Thai religious leaders call for prayer on red-shirt crisis

(April 16, 2010) Senior Buddhist, Christian and Muslim leaders have jointly expressed their concern over the political crisis gripping Thailand and called for prayers by both individuals and religious organizations. The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand invited Buddhist monk Venerable Thammakosajarn, Archbishop Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovitvanit of Bangkok, and Imron Maluleem, vice chairperson of the Central Islamic Committee of Thailand, to jointly expressed their views on the current crisis on April 15. “Red-shirt” protesters, many of whom support former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a military coup in 2006, have been demonstrating against the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for more than a month. They are demanding the government immediately dissolve parliament and hold snap elections. Clashes between protesters and security forces on April 10 killed 24 people and injured more than 800. The three religious leaders urged all parties on the need to forgive and stop acts of violence and to sort out differences on the negotiating table for the good of the people. They called on all their followers to individually pray for peace for a few minutes at 6pm each day. Archbishop Kriengsak later told UCA News that the three religions have agreed to start joint prayers for peace soon. “The act of praying together expresses our stand for a peaceful society. We don’t want any violence in our country,” the Catholic leader said.