Activists deny political link
A religious activist yesterday dismissed an allegation that a political group was behind the ongoing protest calling for the recognition of Buddhism as the state religion in the new charter.
Thongkal Puangrodphan said his group only wanted the constitution-drafters to state that Buddhism is the national religion. He urged those in power not to link his group with the ousted government, as it has no relationship at all with the former regime.Thongkal's group organised a rally of Buddhist monks on Monday to demand that drafters identify Buddhism as the national religion in the charter. Prasong Soonsiri, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, recently accused the group of being masterminded by anti-junta factions. Surachai Baochanya, member of the Thai Rak Thai legal team, yesterday denied that his party was involved with the protest. But he said the junta should realise that the people have a right to express their wishes.
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