Thailand: Using the Burmese recipe

Radical Buddhist groups in neighboring Myanmar have inspired Buddhists in Thailand to form a pressure group pushing to include Buddhism in the constitution as the country`s state religion, as Reuters reported on 3 November 2015. Daniel, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, says: "The connection between Thai Buddhist groups with radical Buddhist groups from Myanmar is not entirely new. On 25 June 2015 UCA News reported that Thai groups had donated equipment and helped with the setting-up of a radio station, basically aimed at countering a perceived Islamic threat. While the Christian minority in Thailand is very small, it is quite possible that it will be affected by the growing nationalism as well. If Myanmar serves as an inspiration, the next step may be a push for introducing laws to protect Buddhism. The real danger is that this movement is playing into the military rulers` hands. These rulers are becoming increasingly unpopular and are looking for unifying topics. The protection of a state religion against a (perceived) threat may come in quite handy - to the detriment of all religious minorities."