Release No: 99-72
Date: 22 Oct. 1999
BANGKOK, Thailand - On Oct. 1, a dozen members of a previously unknown group calling themselves the Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors, stormed the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok in protest of the government of Myanmar. Shortly before the takeover, Gunya Na Thalang, director of the Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) office in Bangkok, was preparing to go to the embassy to apply for a visa for the new coordinator of the LHM ministry center in Myanmar (formerly called Burma).
The official she was scheduled to meet called her to ask for an English translation of an endorsement letter. This caused Na Thalang to reschedule to delay their meeting for a short time. "Thank God," she said. "As we were going to the Myanmar Embassy at 11:45 a.m., we heard on the radio that student activists went into the embassy, took control of it, and took many people hostage." But the part Na Thalang would play was not limited to watching the situation unfold on television. She received a call from the official’s wife who was hiding in the couple’s living quarters in the embassy compound. The frantic woman could only speak and understand English and Myanmarese, so she asked Na Thalang to keep her informed about what the Thai news was reporting. For the duration of the 25-hour ordeal, Na Thalang kept the woman informed about the hostage crisis and prayed with her. Eventually, everyone was released unhurt, including the activists, who were taken to the Thai/Myanmar border. "Today, the Myanmar embassy opened for business, but with much security," wrote Na Thalang, who was able to get the Visa approved after the embassy reopened Oct. 5. "What an amazing way the Lord has of taking a desperate situation and turning it into an opportunity to bring His Word to others. Thanks to Him, no one was hurt."
