BANGKOK, Sept 11 (TNA) – A Buddhist group seeks legal
action against the student who painted the controversial Ultraman Buddha
paintings and four others who has supported the student.
The paintings have become a topic of public debate with
people denouncing them as disrespectful while others showing supports for
creative artistry of the Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University student.
On Wednesday, the group of Buddhists led by Charoon Wannakasikanont
asked the Royal Thai Police’s Crime Suppression Division to prosecute the
senior student and other people who supported her paintings.
The paintings depicting Buddha as the superhero Ultraman
were put on an exhibition in Nakhon Ratchasima before generating fierce public
debate.
Charoon said the paintings were insults upon Buddhism and
violated the law requiring the protection of Buddhism and other religions.
Not only the female student, four people including a
lecturer and those who supported the idea and organized the exhibition must be
prosecuted, he said.
So far, the public opinion over the matter has been divided;
many believe the student did not have any ill intention to exercise her
creativity. Opponents to the idea have
attempted to recall the paintings from buyers for destruction.
Crime Suppression Division has accepted the request pending
consideration whether to proceed to press charges on these individuals. (TNA)
