Bangkok, April 24 (NNN-TNA) A large number of demonstrators led by Buddhist activists planned to gather outside parliament Wednesday to repeatedly call on the Constitution Drafting Assembly to stipulate Buddhism as Thailand's national religion in the rewritten Constitution.
Gen. Thongchai Kuasakul, chairman of the Buddhist Network of Thailand, suggested that the government should never stop innocent, peace-loving demonstrators from rallying in front of parliament as they planned for Wednesday and Thursday, but if the government did block the demonstration, they would be prompted to do so in the provinces countrywide.
The demonstrators said they were pushing for such religious causes with all honesty and without any political backing, Gen Thongchai said.
The leading activist called on Prime Minister Gen. Surayud Chulanont and members of the Constitution Drafting Assembly and the National Legislative Assembly, most of whom are Buddhist, to see that Buddhism will be declared the national religion in the Constitution.
Ecclesiastical Association spokesperson Phra Thammakittimethi commented the authorities should have no prejudices against peaceful gatherings of Buddhist laymen and monks who simply had the right to demonstrate for the sake of their religion.
Members of varied Buddhist groups convened Tuesday at a hotel in Bangkok to discuss the planned rally outside parliament.