What’s in a coup Thailand style? Many are wondering what is truly happening in Thailand. Here in Chiang Rai little has changed since Tuesday evening. Wednesday morning we woke up and received a call from the director of the kids’ school. She explained that we would not have school that day because the military had taken over the Thai government and ordered all schools, banks, and government offices closed for the day. Back in Colorado growing up we would watch the news on some mornings to see if we were going to have a snow day. Here in Thailand our kids watch the news for coup days.
What is this all about? Prime Minister Taksin has made numerous corrupt decisions including cheating the system so his family could sell parts of his company tax-free. As the public spoke out against him, he created ways to silence people like controlling some government institutions and TV programs that aired discontent. Last spring there were many public demonstrations and discussions ultimately culminating in the prime minister stepping down from his position. After much persuasion, Taksin stepped down and allowed the deputy prime minister to take over, but when he did not agree with how things were going he stepped in as the “caretaker” prime minister until the new elections in October. Most people feel Prime Minister Taksin is attempting to keep his power through his political party. People felt it possible that by some means he would have enough support (or buy enough votes) so that the next election would put his party in power again. Prime Minister Taksin does have quite a bit of support from the poor and less educated for some of his social programs.
So, in Thailand, when you want your P.M. out and removal by civil means has not worked, you wait until the P.M. is gone, drive some big tanks up to his office, clean out his desk for him, and declare military rule for the next year. Interestingly enough, since WWII Thailand has had a military coup 18 times. The world reacts by saying, “This is not the way a mature democratic government acts.” I agree with the concern, but there are a lot of cultural issues here that come into play. For example, what do you do when you feel like the guy in charge cheats and trying to take care of this problem “the right way” only provides more time for the cheater to undercut you and continue in his cheating? You and I would say let the system work, but when the system is not working, and has not worked before, waiting can be quite discouraging.
Also, Thais are a deeply peace loving people. When we hear that the military is taking charge, it sounds quite heavy handed. However, it seems to me that Thais were not surprised at military intervention and military intervention in Thailand does not seem to be synonymous with violent intervention. Rather military intervention means the intervention of authority, and Thais know how to follow authority well. Besides, the military has pledged their allegiance to His Majesty King Bhumibol (Thailand is a constitutional monarchy similar to England) and received his backing. In Thailand, if you have the king on your side you have the Thai people on your side. Everyone loves and is devoted to His Majesty King Bhumibol. Presently in the 60th year of his reign, the Thai people wear gold shirts on Monday and Friday to display their love for their king. On a Monday or Friday, it is quite difficult to find a Thai without a gold shirt.
Everyone I speak to seems happy about the coup. They recognize that Taksin is a selfish leader and seem unsure about the best way to respond. The Thai news has shown people in Bangkok bringing the soldiers food and flowers to thank them for ousting the P.M. The one significant concern for Thais is how this will affect their economy. The Baht lost more than a forth of its value in 1997 due to some corrupt dealings and that fact has not been forgotten.
What can you do? We firmly believe that God is shaking things up in Thailand. As I pray for Thailand, I am convinced that the people are looking for something solid and enduring in which they can trust and hope. We believe right now is a significant time for the Thai people so we are asking our friends to take a day and fast and pray for Thailand. Pray that God would use this event to turn the hearts of the Thai people to Jesus. Julie and I have been praying specifically the end of Hebrews chapter 12 ,”So don’t turn a deaf ear to these gracious words. If those who ignored earthly warnings didn’t get away with it, what will happen to us if we turn our backs on heavenly warnings? His voice that time shook the earth to its foundations; this time—he’s told us this quite plainly—he’ll also rock the heavens: ‘One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern.’ The phrase ‘one last shaking’ means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered. Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is fire!” (The Message)
James Fraser, a humble prayer warrior missionary used powerfully by God in China during the early 1900s said it this way, “I believe it will only be known on the Last Day how much has been accomplished in missionary work by the prayers of earnest believers at home.” We need and appreciate your partnership in prayer. Thank you for your willingness to cry out to the Lord for the nations of the world.
In other news, three weeks ago we moved to Chiang Rai. It has been a challenging but peaceful transition. We are still getting settled because we are working on the house we live in. We negotiated a deal with the landlord so that we get to pay cheap rent for three years while we close in the covered car park area and covered kitchen area. This will add on a family room, a bedroom and a bathroom. Adding on is an inexpensive way for us to enlarge this little house that is in a great location. The house is a short drive to the kids’ school as well as to the university we will be working with. The workers have become great friends, and we are learning how in Thailand things are done a little less formally. In other words, if it looks “about right,” it probably is. I spent the first week putting in a kitchen because the kitchen that came with the house was basically a counter back in a room that was connected to a covered area for parking cars. The new kitchen is now in order and it looks “about right,” praise God. We gaze out our windows and see our neighbors’ homes scattered through rice fields and mountains. Amazed at the tropical yet mountainous beauty while biking on a nearby road, Ben shared passionately, “Hey Mom, I think this looks like heaven!”
Ben and Kate started school a couple weeks ago. They are attending what was formerly a homeschool co-op that is in the process of becoming an accredited international school where about 40% of the kids are from Thailand, some kids from Taiwan, and other kids from the U.S. and other western countries. Many of the parents from the school work with non-profit organizations or missions/foundations in the surrounding area. Ben even has a teacher who is from Germany. Quite a fun, diverse place! The kids, and mom and dad, love the school. The Family Learning Center asks parents to be involved in the school in some manner, so Julie is teaching Bible and history for the combined second and third grade class first thing in the mornings. After home schooling for three years now, this school is a great place for the kids to continue supportive learning while Julie has the opportunity to focus in on Jak and learning more Thai. Praise God for another answered prayer concerning educating our children well overseas; this is an enormous blessing to us sharing Christ in Thailand. And Jak is definitely keeping us entertained as he runs, laughs, attempts to communicate, dances and gets into all sorts of his siblings’ things.
Last week Julie and I resumed Thai language study. The next 6 months will provide the opportunity to get our Thai language to a deeper level including our reading and writing. The Lord has provided a gifted language teacher here, and we are excited about doing a major chunk of classroom language study, something that we have yet to do. Please join us in praying as we enter this new community in this area surrounding Rajabhat University.
Thank you for praying for us:
Pray for the change in Thai government leaders that God would use this season to turn the hearts of the Thais to Jesus just as the Lord worked powerfully in Thailand in the time following the tsunami .
Pray that each member of our team will develop deep relationships here and that we would share Christ boldly with our friends
Pray for joy in the language learning process that we would laugh often as we work towards speaking, reading and writing Thai at a six grade level.
Pray for our family as we make the transition to Chiang Rai: routine, friendships, house project completed quickly and efficiently, knowing how to pray for northern Thailand, and thankfulness for God’s faithfulness in leading us here and providing for us.
Peace of Christ,
Brent and Julie
