Thailand Province

The Thailand Province of the Society of Jesus is located in Bangkok, Thailand. The Jesuits have been present in Thailand since approximately 1607, when Fr. Baltasar Sequeira arrived in the city of Siam. 
Today the Jesuits residing in this province work in the cities of Bangkok, Bangsaen, Chiang Mai, and Samphran. Their work includes running parishes, operating spirituality centers, and working with students as well as prisoners. 
According to the last census, in 2000, 95% of Thais are Buddhists of the Theravada tradition. Muslims are the second largest religious group in Thailand at 4.6%. Thailand's southernmost provinces - Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and part of Songkhla Chumphon have dominant Muslim populations, consisting of both ethnic Thai and Malay. Most often Muslims live in separate communities from non-Muslims. The southern tip of Thailand is mostly ethnic Malays. 
Christians, mainly Catholics, represent 0.75% of the population. A tiny but influential community of Sikhs in Thailand and some Hindus also live in the country's cities, and are heavily engaged in retail commerce. There is also a small Jewish community in Thailand, dating back to the 17th century. Since 2001, Muslim activists, generally described by the Thai government as terrorists or separatists, have rallied against the central government because of alleged corruption and ethnic bias on the part of officials.
==External Links==
*Website for the Thailand Province
Category: Thailand Province