Pattani: Phumtham Vejjayachai, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, has received a letter of demands from Buddhist representatives in the southern border provinces addressing concerns about the ongoing unrest in the region. The letter, submitted during a meeting at the C.S. Pattani Hotel, highlights the issues faced by the Buddhist community in the area.
According to Thai News Agency, the Peace Center, School of Politics, facilitated the gathering of Buddhist civil society groups to present their demands to Mr. Phumtham. The letter outlines the challenges and feedback from the Buddhist community, emphasizing the decreasing number of Buddhists due to migration from their ancestral homes. The community has been affected both directly and indirectly by the unrest, leading to a significant reduction in their population.
The demands focus on several key areas: safety, career promotion, education, fairness, promotion of Buddhist activities, and strict law enforcement. The community seeks measures to encourage Buddhists to remain in the area, including career promotion and initiatives to attract Buddhist civil servants who are natives to return to their hometowns. The goal is to address the decline in the Buddhist population, which currently stands at less than 200,000, down from 400,000 in the past.
Mr. Phumtham expressed gratitude to the Buddhist community for their engagement and promised to present their demands at the upcoming Cabinet meeting. He acknowledged the importance of addressing their concerns and ensuring the sustainability of the Buddhist population in the region.