THE LEADER of Phuket's Muslims said today there was not likely to be any angry reaction on Phuket to the death in Pakistan of terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden at the hands of the US Navy's elite Seal Team Six.
Bamrung Sampaorat, director of the Muslim Phuket Community, said there was not a divide on Phuket between Muslims and other residents. Bin Laden and Bin Laden's Al-Qaeda followers had no connection to Thailand.
''Phuket's Buddhist, Muslim and expat communities live together in harmony and there is no indications of the peaceful way of life on Phuket being disrupted,'' Imam Bamrung told Phuketwan.
Although tourists may not always notice, at least one third of Phuket's population is Muslim. More than 50 mosques dot Phuket, along with Buddhist temples, Taoist shrines, a few Christian churches and places of worship for Sikhs, Hindus and Jews.
The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan is now on its second visit to Phuket with cruiser USS Chancellorsville and destroyer USS Preble, with another destroyer, USS Gridley, already in port. Thousands of US Navy personnel are continuing to enjoy shore leave.
While concerns are being expressed about the likelihood of reactions to Bin Laden's death in Indonesia or the Philippines, Imam Bamrung says Phuket and Thailand are different. The deadly disagreements in southern Thailand have also shown no sign of spreading beyond the southern provinces.
''The last real anger on Phuket came when Phuket airport was occupied by yellow shirts back in 2008,'' Imam Bamrung said. ''And that showed how angry reactions simply rebound on the Phuket people involved.''
He said that burial at sea - as occurred with Bin Laden - was a part of Muslim custom, especially when sailors died on vessels.
Phuket's Muslim community will play host to 70 representatives from at least 10 countries - including the US - at an international seminar on education scheduled for Patong next month.
Representatives from Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Cambodia, the US and at least two Middle East countries are to meet at the Royal Paradise Hotel and Spa from June 17-19.
Phuket Police Probe Japan Dive Tourist's DeathBamrung Sampaorat, director of the Muslim Phuket Community, said there was not a divide on Phuket between Muslims and other residents. Bin Laden and Bin Laden's Al-Qaeda followers had no connection to Thailand.
''Phuket's Buddhist, Muslim and expat communities live together in harmony and there is no indications of the peaceful way of life on Phuket being disrupted,'' Imam Bamrung told Phuketwan.
Although tourists may not always notice, at least one third of Phuket's population is Muslim. More than 50 mosques dot Phuket, along with Buddhist temples, Taoist shrines, a few Christian churches and places of worship for Sikhs, Hindus and Jews.
The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan is now on its second visit to Phuket with cruiser USS Chancellorsville and destroyer USS Preble, with another destroyer, USS Gridley, already in port. Thousands of US Navy personnel are continuing to enjoy shore leave.
While concerns are being expressed about the likelihood of reactions to Bin Laden's death in Indonesia or the Philippines, Imam Bamrung says Phuket and Thailand are different. The deadly disagreements in southern Thailand have also shown no sign of spreading beyond the southern provinces.
''The last real anger on Phuket came when Phuket airport was occupied by yellow shirts back in 2008,'' Imam Bamrung said. ''And that showed how angry reactions simply rebound on the Phuket people involved.''
He said that burial at sea - as occurred with Bin Laden - was a part of Muslim custom, especially when sailors died on vessels.
Phuket's Muslim community will play host to 70 representatives from at least 10 countries - including the US - at an international seminar on education scheduled for Patong next month.
Representatives from Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Cambodia, the US and at least two Middle East countries are to meet at the Royal Paradise Hotel and Spa from June 17-19.
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@Representatives from Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Cambodia, the US and at least two Middle East countries are to meet at the Royal Paradise Hotel and Spa from June 17-19.
The best place in Phuket to enjoy nightlife entertainments at Paradise Complex with bars, karaokes, discos, massages full of gays, lesbiennes and transgendres...
Warm welcome to Phuket Paradise....
Posted by Whistle-Blower on May 3, 2011 12:29
Editor Comment:
I think you'll find the hotel was chosen for its halal, Whistle-Blower. But it's certainly in an educational part of town, and a quick lesson in tolerance for those who don't have enough.