Thai prelate warns: protestors could plunge nation into chaos

April 13, 2010

Amid deepening civil unrest, Thailand’s leading prelate has warned that there are “dark forces who want to plunge the situation into chaos.”

“The situation is very delicate. There is a clear political split between the 'Red Shirts' calling new elections and the government, which is still legally recognized and lawfully in office, said Archbishop Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij of Bangkok. “The fact is that there is a hidden political agenda behind these demonstrations.”

The archbishop, who has urged the faithful to pray for peace, added:

Those who attacked military installations with grenades intended to worsen the situation ... but to what end? We certainly must not go into a civil war, which would be a national tragedy. Hopefully, things will evolve peacefully. We ask all parties to reject violence and respect the law of the land.

Only 0.5% of the nation’s 65.8 million people are Catholic. With 299 seminarians for 336,000 Catholics, Thailand is one of the world’s most vocation-rich nations.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• “A hidden agenda meant to spread chaos in the country...” warns Archbishop of Bangkok (Fides)
• Thai Protesters Continue Demonstrations (Vatican Radio)
• 2008–2010 Thai political crisis (Wikipedia)