先ずは『読売』の記事；
また、Boston Heraldに掲載されたAPの記事；
新憲法に「仏教の国教化」明記を…タイで僧侶ら大規模デモ
【バンコク＝田原徳容】タイの首都バンコクで２５日、全国から集まった僧侶や仏教徒約１０００人が議会を取り囲み、新憲法草案に「仏教の国教化」を盛り込むよう求める大規模デモを始めた。２日間で２万人規模に膨らむ見込みで、タイ南部でイスラム過激派のテロが続く中、宗教対立をあおる動きに懸念の声が高まっている。
僧侶らは、これまでの憲法で国王を仏教徒に限っている点を根拠に、国民の９０％が信仰する仏教を国教として新憲法に定めることを要望。しかし、１８日に公表された草案には反映されなかった。
僧侶らはデモで「仏教の国教化なくして新憲法は国民の支持を得られない」と連呼。これに対し、タイのイスラム教団体は「タイはすべての宗教のための国であるべきだ」と反論した。スラユット暫定首相は「仏教徒の要望はわかるが、事を荒立てないでほしい」と述べた。
（2007年4月25日19時5分 読売新聞）
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/world/news/20070425i412.htm
どちらにしても、運動指導者の談話とかが載っておらず、組織的背景などについてはわからない。やはり、南部におけるムスリム系住民の分離運動の激化に危機感を募らせているということなのだろうか。
Thai monks rally outside Parliament, calling for Buddhism to be made national religion
By Associated Press
Thursday, April 26, 2007 - Updated: 11:26 AM ESTBANGKOK, Thailand - Thousands of Buddhist monks demonstrated outside Parliament on Thursday to demand that Thailand’s new constitution enshrine Buddhism as the official national religion.
The Constitution Drafting Committee, appointed by coup leaders in January, formally submitted their first draft Thursday to 12 public agencies, including the Cabinet, the interim Parliament and the Council for National Security _ the government advisory board comprised of leaders of the Sept. 19 coup.
More than 3,000 Buddhist monks and other Buddhists staged a sit-in protest in front of Parliament to pressure the drafters to include a clause recognizing Buddhism as the national religion. They pledged to continue their protest until their demands are met.
Many of the monks took part Wednesday in an eight-hour march from the central province of Nakhon Pathom to Bangkok. Protesters rode nine elephants in the march.
They said that Buddhism _ followed by more than 90 percent of Thailand’s 64 million people _ has been under threat and the recognition will guarantee it will continue to be the main religion in the country.
A separatist insurgency in the country’s Muslim-dominated southern provinces has claimed the lives of more than 2,000 people since 2004. Southern Muslims have long complained of discrimination in the Buddhist-dominated country.
The first draft of the constitution, made public last week, does not name Buddhism as the national religion, and says the state will protect all faiths.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said he was concerned that the Buddhist protests could lead to political chaos and bloodshed.
Coup leader Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin, however, has backed the recognition of Buddhism as the national religion, saying he expects the drafting committee will review its decision on the issue.
The 12 agencies and the public have 30 days to propose any changes to the draft constitution, which will then be considered by the drafters.
Thursday’s protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations by monks. It revives a debate dating back to the adoption of the previous constitution in 1997, when a campaign to make Buddhism the national religion was dropped amid concerns that it would divide the country.
The 1997 constitution was scrapped after the September military coup, which ousted then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The new constitution is expected to be put to voters in a referendum as early as September, ahead of elections scheduled for December. Critics say anti-coup groups could mobilize their supporters to vote against the constitution, which might lead to another political crisis.
http://news.bostonherald.com/international/asiaPacific/view.bg?articleid=196927
タイでは国王は仏教徒でなければならないと規定されることによって佛教は実質的に国教の地位を確保していると理解していたが、「公式の国教」となることによってどんなメリットがあるのか。なったとしても、抽象的なものにとどまるのでは？ タイの佛教には主流の上座部佛教のほかに（少数ではあれ）華人や越南系の人が信仰する大乗仏教もあり、その兼ね合いも問題になってくるのではないか。また、タイの王権は佛教とともにヒンドゥー的なコスモロジーによって基礎付けられているが、それとの兼ね合いはどうなるのだろうか。
ところで、”Coup leader Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin, however, has backed the recognition of Buddhism as the national religion, saying he expects the drafting committee will review its decision on the issue.”とあるが、Sonthi Boonyaratglin自身はムスリムである*1。
*1:Cf. http://www.altmuslim.com/perm.php?id=1791_0_26_0_C33、http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/09/20/headlines/headlines_30014103.php、http://news.monstersandcritics.com/asiapacific/article_1203888.php/Profile General_Sonthi_Boonyaratglin_an_unusual_Thai_coup_leader
