Protesting monk numbers
A monk is taken to hospital after falling ill during a hunger strike. Eighteen Buddhist monks are staging a hunger strike outside the National Legislative Assembly to demand that the writers of the draft charter enshrine Buddhism as the state religion in
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The number of Buddhist monks participating in a group hunger strike rose to 18 yesterday, the ninth day of their peaceful protest to have Buddhism included in the new constitution as the national religion.
A monk passed out as a result of hunger at 5.30pm yesterday - Phra Thanaphol Bunkerd, from Ang Thong was hospitalised but was in a satisfactory condition. A large group of supporters of the move to glorify Buddhism yesterday gathered in support of the monks at Parliament House and shouted slogans vowing to support any non-violent acts. The group later dispersed peacefully. Phra Raj Panya Maythee, a deputy chairperson of the Centre of Protection for Buddhism of Thailand and the monastic leader of the movement, repeated his stance for the inclusion of Buddhism in the charter. The monk said he was confident a national referendum would win overwhelming approval to support his move, citing a poll survey as his reference information. He also defended the hunger strike, saying it did not violate any Buddhist principles. All the 18 monks volunteered to join the fasting and their contribution was a great sacrifice.
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