| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Thai monks want Buddhism in constitution |
| 2007-04-17 |
| Hundreds of monks called Tuesday for Buddhism to be named Thailand's national religion, a move rejected as too divisive in the past, as an Islamic insurgency worsened in the Muslim south. The call from the monks revives a debate that dates back to 1997 when a campaign to make Buddhism the national religion was dropped amid concerns that it would divide the country. The issue has been revived as a new constitution is being drafted by a committee appointed by coup leaders who ousted elected Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in September. The coup leaders have promised to put a new constitution to voters in a referendum as early as September. Along with holding a silent rally outside of Parliament, monks sent a representative Tuesday to meet with Prasong Sunsiri, the chairman of the constitutional drafting committee, to press their demands that Buddhism be included. "It must be pointed out that this national religion campaign is taking place amid widespread paranoia within the clergy against Islam following the southern violence," Sanitsuda Ekachai, a columnist for the English daily Bangkok Post, wrote earlier this month. "There has also been wide distribution of leaflets alleging that Islam is a threat to Thai Buddhism." |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #3 Oh, I dunno-- it could be fun to watch. It would definately be an interesting bit of turnabout/ fair play WRT the muzzies. Won't ever happen, tho- and prolly just as well, when one considers the history of State Religions and established churches. |
| Posted by: Helmuth, Speaking for N guard 2007-04-17 19:46 |
| #2 a campaign to make Buddhism the national religion was dropped amid concerns that it would divide the country unlike the muslim campaign to kill and terrorize the Buddhist majority, which is, of course, a unifying event |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-04-17 17:48 |
| #1 Big mistake. DO NOT call for a state religion. It could then be just as easily changed over to Islam. Start killing jihadis in large numbers if you want some positive results. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-04-17 17:43 |