Sonthi won't object to state religion clause
The Council for National Security (CNS) would have no objection if the new constitution enshrined Buddhism as the state religion, its chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said yesterday.
"There should be no problem for other religions," he said after a meeting with Phra Rajapanya Medhi, vice rector of the Mahachulalongkorn Buddhist University.All committees studying the issue - which comprise representatives of all religions - agreed that the clause could be stated in the draft charter, Sonthi said. A clause that would ensure the rights of other religions could be added, he said. Phra Rajapanya Medhi said: "If Thais want to develop their democracy, they need to promote Buddhist morals". Phra Rajapanya Medhi is a leading monk who organised a street procession last week to drum up support for a clause on state religion. The demonstration included many Buddhist monks and supporters of the proposal who gathered outside Goevrenment House to press their demand. He dismissed an allegation that a political group was behind his movement, but admitted that some politicians might exploit the movement.
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