Pattani Buddhist park project put on hold

The project, initiated by the Pattani Provincial Authority and to be located behind Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Park, has been subject to review after religious leaders of the three Muslim-dominated southern border provinces voiced concern that building a large-scale Buddha statue could foment conflicts in the province.
Former Pattani governor Sompot Suwannarat said it is understandable that such a project would affect the feelings of Muslims in the area, but at the same time the voice of local minority Thai Buddhists cannot be ignored.
“If the project is to continue, we have find solutions over the ill-feelings,” he said.
Construction of a large-sized Buddha statue in the deep South is not unprecedented. In 1966, Narathiwat’s Muang district became host to the Khao Kong Buddhist Park, spanning 142-rai and boasting the biggest Buddha statue in the South – Thaksin Mingmongkol.
Wichit Sakulkaew, a Buddhist network member in Narathiwat, said he could not accept the opposition’s reasons for rejecting the project. “Muslims are a minority in all other regions of the country except the deep South, but they are allowed to build mosques in every province in Thailand,” he said.
Wichit has been soliciting signatures from Buddhists in the South in a push to have Buddhism enshrined in the draft charter as the state religion, though the Constitution Drafting Commission has insisted no such a provision will be made.
The campaign to make Buddhism the state religion gained momentum after 13 assailants recently gunned down Bunlert Chindathananant, 57, the Buddhist deputy chief executive of Tambon Romsai Administrative Organis-ation. At his funeral, 2,000 people signed the campaign petition.
Opposition to the park project has gone viral in the social media. Former Pattani senator Worawit Baru said the project was not suitable because the area is predominately Muslim. “This area symbolises Islam and this project will lead to conflicts between people of the two religions,” he said.
“There are other activities that you can do to promote Buddhism instead of building Buddhism symbols,” he said.
Pattani Muslim leader Wae Durama Mamingji said building a large Buddha statue in the province would be unacceptable to Muslim residents.
“We do not object to construction of new Buddhist temples. People from each religion have their own beliefs. Our beliefs should be respected,” he said
The project to build the Buddhist park was initially proposed in 2002 but failed to get off the ground due to a lack of funds and failure to find a suitable location.
Officials behind the project say not a single baht from state coffers will be used to construct the park, which will be built with donations.
They expected to raise Bt170 million by selling 10 million Thailand Post postcards at Bt20 each.