Unhappy 'Buddhists'
Disenchanted members of the fledgling Buddhist Party, the political group whose name was rejected by the Election Commission (EC), has begun to rally against the possibility of a Muslim party being formed.
Srisaj Satayayothee, a co-founder of what he hoped would be officially named the Buddhist Party, and 19 of its members yesterday went to the EC's office to head off the Islamic Party. When the Buddhist Party applied for registration, the EC rejected its application, saying the name might create trouble, causing a divide in society. "Therefore, any plan to set up an 'Islamic Party' must be opposed. We hope the EC will reject that party as it did us," Srisaj said. "However, if the EC allows them [the Islamic Party] to set up, then it should not be allowed to use the name, 'the Islamic Party'," he said. A group of Muslims last week said they planned to set up an Islamic party, but were met with outcries and claims they were intentionally trying to create divisions within society.
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