Monks pray for peace on edge of Bangkok flashpoint focus 05/18/2010

Monks pray for peace on edge of Bangkok flashpoint

focus 05/18/2010 BANGKOK — At a monument to a conflict that took place decades ago, hundreds of Buddhist monks prayed for an end to the modern urban warfare being waged around them in the Thai capital. The Buddhist association that invited the monks to Bangkok’s Victory Monument had a message for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva — stop the army killing “innocent people.” An emergency vehicle raced past, siren wailing, as about 400 monks clad in orange and brown robes gathered at the city landmark on the edge of the Ratchaprarop district on Sunday evening. The district has been one of the flashpoint zones in the capital which has seen three days of clashes between troops and “Red Shirt” protesters that have left 35 persons dead and 244 wounded. Adisak Wanasin, president of the Buddhism Relation Association in Bangkok, said he invited the monks from temples in the city and surrounding provinces to ask for peace. “We also would like to ask his excellency the prime minister of Thailand, please consider telling all of the Armed Forces in Bangkok: stop killing innocent people,” he told AFP..... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100518com3.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL No respect for the law FRONTLINE Back to a rubber stamp House focus Monks pray for peace on edge of Bangkok flashpoint NO HOLDS BARRED The old, among the new AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Voting for development SILVER LINING Congratulations, senators FEATURE Sri Lanka seeks harmony between elephants and humans