Buddhist monk hacked to death in southern Thailand (Religion of Pieces)

Associated Press ^ | Jan 22, 2004

[witnesstothefall]

BANGKOK, Thailand -- A Buddhist monk was hacked to death Thursday while begging for food, an attack the police chief said was aimed at inciting religious unrest in the Muslim-dominated south.

Thailand's southernmost provinces have been tense since Jan. 4 when suspected Muslim separatists torched 21 government-run schools and raided an army camp in Narathiwat province, killing four soldiers and stealing hundreds of rifles.

The monk was collecting food from followers in Narathiwat's Bachor district when an unidentified man approached him on a motorcycle and chopped him to death with a machete, national police chief Gen. Sant Sarutanond said.

Walking from house to house to accept donations is a daily morning ritual for monks. About 90 percent of Thailand's 63 million people are Buddhists.

"We believe the Buddhist monk was killed by a group of men who mean to fuel the situation. The attackers want to create more misunderstanding and mistrust among the local people," Sant said.

Muslim leaders in the south condemned Thursday's attack, Sant said.

Police regard Bachor as a hotbed of anti-government violence. The sometimes heavy-handed government efforts to track down the perpetrators of the Jan. 4 attacks have irritated local Muslims, who are traditionally suspicious toward local officials appointed by the central government.

Buddhists are a minority in the southernmost provinces but tend to be wealthier than the majority ethnic Malay Muslims there who regard the ethnic Thais as outsiders. Buddhists hold most of the top civil service and police posts in the area, which can put them at odds with the populace.

However, sectarian violence is rare anywhere in Thailand, and the monk's killing was the first such attack in the south for several years.

[witnesstothefall]

Islam has always depended on violence, rape and demographic bombs to conquer new territory and subdue the vanquished.

[cripplecreek]

since our supposed oppression of muslims is the usual excuse i get i can only say i wasnt aware that the Buddhists were overrunning muslim lands. truely pathetic.

[OpusatFR]

This just ticks me off. Bhuddist monks are just defenseless and those miserable Islamists kill those who can't fight back, especially women, children, civilians, the religious of other orders.

I know our President keeps telling us this is TROP. But, they all seem to be of one accord toward anyone not moslem.

[tdadams]

It seems a bit denigrating to say this monk was "begging for food". The gathering of alms is part is the Buddhist practice. Those who give to the monks are honored to do so.

[OpusatFR]

Perhaps this particular monk has been freed from the wheel, and the Moslem who murdered him has earned a terrible retribution.

[happygrl]

Yes, glad you pointed that out.

Poorly informed and educated journalists.

More of the MTV generation/outlook.

[ambrose]

Religion of Peace Ping.

[DefCon]

He had a sign:
"WILL WOK FOR FOOD"
HE WAS LITERALLY A CUT-UP!
-
Bluntpoint: Ex-attorney. I was once blind, now I can see.
- - - -
And I can see that you are a callous ass.

[cyborg]

religion of PIECE BTTT

[BenLurkin]

"[S]ectarian violence is rare anywhere in Thailand, and the monk's killing was the first such attack in the south for several years."

Looks like that is about to change.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The Thais are low key, peaceful people. They won't like this.

[Bluntpoint]

It gets chaffed sometimes, but not calloused.

Now, quit peeking in my window.

Do I need a restraining order?

[kanawa]

Islam and Buddhism

Buddhism from the distorted Islamic perspective. Full of misunderstandings and misrepresentations.
Book can be downloaded as a PDF document.

[JimSEA]

Walking from house to house to accept donations is a daily morning ritual for monks

This should be the last straw. The bloodsuckers killing a monk will go over about like their raping and killing a nun here. Sick bastards.

[Jackson Brown]

I know our President keeps telling us this is TROP

What (responsible, practical) choice does he have?

[kanawa]

ping

[jocon307]

"What (responsible, practical) choice does he have?"

He can emphasize more that there is a world-wide Islamic jihad afoot. He can lean on our friends, the Saudis. He can stop BULLSH*TTING the American people, who, to their credit, are not fooled. He can STOP listening to Grover Norquist on Muslims, even if he wishes to continue to listen to him on Taxes. He can seek out and promote truly moderate, peace-loving Muslims, if he can find any.

And he can take this advice and apply it to the subject of illegal immigration and our alleged inability to control our borders.

And I love W, I'm even on the W's a hottie ping list. But I'm not going to tell you he's right when he's wrong.

[skeeter]

What (responsible, practical) choice does he have?

I understand what you're saying, but its a shame when the responsible, practical thing isn't telling the truth. We're in a religious war & he ought to be able to say so.

[lelio]

Thanks for the link. I found this part particularly amusing:

Present-day Buddhists believe that the more pain they endure, and the more hunger and misery they suffer, the sooner they become enlightened. But this is not enlightenment; it is an inhuman life of self-abuse.

Seems like the author is projecting.