Thai family prays for son held hostage by Hamas

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Today is Tuesday, October 22nd.

Thank you for turning to WORLD Radio to help start your day.

Good morning. I’m Mary Reichard.

NICK EICHER, HOST: And I’m Nick Eicher.

Coming next on The World and Everything in It: the long wait for the hostages to come home.

On October 7th last year, the terror group that runs Gaza took more than 250 hostages from Israel. Hamas is said still to have about 100 of them in Gaza, only about half of them considered to be alive.

Most of the hostages are Israeli citizens, but Hamas took people who came from all over the world including Americans, and about 30 people from Thailand.

REICHARD: Many of the Thais have been released, but several still remain in captivity. WORLD’s Paul Butler has the story of the family of one of those Thai hostages.

PAUL BUTLER: On a recent Sunday, about 30 people gather in a rural Thailand church. A large monitor up front prominently features photos of a 32-year-old Thai man. Across the top are the words: “Pray for Watchara Sriaoun and his family.”

Sriaoun was in southern Israel during the brutal attack on October 7th, 2023. He was taken hostage by Hamas. His mother, father, and 9-year-old daughter back in Thailand await news of his condition.

WIWWARO SRIAOUN: We can only pray to God. Asking people doesn’t give us answers.

Wiwwaro Sriaoun is Watchara’s mother.

WIWWARO SRIAOUN: Even the village chief or headman cannot confirm anything. We have nothing but our prayers to God.

Her son moved to Israel with his brother in 2020. They left their village to earn money for their father’s medical bills and to send enough money back to renovate their family’s house.

Watchara had also hoped to use some of the money he was earning in Israel to buy a piece of land back in Thailand so that he could build a house for himself and his daughter.

WIWWARO SRIAOUN: I recall what my son said to me. He told me, 'Mother, as long as I’m not dead, you don’t have to worry. I will provide everything for you.' That was how he encouraged me.

After the October 7th attack, Wiwwaro asked Watchara’s brother to return home, afraid of losing another son.

But without the brothers income, the family has had to work harder on their small farm—cultivating rice and rubber. But Watchara’s father Tom is only getting worse.

TOM SRIAOUN: I feel so heavy. I've been to the hospital two to three times because of my son being taken.

Tom doesn’t say what his condition is, but he describes how it’s affecting him now.

TOM SRIAOUN: My blood pressure was high, and I had to be admitted to the hospital a few times. I can't stop thinking about it—since the incident in Israel, until today, I still think about my son all the time.

Released hostages report that they were kept in dark tunnels, starved, and at times tortured. Tom watches the news constantly, hoping to hear anything about his son, praying that it’s good news. But so far, it’s just been more war.

FOX: Israeli forces have widened their rade into northern Gaza.

BBC: Hezbollah says it’s fired dozens of missiles into Israel.

FOX: Earlier today, Iran warned the US to keep its military forces out of Israel.

Since October 7th, Israel has been systematically destroying Hamas in Gaza, even taking out its leader last week.

Many relatives and friends of the hostages are hoping for a ceasefire deal that would result in their freedom. The White House has been pressuring Israel to agree to one too. But so far Israel’s prime minister has said a cease-fire would only further endanger Israelis.

Wiwwaro Sriaoun says she just wants the brutal war to end.

WIWWARO SRIAOUN: I'm just an ordinary Thai person caught in these terrible events. Everyone has suffered enough, and I have suffered enough too, waiting for my son. For over a year now, I've been waiting, and I still haven't heard anything about how my son is doing.

In August, Watchara’s ex-wife died, leaving Tom and Wiwwaro to care for their 9-year-old granddaughter, Irada…adding still more financial pressure to their family. Wiwwaro says with God’s help, she’s trying to stay strong for Irada and she still has hope that Watchara will return.

WIWWARO SRIAOUN: I love you, my son. I’m always worried about you. I'm waiting for you to come back. Everyone misses you. If there’s a chance, if anyone can help, please do. I'm tired, tired of waiting.

For Irada’s part, she goes to school and helps her family on the farm. She attends church with her grandparents and even helps lead worship. Irada prays for her father before every meal. She’s done so ever since he was taken.

IRADA SRIAOUN: May my father return home soon, in the name of the Lord.

She says “may my father return home soon. In the name of the Lord, Amen.”

IRADA SRIAOUN: Amen. [FAMILY SAYS AMEN.]

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Paul Butler with reporting from Mary Muncy.

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