absolutelyBangkok archive · Being farang
Originally published Feb. 11, 2010
It seems like another life, back then in the late 90s when I was touring Thailand’s northern hill tribe areas with Matthew McDaniel and his legendary indestructible Jeep. Matthew McDaniel was the self-proclaimed savior and defender of the Akha. Matthew was arrested by Thai authorities in 2004 and kicked out of the country.
When I met Matthew the last time in Chiang Rai he had just fathered another — I think his second — girl with an Akha hill tribe woman. He was one of the Akha and his most bitter fight he fought against Christian missionaries threatening hell and promising heaven while distributing strange translations of the Bible. A fight Matthew’s pursuing to this day, even back in the U.S., his “exile.”
Matthews not cagey about his own belief. At the bottom of his Akha Heritage Foundation website you read: “The Choice — After considering the facts as a human rights activist, when it comes to choosing between following the teachings of Christianity or following Jesus Christ, I have decided to follow Jesus Christ.” So why is he all over those Idaho Baptist missionaries who tried to kidnap some 30 “orphans” in earthquake-devastated Haiti? Matthew draws parallels with missionary work in Thailand.
Listen to the whole thing — interesting the U.S. media lobbying…:
A lot of selfless missionary work is done along Thailand’s difficult borders. The government ignores the “stateless.” So others help. One may wish though more is done in the tradition of Matthew’s closing words on his website:
Jesus Christ offers full redemption, in all spheres of human life, justice, land, food and the rights to one’s own children. We should not ignore or overlook any aspect of human existence and fail to mention it in the redemption of the human condition. This includes the Akha and their need for security and the protection of rights. It does no good to claim that redemption only applies to the life here after, while ignoring the incredible suffering inflicted on these people. Individuals who claim that the great difficulties that the Akha face helps convert them, have distorted and deformed the Gospel.
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