Burmese in Thailand

Introduction / History

The Burmese are originally from the hills of Tibet in western China. Today, they live in Myanmar (formerly Burma) and in the Tanen Mountains and steep river valleys of northwestern Thailand. They speak Bama, a Tibeto-Burmese language. Many of those in Thailand also speak Thai.

The Burmese are the political, economic and religious leaders of Myanmar. It has had a long history of coups, wars and rebellions. Ethnic divisions and political unrest have been common since the first Burmese kingdom in the eleventh century. No one is safe in that country, not even members of the Burmese majority.

What Are Their Lives Like?

There are a couple of categories of Burmese who live in Thailand. Many Burmese fled to Thailand in hopes of finding a more peaceful climate. Often they are fleeing for their lives after a military crackdown.

Others go there for job opportunities. Ironically, when Myanmar became more democratic in 2011, many Burmese returned from Thailand to set up businesses. After another violent coup in the early 2020s, they returned to Thailand, harming Myanmar’s economy.

Some go to Thailand as migrant workers, and there is a need for cheap labor in Thailand. If they don’t have proper government papers they are sometimes exploited. Sometimes the Thai police demand bribes. There is a murky line between those who are migrant workers and those who are looking for permanent economic opportunities.

The Burmese do not recognize clans or lineages. Marriages are monogamous and rarely arranged by the parents. Young couples generally live with the brides' parents for the first few years after they are married. They will set up their own homes after two or three years.

The single most important social institution for the Burmese is the Buddhist temple. It symbolizes unity among the villagers and provides a wide variety of activities for the people.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Burmese are predominantly Hinayana Buddhists. The traditional goal in Buddhism is to seek the middle path to Nirvana, or ultimate peace. The Burmese have mixed these Buddhist beliefs with their own animistic beliefs (belief that non-living objects have spirits).

Their animistic beliefs center around inherently evil spirits called nats. The Burmese spend their lives trying to appease the nats so that they will be protected from any other evil spirits that may seek to harm them. All Burmese homes have altars for the spirits, as well as a statue of Buddha.

According to their Buddhist faith, the Burmese believe that death is not a threat to one who has done good deeds. Instead, death is simply a "passing" from one life to another. Buddhists believe that those with less merit are reborn as demons, ghosts, animals or inhabitants of hell.

What Are Their Needs?

The Burmese left their homeland, Myanmar, in search of peace. Unfortunately, the peace they desired has not been found in Thailand. They need loving Christians who will introduce them to the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.

Very few of the Burmese community have come to Christ. Fervent prayer and effective evangelism are the keys to seeing them reached with the gospel.

Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to raise up and thrust out loving and dedicated ambassadors to go to the Burmese in Thailand.
Ask God to use the few Burmese believers to share the gospel with their own people.
Ask God to raise prayer teams who will faithfully intercede for these precious people.
Pray for the effectiveness of the JESUS Film among the Burmese.
Pray that strong, multiplying churches will be raised up among the Burmese of Thailand.

Text Source:   Joshua Project