Mothers of Thai workers held hostage in Gaza speak of trauma

DW (English)

Thai nationals make up the largest non-Israeli group kidnapped in the October 7 terrorist attacks. Officials say eight Thai migrant workers are still being held hostage. DW's Georg Matthes reports from Udon Thai in northeastern Thailand.

Transcript

00:00 Just a few centimeters take up a whole hour.

00:04 Making carpets with the neighbors helps Camille Lamnau pass the time.

00:08 Sick with worry, Lamnau hasn't been able to work since Hamas terrorists

00:13 kidnapped her son more than 140 days ago.

00:17 The only visitors to her tailor shop these days are local officials,

00:22 inquiring about her situation.

00:24 It's a lot of pressure. I can't rest, I can't eat.

00:29 I think about my son all the time. I'm constantly wondering how he is.

00:34 I was told that they only get a blanket, and I'm sure they don't sleep because they're so anxious.

00:41 Like many Thais, her eldest son was in Israel working for a farmer.

00:46 The 1,000 euros he earned a month helped the family back home.

00:51 Camille Lamnau bought this tractor for the family farm with the money her son sent.

00:56 She says he continued working in Israel despite knowing it was dangerous.

01:01 He's actually experienced a similar situation before.

01:05 Two people were killed right in front of him when they were hiding in the shelter during another attack.

01:12 I told him to come back, but he said it was normal there.

01:18 In the neighboring village, this family is reunited.

01:22 Anusha Angel was released after 50 days of captivity.

01:26 The money he earned from four years working in Israel helped him buy a house and set up a chicken farm.

01:32 But he says he will never forget the morning of October 7.

01:36 They put us in an empty house for about an hour initially, and then moved us to the tunnels.

01:48 They hurt us badly, especially in the first two to three days.

01:52 We were only given bread and water, just enough to survive.

01:56 I counted the days by meals. Otherwise, we just lay on the ground and slept.

02:02 These are the other Thai workers he was held hostage with on the day of their release.

02:09 One of them is from the same village as Camille Lamnau's son.

02:13 Talking to his mother gives her hope that the most dangerous part may already be behind him.

02:19 On the day of the kidnapping, there were a total of five Thai workers who were taken captive.

02:26 But the car could only fit four more people, so they executed one right there.

02:31 Lured by better wages than they can get at home, tens of thousands of Thai nationals,

02:36 especially from this remote region, work in Israel.

02:40 They're able to do so because of an agreement between the two countries.

02:44 But officials like the town mayor feel the government should do more to protect citizens.

02:49 It's my personal opinion. It is up to the individual where they want to go.

02:58 They are the ones who take a risk, and the ones who benefit from it.

03:03 But the government should provide adequate information about risk zones,

03:08 so that people can make an informed decision.

03:12 The labor agreement with Israel has been suspended for the time being.

03:19 Many people here would now rather go to Taiwan or South Korea for work.

03:24 Camille Lamnau says she wants her son to stay in Thailand when he finally returns.

03:30 She's bought some cattle and land for him.

03:33 The rice in these fields will be ripe in about a month.

03:36 She hopes he'll be back home in time for the harvest.

03:39 (water splashing)

Category

Transcript

Recommended