Thai Buddhists push for state religion

BANGKOK, Apr 25 (Reuters) Hundreds of Buddhist monks and laymen accompanied by 9 elephants braved scorching heat today to demand Buddhism be declared Thailand's national religion in its new, post-coup constitution.

The colourful protest of around 500 saffron-robed monks and devotees in pure white outfits waved yellow flags and placards as they marched 30 km from the capital's western suburbs to parliament.

Police tried and failed to prevent the 9 elephants -- an auspicious number in Thailand, where the word also means ''progress'' -- from taking part in hot season temperatures nearing 40 degrees centigrade.

''We are afraid that the heat might cause the elephants to go bersek and start trampling on things,'' Police Lieutenant General Adisorn Nonsi told a Bangkok radio station.

Another group of 1,400 people gathered outside parliament to demand that writers of the charter, which is to replace the 1997 ''People's Constitution'' torn up in September's military coup, add a clause defining Buddhism as the official state religion.

One placard proclaimed that Thailand would be ''on fire'' if the demand was not met.

PROTESTS TO INTENSIFY However, the turnout was a fraction of the 100,000-plus that some organisers had predicted.

That said, an ever-growing number of single interest groups protesting against last week's published draft of the constitution could derail the army-backed government's plans for elections by the end of the year, analysts said.

Leaders of the coup say they expect protests to intensify this month and next as backers of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra try to rally support around PTV, a satellite television station the government refused to allow on air.

In an apparent bow to the monks' demand, the Council for National Security, as the coup makers call themselves, said it had no problem allowing Buddhism as the state religion even if its chairman, army chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin, was a Muslim.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, a former army chief, said on Wednesday the government was listening to the demands and concerns of various disgruntled groups to defuse tensions.

''This government can assure that we will be able to keep everything under control and prevent violence from taking place through peaceful discussion because we don't want to see clashes between compatriot Thais,'' Surayud said.

REUTERS LPB DS1315