Khmer, Northern in Thailand

Introduction / History

Northern Khmer populate the lower northeast of Thailand, in the provinces of Buriram, Surin and Sisaket, which border Cambodia. They are also known as Thai-Khmer or Khmer-Surin. Northern Khmer speakers also inhabit villages along the Thai-Cambodian border in Prachinburi province. The Khmer have resided in the lower northeast of present-day Thailand even longer than the Thai. Few Northern Khmers are able to read or write their native language, since teaching in public schools is exclusively in Thai.

In Thailand, many Khmer individuals work as migrant laborers, particularly during the dry season, where they find jobs at construction sites in Bangkok and in fruit and sugarcane plantations across the country. Numerous young people from the region are currently employed in factories in and around Greater Bangkok.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Northern Khmer are traditionally rice farmers, following the rhythm of the monsoon which can be notoriously fickle, with one village able to plant crops while another suffers from drought. They are also skilled timber cutters and house builders, and many Khmer women weave silk and cotton cloth during the dry season. Due to a lack of groundwater, only small-scale agriculture is possible, apart from raising cattle or buffaloes. Their food is distinctively Khmer, with the popular somlor (soup) and liberal use of prahok. Music also enriches their culture, with the Khmer violin and pleng kantrum (Khmer folk song) at the center of village life and celebrations. The Northern Khmer dress much like the Thai but with distinctive colors and patterns in their sarongs.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Outwardly, they are followers of the Thai national religion of Theravada Buddhism, with a strong admixture of spirit worship and divination. Khmer witchcraft and sorcery both empower and frighten the people. As well as Buddhist festivals, the Khmer hold a festival for the spirits of the dead known as Prachum Ben. Most houses have a spirit shelf near the house and another inside on which the khruu, a monk, places items for worship.

What Are Their Needs?

In Thailand, the Northern Khmer lags in terms of educational success, and alcoholism among both men and women gives rise to major problems in many families. They need the hope of the gospel!

Prayer Points

Pray for family-based movements to Christ to soon transform Northern Thai society, blessing them spiritually and economically.
Pray that the Lord blesses the Northern Thai people abundantly, so they may recognize him as the only one worthy of praise and worship.
Pray the hearts of the Northern Thai people would hunger after God and drink of living water.
Pray for the Lord to move in the hearts of local believers to give up their rights and sacrifice their lives to see the Northern Thai people blessed by the work of Jesus Christ, the only savior.

Text Source:   Joshua Project