THAILAND
Southeast Asia is known for its gems, pearls and opium. Thailand is no exception. Their laws regarding the smuggling of drugs like heroin and opium are strong and the penalties are harsh. If caught with one kilo of heroin the automatic sentence is 50 years in prison. The enforcement of these laws is usually at the airports and seaports. Regulation in the cities and the mountains villages are seldom if ever performed. The Capital city is Bangkok with approximately 25 million people. Thailand is also known to have one of the highest percentages of AIDS and “Home-grown prostitutes”. Mothers like having girl babies because they can teach them how to be a mistress and prostitute. Then when they reach pre and early teens they sell them as a “Virgin” for money the family can use to stay alive. Some men travel from abroad just to buy one as this for $2500 or so. The men may keep them or dispose of them or sell them to prostitution organizations. The Thai women are known for their Beauty and sweet attitudes.Christians are in the minority as they reachout and minister to the masses of souls lost in the crowded cities. Prison ministries are few and often constrained by the warden and guards “whims”. Many American companies have large factories in Thailand. Some employ 30 to 50,000 employees. This is certainly a help to the economy and to the needs of the worker. The wages are small in comparison to the profits but the workers receive more than what they would in other jobs. Still, the need for Jesus Christ is seen everywhere. In the northern regions of Thailand mountains that have very little good farmable land. Three countries have boundaries that meet near Chiang Mai. This is called “The Golden Triangle” because of the climate and mountains it is ideal to grow Opium. This land that is also known as the Land for the “Non-Citizens” called the Akha tribes. These people are a mix of cultures and countries including China, Laos, Cambodian, and Mongolian. Most countries do not allow them to have citizenship claim even though their ancestry may go back two hundred years. Thailand allows the Akhas to live on these ridges but the government offers little and no help. The Akhas are still non-developed tribal groups with a chief headman and usually a witchdoctor as leaders. Opium and mountain dry Rice are their two primary crops and diet. If the weather and rain is good they have food – rice. If the weather is good or bad they have Opium and Heroin. The smugglers buy it but paying only a small amount. The two neighboring countries fight for it and the people suffer for it. Buddhism and a mixed form of worship has developed a witchdoctor concept. If a married couple have twins born the witchdoctor will say “one baby is good and one is evil” and he knows which is the evil one. The witchdoctor then kills the “evil” one. The villages are known to be non-Christian but through the love and commitment of some Christians and Missionaries there are beginning churches. Villagers who had never heard of Jesus Christ, God, or Creation are now hearing and accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The Bible study is given with a combination of Flannel Graph stories, testimonies, and Bible studies in the simplest forms and music. The Christian village church trains evangelists and teams who go with laymen to share Christ with other non-Christian villages. The laymen share their testimonies of how Jesus saved them and gave them real life. Their life of drugs may have taken 30 years from them leaving them a “shell”. Often they weighed only about 75 pounds prior to accepting Jesus. As they stand before the new villagers they give their testimony of what Jesus has meant in their life. Everyone can see a Happy Healthy Saved person ready to love his family and others in need. Free Medical clinics often are provided to the new village – with the Chief Headman’s approval. Thailand - Frequently asked Questions and Answers 1. How are Christians accepted?
Buddhism is still the largest religion in Thailand but in many areas even the Monks will attend the Christian English Classes as they study and read the Bible. 2. How can we help The Christians in Thailand?
Prayers and financial support is needed for those who are able to go into these dark areas around the world – Yes, pray and remember “For God so Loved the world. . .”. 3. Are the Christian Churches growing in Size? . . .and new Church starts?
New churches are beginning from Bangkok to the far mountain borders. Thai are known to be very shy and afraid to speak but by the grace of God they can be enthused about Jesus Christ. Finances are not always available to build churches but the home churches are flourishing. 4. How expensive is it to provide for a family?
In American dollars it is not expensive to live but in their dollar it is very difficult. Most families in the cities have a job with food and a “roof” but not many extras. In the outer areas and the mountains the “Baht” or dollar is hard to make. One US dollar is equal to about 40 Baht. 5. How does the weather affect the people?
The temperature is a semi-tropical prone to flooding and extreme air pollution in the larger cities. 6. What Dangers or Problems do the people face?
Health risks and diseases are among the higher dangers. Among these are AIDS and Malaria. Various types of Crime are present but often these are drug related or people in the wrong place at the wrong time. 7. What are their Hopes (Goals)?
Thai are very industrious and faithful as they seek to provide for their family. Their love for each other is very evident. Most have a goals of a Job, Food, and a Roof. When Jesus Christ is presented in a Loving manner they take time to think through the Biblical principles and often are eager to accept Christ and the Hope only He can give. Thailand Information: Health and safety can be a concern in Thailand under certain circumstances. Thailand's border regions with Cambodian and Myanmar are volatile: unwary travelers can encounter smugglers, armed rebel forces, land mines, and pockets of lawlessness. Drug trafficking is also a problem in Thailand, and the drug industry is constantly searching for international travelers willing to carry drugs out of the country for them; agreeing to do so (or being tricked into it) can cost you your freedom or your life. A variety of health risks exist in Thailand. These include AIDS, cholera, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, malaria, and rabies. Make sure your cholera, tetanus, diphtheria, typhoid and infectious hepatitis vaccinations are current. It should be noted that Thailand is as a country is not very wheelchair-friendly and travel for the handicapped may be difficult. Visitors to Thailand should avoid drinking tap water. Bottled water is inexpensive and readily available throughout the country. Sunburn is among the chief medical problems visitors face; visitors not familiar to tropical conditions should use sunblock even on cloudy days. Insect repellent and antiseptic rub are also important. Visitors should take the normal precautions with food: peel fruit, avoid ice, and don't eat reheated food. The Thai people are very tolerant of most things. But you are likely to end up in trouble if your actions in Thailand disparage either Buddhism or the nation's King. Make sure that you dress appropriately when you visit religious sites and temples (no shorts or bare shoulders). Thailand's weather is most hospitable between November and February when it is dry but cool. Except for the costal south, Thailand can be miserably hot during the months of March-May. ThailandBackground: A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century; it was known as Siam until 1939. Thailand is the only southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally following the conflict. Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming Land boundaries:
total: 4,863 km
border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land Natural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts Environment - current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting Environment - international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea Geography - note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore Population: 61,230,874
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 31.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.55 years
male: 65.29 years
female: 71.97 years (2000 est.) Ethnic groups: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11% Religions: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6% (1991) Languages: Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.8%
male: 96%
female: 91.6% (1995 est.) Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form: Thailand Government type: constitutional monarchy Capital: Bangkok Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized) National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927) Legal system: based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Flag description: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red Economy - overview: After enjoying the world's highest growth rate from 1985 to 1995 - averaging almost 9% annually - increased speculative pressure on Thailand's currency in 1997 led to a crisis that uncovered financial sector weaknesses and forced the government to float the baht. Long pegged at 25 to the dollar, the baht reached its lowest point of 56 to the dollar in January 1998 and the economy contracted by nearly 10% that same year. Thailand entered a recovery stage in 1999; preliminary estimates are that the economy expanded by about 4% - most forecasters expect similar growth in 2000. Beginning in 1999 the baht stabilized and inflation and interest rates began coming down. The CHUAN government has cooperated closely with the IMF and adhered to its mandated recovery program, including passage of new bankruptcy and foreclosure laws. The regional recovery boosted exports, while fiscal stimulus buoyed domestic demand. While slow progress has been made in recapitalizing the financial sector, tough measures - such as implementing a privatization plan and forcing the private sector to restructure - remain undone. Industries: tourism; textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric appliances and components, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer Agriculture - products: rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans Exports - commodities: computers and parts, textiles, rice Exports - partners: US 22.3%, Japan 13.7%, Singapore 8.6%, Hong Kong 5.1%, Netherlands 4.0%, UK 3.9%, Malaysia 3.3%, China 3.2%, Taiwan 3.2%, Germany 2.9% (1998) Imports - commodities: capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, fuels Imports - partners: Japan 23.6%, US 14.0%, Singapore 5.5%, Malaysia 5.1%, Taiwan 5.2%, Germany 4.2%, China 4.2%, South Korea 3.5%, Oman 2.6%, Indonesia 2.1% (1998) Ports and harbors: Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha, Songkhla Military branches: Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces Disputes - international: parts of the border with Laos are indefinite; maritime boundary with Vietnam resolved, August 1997; parts of border with Cambodia are indefinite; maritime boundary with Cambodia not clearly defined; sporadic conflict with Burma over alignment of border Illicit drugs: a producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; major illicit transit point for heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication efforts; also a drug money-laundering center; minor role in amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing indigenous abuse of methamphetamines and heroin. | 
