Moken in Thailand


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Moken are nomadic people who live on the sea.

They have their own language which is Austronesian, a language used in South East Asia and Oceania. The Moken in Thailand can speak Thai while the Moken in Burma can speak Burmese.

In Thailand the Moken are known as Chao Ley and can be called Selung in Burma. They live in southern Thailand and Myanmar. Some live in the Surin Islands and the Phi Phi Islands of Thailand.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Moken people are experts at living off what they can find in the sea. Most of this is plant life, which they either eat or trade at markets. Some Burmese Moken have small wooden boats with a living room, bedroom and kitchen and they move about on the sea in these.

The Thai and Burmese governments have tried to get the Moken to adapt to the cultures of their countries, but it has proved difficult. With the 2004 tsunami, many of the Moken died but in some regions knowledge of the sea helped the Moken to know the tsunami was arriving and to stay alive.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Oral traditions in Moken culture: "An interesting feature of this people is their pure monotheism, the confession of one Supreme Being, whom they name Tooda, and recognize as the creator of all things. There is also among them a distinct tradition of the deluge. … After the deluge, of which the Salongs preserve a distinct and unique tradition, God came down from heaven, and assigned to the different nations and tribes of men their habitations and employments.


What Are Their Needs?

The Moken people need to find new ways to adapt to the cultures around them. They need better education for their children and reliable medical care.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Thai and Burmese Christians will give the gospel message to the Moken leading to a movement to Christ.

Pray for leaders of the Moken people in Thailand to open their communities to the ways of Christ, leading them to his abundant life.

Pray for the Lord to show his children the best ways to take Christ to the Moken people.


Scripture Prayers for the Moken, Salon in Thailand.


References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moken_people

Oral traditions courtesy of Nick Liguori


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Moken, Salon
People Name in Country Moken, Salon
Natural Name Moken
Alternate Names Chao Ley; Salone; Salong; Sea Gypsy; Selung; Silong
Population this Country 2,200
Population all Countries 6,900
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 13769
ROP3 Code 106723
Country Thailand
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket (southernmost tip), and Krabi provinces: southwest coast, offshore islands, Andaman Sea and Straits of Malacca.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Thailand
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket (southernmost tip), and Krabi provinces: southwest coast, offshore islands, Andaman Sea and Straits of Malacca..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.04 %)
0.30 %
Ethnic Religions
79.70 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
20.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Moken (2,200 speakers)
Language Code mwt   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Moken (2,200 speakers)
Language Code mwt   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Moken

Primary Language:  Moken

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1913)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2000)
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Moken Jesus Film Project
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source manothegreek 
Map Source Joshua Project / Global Mapping International  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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