Lunchtime O'Booze
April 18th, 2007, 20:03
Thai Monks Want Buddhism in ConstitutionThe Associated Press
Tuesday, April 17, 2007; 10:33 AM
BANGKOK, Thailand -- 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.
More than 2,000 people have died since 2004 in the country's three southernmost provinces along the Malaysian border in an insurgency fueled by allegations of discrimination against Muslims, especially in educational and job opportunities, in Buddhist-dominated Thailand.
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.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... c-religion (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/17/AR2007041700640.html?hpid=sec-religion)
Tuesday, April 17, 2007; 10:33 AM
BANGKOK, Thailand -- 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.
More than 2,000 people have died since 2004 in the country's three southernmost provinces along the Malaysian border in an insurgency fueled by allegations of discrimination against Muslims, especially in educational and job opportunities, in Buddhist-dominated Thailand.
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.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... c-religion (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/17/AR2007041700640.html?hpid=sec-religion)