Thais angered by Buddha on bottle

Thais angered by Buddha on bottle

BANGKOK (Reuter): The Thai government is being urged to
complain officially to a French liquor company for putting the
image of Buddha on the label of a liquor bottle the company
produces.

Pramote Sukhum, deputy minister of education, told reporters
yesterday he would ask the government to lodge a complaint with
the French firm Le Clerc for its portrayal of Buddha on the
liquor bottle.

Images of Buddha are sacred and treated with respect in
Buddhist Thailand.

Thai students in France noticed the label on the vodka and
pineapple juice drink and informed the Ministry of Education,
which is also responsible for religious affairs, Pramote said.