Demi pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan, saya memberikan kepada Perpustakaan
Universitas Sanata Dharma karya ilmiah saya yang bejudul:
THE SOCIAL MOVEMENTS OF THAILAND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN
THAILAND AS DEPICTED IN MINFONG HO’S RICE WITHOUT RAIN
beserta perangkat yang diperlukan (bila ada). Dengan demikian saya memberikan
kepada Perpustakaan Universitas Sanata Dharma hak untuk menyimpan,
mengalihkan dalam bentuk media lain, mengelolanya dalam bentuk pangkalan data,
mendistribusikan secara terbatas, dan mempublikasikannya di internet atau media
lain untuk kepentingan akademis tanpa perlu meminta ijin dari saya maupun royalti
kepada saya selama tetap mencantumkan nama saya sebagai penulis.
Demikian pernyataan ini saya buat dengan sebenarnya.
Dibuat di Yogyakarta
Pada tanggal: 17 Juli 2012
Yang menyatakan
v
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
follow your heart,
let your love lead through the darkness
follow your dream,
be yourself, an angel of kindness
there”s nothing that you can’t do
Il divo
My Sisters –Dwi and Cecil-
This Thesis is dedicated to,
My Beloved Parents
My Friends
vi
My Grandparents
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
After a long process of writing, this thesis finally has finished. Along those
months, I have attained lots of important experiences. This final task required wholehearted commitment since here all steps the writer has been through did not run
smoothly.
For the accomplishment of this thesis, I say the greatest gratitude to the
Almighty God for His spiritual blessing. He has guided me through various ways.
However, I completely believed that all of them were the best favor for me.
The completion of this thesis actually has also been inspired by many people
around me. Firstly, I say also much gratitude to my beloved parents and my sisters for
their magnificent supports. I realize that while writing this thesis, I sometimes fell
down into restless condition. However, through my parents’ gentleness, they always
remind me to wake up and enforced me to make a progress even though it was a very
simple one. Almost every day, my mother texted me some inspiring words that
suggestions and comments were also His priceless blessing.
In addition, in this moment I also thank my sponsor, Henny Herawati, S.Pd.,
M. Hum. for her continuous guidance. In completing this thesis, I have been assisted
much through various things and ways. Her suggestions directed me to notice my
work from other angles and her long experiences also helped me organize all chaotic
ideas in my mind to be a good sequence. I also say much gratitude for her other
vii
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
inspiring talents. Not only her ideas had been shared to me, but also her smiles and
patience also enlightened me to create a better work.
Besides, I also appreciated the assistance of all lecturers and other PBI staff.
One thing from other lecturers that sometimes was not comfortable to hear was a
question of how far I did my thesis. The simple question forced me to be more
productive in every single time of my life and taught me how to be responsible of my
duty. I also thank for the kindness of Mba Dani dan Mba Tari. Without their help,
perhaps I would have lost various important information.
Then, I also say gratitude to all friends around me. You have valued endlessly
in my life and it does not matter how big or small your helps for me. It is not fair if I
list only some of you because perhaps I will miss some others’ name. In addition,
they always asked me for the progress of my thesis. Therefore, I was very ashamed if
for some weeks I did not result something for my thesis. Whenever I felt stagnant,
their simple words often inspired me.
Sincerely
Aloysius Eko Fajar Nugroho
viii
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ………………………………………………………………...
Page
i
APPROVAL PAGES ………………………………………………………..
ii
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY …………………………….
iv
LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN...................................................
v
PAGE OF DEDICATION ……………………………………………………
vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ………………………………………………….
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………………….
ix
APPENDICES ………………………………………………………………...
xiii
ABSTRACT …………………………………………………………………...
x iv
ABSTRAK ………………………………………………………………………
xv
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION
1. Background of the Study …………………………………………………
1
2. Problem Formulation …………………………………………………….
4
3. Problem Limitations ……………………………………………………..
4
4. Objectives of the Study ………………………………………………….
4
5. Benefits of the Study …………………………………………………….
5
6. Definition of Terms ………………………………………………………
5
ix
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
1.
Review of Related Theories ……………………………………………
7
1.1 Rural Community …………………………………………………...
7
1.2 Sympathy ………………………………………………………….....
8
1.3 Geographical Conditions and Food and Drink ………………………
9
2. Review of the Sociocultural-Historical Background ……………………
9
2.1 The Life Conditions of villagers in Rural Areas ……………………
9
2.1.1 Unfair Development of Irrigation Facility ....………………….
10
2.1.2 Poor Health Condition …………………………………………
12
2.1.3 High Land Rent ………………………………………………..
14
2.2 University Student Movement ………………………………………
14
3. Theoretical Framework ……………………………………………………
17
CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY
1. Object of the Study ………………………………………………………..
18
2. Approaches of the Study ………………………………………………….
20
3. Method of the Study ………………………………………………………
20
CHAPTER IV. ANALYSIS
1. The Life Conditions at Rural Villages in Thailand ……………………….
22
1.1 Unfair Development of Irrigation Facility …………………………..
22
1.1.1 The Impact of the Drought Condition ………………………....
x
22
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
1.1.2 The Portray of Unfair Development …………………………..
24
1.1.3 The Importance of Irrigation …………………………………..
27
1.2 Poor Health Condition …………………………………………………
31
1.2.1 Low Health Quality ……………………………………………
31
1.2.2 Poor Access of Health Treatment ………………………………
33
1.2.3 Health Treatment of Traditional Healer ……………………….
34
1.2.4 High Health Cost ……………………………………………….
35
1.3 High Land Rent ………………………………………………………..
36
1.3.1 Routine of Paying High Land Rent …………………………….
36
1.3.2 Disappointment on the Routine ………………………………… 37
2. The Portray of the Social Movements by the University Students ……….
39
2.1 The University Students in Village ……………………………………
39
2.1.1 The Arrival of the University Students ………………………..
39
2.1.2 The Clarification on the Agricultural Land Rent Act …………
41
2.1.3 The Concern of the Student Group in Villages ……………….
43
2.2 The Demonstration by University Students and Farmers …………….
44
2.2.1 Purpose for the Upcoming Demonstration ……………………
44
2.2.2 Participation of University Students and Farmers
in Enforcing Land Rent Change ……………………………….
xi
46
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
CHAPTER V. CONCLUSION AND SUGESTIONS
1. Conclusions ………………………………………………………………...
50
2. Suggestions …………………………………………………………………
52
2.1 A Suggestion: For Future Researchers ………………………………...
52
2.2 A Suggestion: the Implementation of the Study
into English Course of Prose …………………………………………..
53
REFFERENCES …………………………………………………………………. 55
x ii
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
LIST OF APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1.
BIOGRAPHY OF MINFONG HO ………………………..
57
APPENDIX 2.
SUMMARY OF RICE WITHOUT RAIN .…………………
61
APPENDIX 3.
LESSON PLAN ……………………………………………
62
APPENDIX 4.
LEARNING MATERIAL …………………………………
66
xiii
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
ABSTRACT
Nugroho, Aloysius E. F. (2012): The Social Movements of Thailand University
Students in Thailand as Depicted in Minfong Ho’s Rice Without Rain,
Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Department of
Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education,
Sanata Dharma University.
This thesis is a literary study on a novel entitled Rice Without Rain by Minfong
Ho. This novel presented the life conditions of inhabitants in rural areas. The poverty
existing in the regions can be seen through various complexities of villagers. In the
meantime, the arrival of a group of university students from Bangkok really change
the way of thinking of the inhabitants there. They are inspired to decide a courageous
decision to resist the system of high-land rent.
This study, therefore, focuses on some life conditions and the social
movements of university students. Both points are covered into the two following
aims. Firstly, this study is aimed to find out the life conditions of people at rural
villages in Thailand in particular in the areas of the development of irrigation facility,
health access, and land rent system. Then, the second aim is to portray the social
movements of Thailand university.
Then, the method of this thesis was a library study. The discussion, therefore,
used various books for the main and secondary sources. In addition, this thesis also
implemented various sources from internet. In analyzing the objectives, this study
mainly applied socio-cultural historical approach. Particular moments in the novel
were fixed to some notes of Thailand historical reviews and some social theories.
Then, this study reports some important findings. In relation to the life
conditions of villagers in rural regions, there was an unfair development of irrigation
facility. Then, the inhabitants were also lack of appropriate health access. In addition,
they still had to pay land rent very high even though a dry season exists. Then, the
social movements of the university students cover two movements. The first one was
in the village and their movement showed their awareness on the rural people. The
second movement is a huge demonstration and its goal was to resist the obligation of
high land rent. The participations of farmers and students in the demonstration
portray a role change of them in stating their demands.
In conclusion, some complications occurred along Thailand rural villages.
The problems were responded by university students. Then, the social movements of
the university students showed the role changes of farmers and students and great
awareness of the students toward rural people’s condition.
Key Words: irrigation facility, health, land rent, and social movements
x iv
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
ABSTRAK
Nugroho, Aloysius E. F. (2012): The Social Movements of Thailand University
Students in Thailand as Depicted in Minfong Ho’s Rice Without Rain,
Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan
Bahasa dan Sastra, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata
Dharma.
Skripsi ini merupakan studi karya sastra novel berjudul Rice Without Rain oleh
Minfong Ho. Novel tersebut menceritakan kondisi kehidupan penduduk di daerah
pinggiran Thailand. Kemiskinan di daerah tersebut dapat dilihat pada kesulitan para
penduduk. Disaat berbagai krisis terjadi, kedatangan sekelompok mahasiwamahasiswi universitas dari Bangkok mengubah cara berpikir penduduk disan
sehingga terinspirasi untuk melawan sistem sewa tanah yang sangat mahal.
Oleh sebab itu, penelitian ini fokus pada beberapa kondisi kehidupan dan
pergerakan sosial oleh mahasiswa-mahasiswi. Poin-poin tersebut akan dirangkum
kedalam dua pokok rumusan permasalahan. Pertama, penelitian ini diarahkan untuk
menemukan kondisi di desa pinggiran Thailand menyangkut pembangunan fasilitas
irigasi, akses kesehatan, dan sistem sewa tanah. Kemudian, tujuan kedua tersebut
untuk menggambarkan pergerakan sosial oleh mahasiswa-mahasiswi Thailand.
Kemudian, metode di penelitian adalah studi pustaka. Sehingga, diskusi
menggunakan berbagai buku untuk sumber pokok dan tambahan dan internet.
Didalam menganalisa beberapa permasalahan tersebut, studi ini secara menyeluruh
menggunakan pendekatan sejarah budaya dan sosial. Kejadian-kejadian didalam
novel tersebut dicocokan dengan beberapa catatan dari ulasan-ulasan sejarah Thailand
dan beberapa teori sosial.
Kemudian, studi ini menghasilkan beberapa hasil. Berkaitan dengan kondisi
penduduk desa pinggiran terdapat pembangunan tidak merata pada fasilitas irigasi.
Dilain pihak, kondisi kesehatan penduduk memprihatinkan. Kemudian, mereka masih
diwajibkan membayar sewa tanah sangat tinggi walaupun musim kemarau melanda
.Kemudian, pergerakan sosial oleh mahasiswa-mahasiswi mencakup dua pergerakan.
Pertama di desa dan pergerakan tersebut menunjukkan perhatian mereka terhadap
masyarakat pinggiran. Pergerakan kedua demonstrasi secara masal menentang
kewajiban sewa tanah yang tinggi tersebut. Partisipsi dari para petani dan mahasiswamahasiswi didalam demonstrasi tersebut menggambarkan perubahan peran di dalam
mengutarakan permintaan mereka.
Sebagai kesimpulan, beberapa krisis terjadi disepanjang daerah pinggiran
Thailand. Di sisi lain permasalahan tersebut ditanggapi oleh mahasiswa-mahasiswi.
xv
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
Kemudian, pergerakan sosial oleh mahasiswa-mahasiswi universitas tersebut
menunjukkan perubahan-perubahan peran dari para pelajar dan kesadaran tinggi dari
para pelajar tersebut terhadap kondisi masyarakat pinggiran.
Kata-kata Kunci: fasilitas irigasi, kesehatan, sewa tanah, dan pergerakan-pergerakan
mahasiswa
xvi
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
This chapter encompasses some sections. The first section consists of the
reasons to conduct this study. The subsequent section is the problem formulation.
Here, there are two questions presented for the directions of this study. Then, the
third section is the problem limitations of this study as the boundaries of the
intended scope. The next section is the objectives of this study. Then, the
following section mentions the benefits of this study. The section of definition of
terms explains the terms used in order to avoid any misunderstanding.
1.
Background of the Study
From the title of the novel, it stores an underlying meaning inside the group
of the words. The word Rice can be understood as the achievement of fulfilling
the basic element of human beings. Without the fulfillment, perhaps their
existence is in danger. However, the attainment needs efforts for those who have
desire to reach it. The efforts gradually turn into their habit as their daily
activities. However, a serious question can occur in relation on how sufficiently
they can reach the fulfillment after a long process if the means does not belong to
them. The dependency toward an uncertain condition seems worse due to the
obligation to landowners. The availability of other complication can create the
uneasy state much worse because of regular natural force. The power of nature
1
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
2
seems unavoidable but men with their mind can create something to solve the
problem. In other word, the creation hopefully can reduce the problem of them
who suffer of it. Then, how people have to face the significant diversity due to an
unfair development can be noticed in this novel.
In this Minfong Ho’s novel entitled Rice Without Rain, the readers are
provided with the living of Thais especially those inhabiting in the rural areas.
They restlessly live in unstable conditions of poverty and injustice. For example,
as farmers their lives commonly rely on the agricultural resources. However, they
cannot maximally harvest the rice in all occasions. The obstacles are not merely in
relation to the drought environment. There is also a lack of the government’s
commitment to distribute a fair development of irrigation infrastructure.
Therefore, all villagers cannot access the facility maximally. Ironically, the areas
near Bangkok are developed completely so that they can manage their farming
activities even in such barren conditions. The evident differences show an unfair
distribution of public facility for all citizens. Then, the problem of poor harvests is
also experienced by family from higher status who are honored by people living
there. For example, the headmaster of the village also experiences the same
difficulty. This novel also told “…Jinda wondered? But their storage bin was
nearly empty, and every grain of rice precious. Maybe she should just add more
water?” (p. 34). Commonly people with high status rarely experience the
condition. Then, if the opposite possibility exists, it is not as extreme as other
people with lower status.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
3
In the novel, farmers also
face the repression of land owners.
The
repression exists in the form of high charge to pay the land rent. The amount is
intolerable, since all peasants must pay a half of their crops in each harvesting
time. Even in the terrible condition, the farmers are still unfairly forced to fulfill
the obligation.
The condition in the rural area like in Maekung also occurs in the other rural
areas in Thailand.
The complexities amid the people are responded by the
students of universities in Thailand. They have a desirable commitment to reveal
efforts in order to resist for paying high rent. The university students’ movements,
moreover, are considered as revolutionary movements. According to Babbie
(1982), he agrees that “revolutionary movements are social movements aimed at
substantial social change, often including the overthrow of rulers and even the
system of rule” (p.302). The efforts of students are a good sign of responding
toward the conditions. Babbie (1982) also states “no social force can become a
movement unless it appears among people who are somewhat receptive to it” (p.
302). This idea is suitable to the unity of Thai university students. The insufficient
conditions have caused their discontent. Moreover, all of them have the same
main concern of the changes in Thailand. Then, it is also unavoidable that all of
the available conditions including the rural villagers’ suffering becomes the
attention of the university students.
Furthermore, because the content of the novel tells some complexities of
Thai people in the rural areas and the movements of university students, it
awakens the curiosity of the writer to gain deeper understanding connecting to the
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
4
life conditions of villagers in Thailand and the portray of social movements of
university students as seen in the novel.
2.
Problem Formulation
This study is conducted to answer the following questions.
a) What are the life conditions of villagers in the rural areas in Thailand as
depicted in Minfong Ho’s Rice without Rain?
b) How do the social movements of Thailand university students portray
the conditions in Thailand as seen in Minfong Ho’s Rice without Rain?
3.
Problem Limitations
This study limits the scope of the discussion on two major points. The first
point only covers the life conditions of villagers and it consists of three subpoints. Firstly, it deals with the poor facility of irrigation. Secondly, it discusses
on the health conditions of villager in the rural areas. Thirdly, the next point is
connected to the system of high land rent. Then, the last point mainly consists of
the portray of the social movements of Thailand university students.
4.
Objectives of the Study
This study reveals two related objectives to discuss, as follow:
a) To find out the life conditions of villagers in the rural areas in Thailand
in particular in the areas of the development of irrigation facility, health access,
and land rent system as depicted in Minfong Ho’s Rice without Rain
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
5
b)
To portray the social movements of Thailand university students in
Thailand as depicted in Minfong Ho’s Rice Without Rain
5.
Benefits of the Study
This study is also supposed to gain some benefits for others.
a) For PBI students
Through this study, PBI students will attain some benefits. The content
enriches them with various conditions of villagers in the rural areas in Thailand in
the period of 1970s. The concerns focus on particular points, including high land
rent system, limited distribution of public facility, and low health condition.
b) For future researchers
The accomplishment of this study hopefully can share benefits for future
researches. The future researchers with the same interest can apply this study as
the other reference. The implementation can widen their insight toward their
directions of the studies so that better discussions can be reached.
6.
Definition of Terms
There are some terms important to be defined in order to avoid any
misunderstanding among various readers. Here, the terms to define are only the
words of Thailand university students and social movements.
a) Thailand University students
Based on American Heritage Dictionary the words “university students”
can mean one who is enrolled or attends classes at school, college, or university.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
6
In addition, they can be understood as one who studies something. In this study,
Thailand university students here refer to those students who joined the massive
demonstrations in 1973-1976.
b) Social movement
Based on the Webster online’s dictionary, a social movement means a
type of group action. In addition, size of the group is large and it is known as
informal groupings of individuals and/or organizations. This dictionary explains
the words, as below.
Social movements are a type of group action. They are large
informal groupings of individuals and/or organizations focused on
specific political or social issues, in other words, on carrying out,
resisting or undoing a social change.
Then, Babbie (1982) also emphasizes “social movements provide an
outlet for such feelings and a vehicle for changing the conditions that cause them”
(p.303). The intended social movements of this study are the huge demonstration
consisting of a large number of Thailand university students in 1976 and the
students’ trips to the rural areas.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
To support the discussion and solve the problems, this study requires
various sources. Therefore, this chapter mainly presents theories and review of
Thailand history. The first part provides several theories used. Then, the next part
mentions the historical reviews. They are going to be specifically presented in the
following sections.
1.
Review of Related Theories
All theories used in this study are applied to enhance the discussion. Firstly,
to figure out the condition of rural villages, this study selects the theory of rural
community. Secondly, this study chooses the theory of sympathy and it is
intended to provide a reason why the rural people’s life conditions attracted the
concerns of university student movements.
The last one is the theory on
geographical conditions and food and drink. Furthermore, it is applied to mention
the dependence of flora and fauna resources of a certain environment; and quality
and quantity of food of certain inhabitants.
1.1
Rural Community
Soekanto (2010) agrees the common livelihood for the villagers is through
processing natural potency of agriculture. However, it is possible that only some
7
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
8
farmers have their own land (p.136). Then, their way of processing the land can
be done traditionally and inefficiently because they are unfamiliar to apply the
agricultural mechanism. Their orientation is merely in relation to their fulfillment
of their daily life needs. Their degree of excitement is based on how well they
fulfill their needs (p.137).
1.2 Sympathy
Sorikin (1927) says more about how individual uniqueness can affect
sympathy from others.
…similarities in taste, ideas, beliefs, manners, and morals
“unmistakably” facilitate the relationship of liking, sympathy, and
solidarity among the individuals and groups, while the
dissimilarities in this field tend to produce the relationship of
repellence or antipathy (p. 727).
The social background attracts others especially if both parties share the same
ideas. The interesting part is that the sameness can direct to a unity to gain certain
purposes. This theory is implemented in the discussion on why university
students unite each other in order to conduct the movements.
1.3
Geographical Conditions and Food and Drink
A geographical environment can influence the society’s sorts of food and
drink. Sorikin (1927) in this section shows the relation that “There was also some
dependence between the flora and fauna of a geographic environment and the
quantity and quality of food and drink of a society” (p.112).
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
9
In spite of the previous correlation, Sorikin (1927) also groups some peoples
into some sorts in order to classify them into the kinds of their foods. He classifies
that “Principal kinds of food and corresponding peoples…rice: Oraons, S. Indians,
Chinese, Koreans, Mundas, Japanese, Looshais, N. Aragans, Tonkingese,
Laosians, Siamese… (p. 112).
Sorikin also explains (1927) the value of wealth of certain products is
related to the social circumstances in which it is located. It was clearly stated that
“…the products of a geographic environment become economically valuable,
depends not only on the nature of these products but also on the character of a
society (p. 114)”.
2.
Review of the Sociocultural-Historical Background
This part provides some information in relation to historical notes occurring
in 1970s. The classification can avoid the misunderstanding in implementing them
into this study. Its role is to support the discussion combined with some theories
above to solve the intended questions.
2.1 The Life Conditions of villagers in the Rural Areas
There are three kinds of unfair conditions related to the novel.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
10
2.1.1 Unfair Development of Irrigation Facility
In her book entitled Thailand in Transition, Prizzia explains (1985) that
“there were some facts that many villagers in rural areas had faced an unfair
experience from the ruling government”.
Allan the editor of Library of Nations South-east Asia (1987) informs that
civil people in some regions started doubting of the government’s commitment of
development (p.138). He reports that “In the late 1960s, poor farmers, particularly
in the north, the north-east, and the south, grew increasingly resentful towards the
government’s lack of commitment to rural development” (p.138).
For example, Prizzia (1985) reports the real development on a dam project
of Bhummibhol actually should be responded positively by the civilians there.
However, the project, located in remote area in Tak province, was not fairly
distributed to all civilians in certain areas.
Prizzia (1985) describes that project as bellow.
This project is located in a remote area of rural Thailand and began
with elaborate designs that would provide not only irrigation for
agricultural purposes but also electricity for rural households in the
area. The irrigation aspect of the plan was never fully implemented,
however, and huge cables carried the dam’s energy output to
provincial capitals and Bangkok while most of the villagers in the
immediate vicinity of the dam remained without electricity or easy
access to water. (p.104)
U.S Library of Congress (n.d) reports the irrigation facility did not scope
all lands. It specifically clarifies the condition in the following citation.
In the North, where nearly a quarter of the nation's more than 4.5
million agricultural households were located (1983 estimate), over
half the land is mountainous. In the upper part of the region, which
is characterized by narrow valleys, average holdings were only
about 2.2 hectares. In the parts of this upper area that had
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
11
controlled irrigation, the typical farm only had slightly more than
one hectare. A farm on nonirrigated land consisted of about two
hectares, part of which was rain-fed paddy and part upland. (p. 1)
Reunglertpanyakul (n.d) clarifies how the condition in central plain was
significantly different and even in the limited development the unfairness also
occurred. He states the condition, as bellow.
Throughout the 1960s to the early 1980s, agricultural growth was
achieved with little change in farm management. Farm inputs were
used to a limited extent, except in the central plain region where a
full-scale Green Revolution took place. (p. 2)
In other reviews of Thailand history, Reunglertpanyakul (n.d) identifies
irrigations functioned very essential for the continuity of farmland processing. He
specifically states that “irrigation is a most important infrastructure for modern
agriculture” (p.175). In other statement, the dependency toward natural rain
affected the quantity of harvest. He also supports why the function of irrigation
should be considered. It is stated that “…if farming is to rely on natural rain,
intensive farming system cannot be established. Irrigation not only prolongs the
farming period but also allows farmers to regulate the water levels according to
the requirement of their crops” (p.175). In reality, the development of irrigation
had been the project of the government. In the contrary, it seems not maximal.
Reunglertpanyakul (n.d) clarifies that “the Thai government has recognized this
importance and has undertaken many projects. Their performance, however, have
been relatively poor” (p.175).
O’Mara and Le-Si (1985) in their study share their findings on the
percentage of the number of families resulted crops of rice compared to others.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
12
They (1985) state that “rice growing households are 98 percent of the 4 million
farm families, accounting for 55 percent of total population…” (p. x).
Cooper (1979) reports there was a declining quality of soil fertility. It
affected the life of many families especially in northern Thailand. It was such
limited yields of the period that a lot of them were not able to fulfill their need
sufficiently because of limited yields in the period (p.324).
2.1.2 Poor Health Condition
The other problem is health quality in the rural villages. During the period
of time, all people in the rural areas faced poor health conditions. There were
some conditions such as inadequate sanitary facilities, malnutrition, and the likes.
Bureau of Policy and Strategy of Ministry of Public Health of World Health
Organization (2005) reports the conditions of health faced by rural population
were such as poor living condition, limited facilities of sanitation, deteriorated
natural environment, and malnutrition (p. 7).
WHO (2005) also reports that the northern areas were actually a remote
place with barriers in relation to geographical condition.
WHO (2005) lists that conditions as bellow.
The northern region shows significant social and economic
development, in part because it also includes Thailand second
largest city, Chiang Mai. This means better education as well as
access to appropriate medical programs and services….In addition,
the mountainous regions in the north create physical barriers, which
isolate many groups and make it difficult for health services to
reach these people. This endangers not only those isolated
communities, but may have public health effects if a new infectious
disease is first introduced in these areas (p.15).
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
13
In fact, the development of health access was not a new project for Thais.
Before modern medicine came to rural areas, the indigenous people had their way
to care their health problems. WHO, moreover, adds (2005) that “health
development activities based on people’s participation had long been taking place
in rural Thai communities…the rural people had depended largely on selfmedication, utilizing traditional medicine or relying on the services of traditional
healers” (p. 37).
Sermsri in his journal (2002) agrees that in 1970 the majority of rural people
went to traditional healers than government health centers (p.169). Then, he adds
the reasons of the limited use of access provided by the government health center,
as bellow.
The under-utilization refers to a balance of government efforts
concerning health centers and the output of patient use. The Thai
government put a lot of investment in building health centers and
training health personnel to provide decent care to the majority of
Thais in rural areas, but only a few local villagers came to use the
services offered by these health centers. A significant problem in
using government health care was that the cost of the services,
including economic and social costs, was higher than that of
traditional practitioners” (p.169).
2.1.3 High Land Rent
Referring to the other historical notes on the practices of land rent in
Thailand, there were two kinds of payment for the land rent. SEAMEO (2000)
clarifies both models in the following section.
Rent is paid either in kind or in cash, depending on individual
arrangements and the prevailing customary practices. In certain
areas, rent in kind is required but the landowners contribute part of
the farm expenses toward production of the paddy. For example,
ploughing may be done by buffaloes owned by the landlord. In
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
14
general, the usual mode of rental payment is in cash and the
landowners do not bear any cost of production at all (p.1).
U.S. Library of Congress (n.d) reports that in the early of 1970s, Thai
people especially poorer farmers initiated to express their discontent toward the
common way of the high land rent. They focused mainly on the amount of the
rent. Meanwhile, the discontent was also caused of no legal agreement between
both parties, they were used to make verbal agreement “that rarely exceeded one
year and carried no guaranties of renewal” (p. 1).
2.2 University Student Movement
Besides, Allan (1987) clarifies the starting point of the university student
movements. He explains how in the years, students commenced to be aware of the
national conditions. The real action was to respond to the worker’s conditions.
Meanwhile, the universities became another focus of discontent.
Many of the students had become critical of foreign economic and
cultural influences and began to be aware of the conditions of
urban and rural workers (p.138).
Actually, it was realized that after for a long period, they were lead by
authoritarian rule. Therefore, the social movements really enlightened the
civilians’ life. The role of student movements essentially affected the political
change in Thailand at the time.
In a book entitled Library of Nations South-East Asia, Allan (1987)
mentions that “with their departure a long period of authoritarian rule to an end
and a series
of civilian governments followed,…,parliament, responding to
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
15
popular wishes, legislated on agricultural rents for the minority of peasants who
were not freeholders ” (p.138).
Then, Prizzia (1985) explains the influence of the student movement in
1973. It was described that the participation of various groups occurred and it
seemed different from the previous condition.
The student revolution of 1973 which overthrew the Thanom
military regime forced open the Thai political system; … ;the
participation of previously locked-out groups representing various
sectors of Thai society; … ;during this period (1973-1976), most of
their demands were at least temporarily met by the Thai
government…(for wages, land… (p.104).
Prizzia (1985) adds other notes toward the impact of the uprising especially
for farmer position. She (1985)
explains that “...while farmers’ associations
conducted marches and also began to organize and play an effective role in trying
to achieve land reform and price controls in rice production and distribution” (p.
104).
Then, U.S. Library of Congress (n.d) explains that in 1973 the civilian
cabinet that governed the period of time revealed their concerns on rent and land
reform. In fact the actions were not implemented soon. As a result, farmers
commenced to appeal their dissatisfaction and it resulted demonstrations on May
and June 1974. Therefore, the impact was forthcoming of passing the rent reform
law. Then, it was recognized as the Agricultural Land Rent Control Act of 1974. It
was composed of some points “providing for six-year, indefinitely renewable
rental contracts. Rents were to be payable once a year only, and procedures for
determining the amount was specified. Moreover, if a poor harvest occurred, the
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
16
rent was to be reduced, and none would be paid if the harvest were less than onethird normal (p. 1).
From the other source, SEAMEO (n.d) reports that the reform on land rent
shared a good solution to achieve a better life of farmers. Comparing to the
previous condition, through the application of the act, farmers could manage a fair
share with landlords. It reports the contents of the 1974 Farm Rent Control Act, as
bellow.
Under the 1974 Farm Rent Control Act, maximum ceilings on rent
allowable to be charged depend mainly on the type of crops grown
and their productivities. They are stated in most cases in terms of
proportion of the total produce, and not in monetary terms. As for
paddy, the maximum rental ceiling is about a third of the total
paddy production. Whether this is too high to be meaningful has to
be judged on the localities (p. 1).
Okada and Wakai (2006) reports the amount of land rent increased in the
period of years. The increase spread only in some regions. In addition, it was very
obvious during 1970s.
The Ratio of Rented farming land to total farming land in Thailand
underwent a rapid increase, particularly in northern and central
regions…in i963,the ratio was less than 5 %, but increased rapidly
in the 1960s and 1970s (p. 237).
Then, they also explain the failure of the land rent reform law in 1975.
Although the agricultural land reform passed the Legislative
Assembly of Thailand in 1975, the raised ratio remained high and
unchanged afterward. The Thai government proclaimed that the
reform was failed. (p. 237) … The land reform law passed in 1975,
and it was rethought in 1985 because of its insufficient impact (p.
239).
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
17
Jumbala (1974) also states the political change occurred in Thailand.
However, there were no significant progresses in other sectors, such as social and
economic sectors (p.540).
3.
Theoretical Framework
This study applies socio-cultural historical approach. Therefore, some
theories and reviews of Thailand history are implemented in the analysis section.
Specifically, theories of rural community; and geographical conditions food and
drink are used to discuss the first problem about the life conditions of villagers.
Then, theory of sympathy is to discuss the second problem on the purpose of the
demonstration in Bangkok.
In addition, the reviews of Thailand history are applied in analyzing both
problems. Firstly, reviews of unfair development of irrigation facility, poor health
condition, and high land rent are used to analyze the first problem. Then, reviews
of university student movement are to discuss the second problem.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
This chapter provides some sections. Firstly, it presents the object of the
study. This part clarifies the description on the novel used in this study. Then, the
second part is on the approach of the study. Here, the approach is explained in
order to gain enough reasons why this study selects the approach. In addition, the
last point of this chapter states on the method of the study. This part mentions the
steps of conducting this study generally.
1.
Object of the Study
Rice Without Rain is included into a group of fiction works especially a
novel. This novel is written by Minfong Ho. This novel was firstly published in
1986 by Andre Deutsch Ltd, London. Then this novel was reprinted again in
1989, 1990, 1992 (twice), 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2007,
2008, and 2010. The edition used in this study is the 2010 edition. It is published
by Marshall Cavendish. Ho has gained many awards for her novel Rice without
Rain, for example from Commonwealth Book Awards from The Commonwealth
Book Council and Best Books for Young adults from American Library
Association.
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This novel tells us about the living of villagers in the rural areas. As
readers, we can see that
they face various unfortunate situations comparing to
those living in central plain. As seen in the novel, one of the existing problems for
rural people is the duty of paying high land rent among landowner and tenants. As
farmers, this obligation leads to real complication in their life. Then, as stated
previously, the farmers live near Bangkok are sufficient with richer access of
farming input, such as irrigation facility. The facility actually shares significant
impact on the amount of each harvest. However, for farmers in the rural areas they
are far from the access. Therefore, they cannot expect for stability on the crop
amount of each harvesting time. The unstable condition forms a significant gap
because the period of farming activities for rural people is shorter than farmers
near Bangkok. Then, the tenants find another problem when their crops are
completely harvested. They have to pay the charge of the rent through sharing a
great amount of the crops. The amount seems exaggerating because in all
occasions it does not change whether or not the weather is good for farming
activities.
In this novel, the novel also presents the arrival of the students in the
village. The group of university students critically pays much attention on the
obligation of high land rent. The arrival of students from Bangkok in Maekung is
not easily accepted by all villagers there. Actually, the rumors informed in radio
create an obstacle for them. A lot of news mainly corners the position of students
in Thailand. Villagers have much suspicion on all strange movements in their
surroundings. This prejudice is grasped tightly by all villagers though their
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
20
purposes are good. All broadcasted news creates a negative image for all strangers
that they can be a member of such extremist groups well-known as Communist.
They camp along the highland such as in the north. Their existence is reported that
they can harshly threaten villagers’ life. The problem is also experienced by Ned’s
group while coming to Maekung. Actually, the arrival of the students is directed
to share a lot of assistances for villagers, such as the idea against the requirement
of paying high rent to landlord.
2.
Approach of the Study
The content of this novel tells on the life conditions of villagers in the rural
areas. Some moments presented in the novel are suitable with the notes of
Thailand history. Therefore, this study is analyzed through sociocultural-historical
approach. As said by Rohrberger and Woods, they (1971) explain in their book
that “the sociocultural-historical approach insisted that the only way to locate the
real work is in reference to the civilization that produced it” (p.9). Besides, they
also explain how some elements of a group referring to the work take a part into
its subject matter. Therefore, this study implements reviews of Thailand history in
the period of 1970s. The role of each historical note presents particular events
similar to the events in the novel. Then, the other point is related to the study of
relations among people in their life.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
21
3.
Method of the Study
This study applies library research. All sources used to discuss the
objectives of this study are from books, internet sources, and the like which
provide various information needed. They can be divided into primary source and
secondary sources. The primary source used in this study is a novel entitled Rice
Without Rain written by Minfong Ho. Then, for the secondary sources, this study
uses various social theories and reviews of Thailand history.
Rice without Rain novel written by Minfong Ho was selected as the primary
source of this study because this novel provides a story on Thai people’s life.
Then, after selecting the primary source, this study applied some steps. Firstly, the
writer read the novel and the first step was directed to find out the general
understanding on the novel. Here, the interest of the study was not immediately
gained. However after the second reading was conducted and the essential points
were listed, the direction for the study was attained. The next step was to find out
supporting theories and historical reviews of Thailand to discuss the intended
problems.
PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
This chapter discusses the two objectives. The first objective covers the life
conditions of villagers in the rural areas. Then, the last one is in relation to the portray
on the existing social movements. They are supported by varying information
provided in chapter II either the theories or reviews of Thailand history.
1.
The Life Conditions in the Rural Villages in Thailand
As revealed in the novel, villagers in some areas in Thailand live in hard
condition. Various complexities occur in their life. In The life conditions focuses
three major points. The first deals with unfair development of irrigation facility. The
second point is the poor health condition and the last point is the high land rent.
1.1
Unfair Development of Irrigation Facility
1.1.1 The Impact of the Drought Condition
Commonly, villagers relay much of their life on natural potency. This novel
tells that villagers in the rural regions manage efforts in processing their farm lands to
produce rice as their crop. On the contrary, such potency is not completely enjoyed
due to the long barren condition.
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As written in the novel, the majority of villagers in those areas are facing hard
dr