Monks clash with army: Demand Supreme Patriarch action (video)

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Thousands of monks assembled in Nakhon Pathom today to demand speedy Supreme Patriarch installation & Buddhism declared national religion in constitution.

RELIGION & POLITICS

Monks clash with army: Demand Supreme Patriarch action (video)

15/02/2016
Online Reporters

Several thousand monks and their supporters have assembled at Phutthamonthon in Nakhon Pathom province to demand a prompt endorsement of the 20th Supreme Patriarch.

They attended a seminar titled "Stop the plot to topple Thai monk administration", tentatively set for two days.

The participants also urged a constitutional stipulation that Buddhism be the national religion.

The monks were led by Phra Methee Dhammacharn, assistant abbot of Wat Maha That in his capacity as secretary general of the Buddhism Protection Centre of Thailand.

A network of several Buddhism bodies also joined.

At the 2,500-rai Phuttamonthon, the participants gathered at a yard in front of the great Lord Buddha image.

Monk confronts soldier.

CLASHES PROVOKED BY MONKS

Soldiers guarded the area but clashes occurred at 1.30pm, when the monks tried to push the soldiers' trucks from the area.

Two hours later, soldiers barricaded an entrance with GMC trucks.

The monks asked the soldiers clear the trucks away, saying they would do so themselves if the soldiers did not comply.

They claimed Phutthamonthon was an area for monks, not soldiers, and prayed.

Monk confronts soldier.

WAT DHAMMAKAYA SURROUNDED

Thai media also reported that soldiers surrounded Wat Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani to prevent its monks from joining the seminar.

Monks in their meeting hall at Phutthamonthon in Nakhon Pathom province.

MONK DEMANDS

The group had four stated objectives.

First, it proposed a constitutional provision that Buddhism be the national religion.

Second, it wanted the endorsement of the new Supreme Patriarch without delay.

Third, they would like to show unity so some "renegade monk" who had shown disrespect to the head of all monks realised the show of force was not limited only to Chaeng Wattana.

The swipe most likely referred to Phra Buddha Issara, the abbot of Wat Or Noi and co-leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) who led anti-government protests in 2013-14 on Chaeng Wattana Road.

Fourth, they vowed to protect Buddhism from threats to its security and faith.

Supreme patriarch nominee Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn (photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

ACTING SUPREME PATRIARCH: STRONG TIES TO WAT DHAMMAKAYA

The participants were supporters of Somdet Chuang, whose full title is Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn, the abbot of Wat Pak Nam Phasi Charoen.

He is also acting Supreme Patriarch and chairman of the Sangha Supreme Council (SSC).

The 90-year-old monk was in January last year nominated by the Sangha Supreme Council (SSC) as the new supreme patriarch.

The council acted by the Sangha law, which provides it nominate the monk with the highest title as the Supreme Patriarch and the cabinet would then submit the name to His Majesty the King for endorsement.

CREDIT UNION EMBEZZLEMENT CASE: WAT DHAMMAKAYA INVOLVEMENT

Somdet Chuang, however, is viewed as having close ties with Wat Dhammakaya, as he was the preceptor of Phra Dhammachayo, the abbot of Wat Dhammakaya.

Phra Dhammachayo and his temple have been mired in a scandal involving donations to his temple by the head of a failed credit union, who had allegedly embezzled funds from credit union.

[Note: For more background on the case see: 1. Wat Dhammakaya's rise to power here, 2. Supreme patriarch appointment: Wat Dhammakaya or not? here 3. DSI: Dhammakaya spent stolen money on new branches here & 4. Phra Dhammachayo faces theft, money laundering charges here].

The SSC nomination has been challenged and the prime minister and the cabinet said they would not endorse the nomination so long as there are conflicts.

Phra Buddha Issara and former National Reform Council (NRC) member Paibul Nititawan have urged a probe into Wat Pak Nam's vintage luxury cars and questioned the interpretation of the Sangha law regarding the nomination (see today's breaking news here).