Buddhists demand protection from Muslims
04/26/07

BANGKOK (AP) Hundreds of Buddhist monks, led by nine elephants, marched on parliament to demand that Buddhism be enshrined as the national religion in Thailand’s postcoup constitution. Buddhist activists fear their religion is being undermined, citing violent incidents in the south, where Muslim insurgents have killed monks and bombed temples, and forced Buddhists to abandon their homes. More than 90 per cent of Thailand’s 64 million population are Buddhists.