(27 Aug 2008) SHOTLIST
1. Wide aerial tilt-down of protest
2. Wide of Buddhist monks
3. Various of monks praying
4. Monks with instruments bowing then kneeling
5. Wide of monks
6. Close-up of wooden instrument
7. SOUNDBITE: (Korean) Sung-ma, Buddhist Monk:
"In this country where religious freedom is guaranteed, a Christian presbyterian (South Korea President) Lee Myung-bak is doing one-sided policies and, as a person who watches over constitutional law, it seems very unfair that people under him are following these policies."
8. Wide pan from stage to protesters
9. Close up of sign reading: (Korean) "Legislate Religious Discrimination Prohibition Law"
10. Female monks chanting; UPSOUND: (Korean) "apologise"
11. Various of monks chanting
12. Female monks marching with banner reading: (Korean) "Religious Discrimination, Destruction of Constitution Law. Apologise President Lee Myung-bak"
13. Monks marching past
14. Wide pan of monks marching
15. Close-up of sign with picture of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on
16. Wide of monks marching holding banners
17. Two monks marching with instruments bowing
18. Various of rally
19. Tilt down of sign, reading (English) "Out"
20. Wide exterior of Buddhist temple
STORYLINE:
Tens of thousands of South Korean Buddhists took to the streets of Seoul on Wednesday to protest what they say is a pro-Christian bias in the administration of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.
Discontent among Buddhists has been brewing for months over Lee's alleged favouritism toward Christianity.
Buddhists have criticised Lee, a Presbyterian, for filling most of his Cabinet and top presidential posts with other Christians.
Police estimated that 60-thousand people, including 7-thousand monks clad in gray Buddhist garb, gathered on Wednesday in front of Seoul's City Hall.
The crowd chanted as they were holding banners reading "Legislate Religious Discrimination Prohibition Law" on the grass plaza.
They also urged Lee to offer a public apology and fire the head of the national police agency for what they claim is religious discrimination.
They warned they would intensify their protests unless the government takes "sincere steps."
Lee, however, stopped short of offering an apology and gave no indication he would fire the police chief.
The crowd later marched several blocks to the Jogye Temple, the headquarters of the Jogye Order, South Korea's largest Buddhist sect.
Police said there were no clashes.
Lee told his top aides on Monday that his "religious belief and activities should not cause social friction or undermine national unity," the culture ministry said on Tuesday.
"In this country where religious freedom is guaranteed, a Christian presbyterian, Lee Myung-bak, is doing one-sided policies and, as a person who watches over constitutional law, it seems very unfair that people under him are following these policies," one of the monks, Sung-ma, said.
South Korea is a country where religious diversity is widely respected and there is no history of sectarian disputes between Christians and Buddhists.
Buddhism is the oldest major religion in Korea, though Christianity has grown dramatically, especially during the 20th century.
According to government figures, Buddhists made up 22.8 percent of the population in 2005, while Christians accounted for 29.2 percent.
Lee is not the first Christian to serve as South Korea's president.
Others include Syngman Rhee, Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung.
The ministry said the omission was a mistake by a lower official and later restored them to the maps.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
