In Bangkok’s Chinatown, grief and gratitude following Thai king’s death
Members of the minority group recall how the monarch changed their lives and treated them with respect
Many Chinese Thai are expressing deep sadness over the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whom they described as a fatherly figure. But the grief is mixed with a sense of uncertainty that looms over the future of the country.
Ma Chongying, who owns a Chinese restaurant along with her sister in Bangkok’s Chinatown, said the death of Bhumibol, 88, meant their lives would never be the same.
I really cannot imagine what will happen to our lives without him
“He is just like our father and is the patron of our family. I really cannot imagine what will happen to our lives without him,” said Ma, 44, who was born in a Thai village bordering Myanmar in the Chiang Rai region. Both she and her sister, Ma Chongxian, 53, are descendents of members of the Kuomintang who fled to the area before the founding of the People’s Republic of China. When they learned the news of the king’s death on television on Thursday night, everyone – including those eating in the restaurant – broke into tears, Ma Chongying said.
“As soon as we heard it, no one was in the mood to do anything and we had to end our business yesterday at least three hours earlier than usual,” she said.
In recent months, the sisters had often joined other Thais to pray for the king outside the hospital. “I think as ethnic Chinese we will be forever grateful to the king who cared about our well-being and treated us equally,” Ma Chongxian said.
