Thailand: Up To 300,000 Buddhist Monks...

[LaoPo]

THAILAND: UP TO 300,000 BUDDHIST MONKS EXPECTED TO ATTEND KEY RALLY

Bangkok, 23 April (AKI) - Some 300,000 Buddhist monks are scheduled to attend on Wednesday a protest organized by Buddhist authorities to demand that Buddhism be recognized as the state religion by the Thai government. The rally by the Buddhism Protection Centre of Thailand (BPCT) will take place in front of parliament as it prepares to discuss the draft of the new Constitution. At the moment, the new charter does not define Thailand as a Buddhist country although 95 percent of the 66 million Thais are Buddhists.

The BPCT has organized a number of peaceful rallies on the issue, opening a debate in the country.

The group's campaign is supported by many but not by the entire Buddhist establishment. Chularat Boonyakorn, the director of the National Buddhist Bureau, the government Buddhist agency, has for instance distanced himself from the campaign saying that "the protest on 25 April does not represent the idea of all the Sangha [the Buddhist community]."

Some analysts also believe that by proclaiming Buddhism as a state religion the government would exacerbate existing sectarian tensions. The largest minority in Thailand is Muslim and its strongholds are in the southern provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani, at the centre of a separatist conflict.

The debate on the formal role of Buddhism in Thailand is not new. In 1997, when the last Constitution was drafted, a similar campaign had been waged though in vain as authorities had been afraid to heighten religious tensions in the country.

Amendments in parliament to the draft Constitution must be approved by 10 June. Thai citizens will then vote the final draft of the charter in a referendum scheduled to take place in September.

The new Constitution needs to be finally approved before political elections can take place, probably in December, to allegedly bring back democracy in Thailand after a military coup last year.

http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English....542587&par=

(Fsc/Aki)

LaoPo

[Jimjim]

Demanding Buddhism be the national religion is entirely unnecessary. Thailand has always been accepting of all religions. Declaring Buddhism the national religion would not be in line with the teachings of Buddhism, in my opinion, and it just boggles my mind.

[sonnyJ]

Sounds kinda strong statement. What does state religion mean exactly in Thailand?

Has there ever been one under constitution?

Edited April 24, 2007 by sonnyJ

[kmart]

Seems rather a backward step. Western civilisation took a massive leap forward after separating religion from state affairs; and kicking the fundamentalists out our classrooms, laboratories, bedrooms and Parliaments.... Why does Thailand need a state-sanctioned religion?

[Jai Dee]

Some more background on this subject can be found in this thread.