Bangkok: The Royal Thai Police have initiated a significant move to address misconduct within the Buddhist monastic community by establishing the 'Center for the Preservation of Buddhism and Promotion of the Dhamma-Vinaya.' This center aims to tackle the misconduct of monks and restore faith in the religion by receiving and investigating complaints regarding violations of monastic discipline and other related issues.
According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Commander of the Central Investigation Bureau, Pol. Maj. Gen. Charoonkiat Pankaew chaired a crucial meeting that lasted over two hours to lay down the guidelines for this newly established center. The center, which is equipped with a dedicated telephone line and a Facebook page for lodging complaints, has already seen a surge in reported cases. Plans are underway to increase the number of communication lines to handle the influx of information more efficiently.
The center's primary mission is to serve as a centralized hub for collecting data on monastic discipline violations and other activities that could harm the Buddhist faith. While there is no definitive decision on making the center a permanent fixture, its establishment is seen as a crucial step in addressing issues within the Sangha more seriously.
Collaborative efforts with the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) are on the agenda, although previous interactions have been described as slow and inefficient. Pol. Col. Charoonkiat expressed concerns over the NOB's tendency to conceal issues, which has necessitated a more integrated approach with law enforcement agencies to ensure effective action.
Pol. Col. Charoonkiat emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating that the aim is not to allow issues within Buddhism to fester. While the police can gather evidence and forward it to the Office of Buddhism, the final authority to expel monks rests with the latter. The police have also requested the NOB to compile records of all monks using their national ID numbers to monitor for any misconduct.
The center is also tasked with revisiting previously dismissed cases to ensure thorough investigations. Recent complaints have highlighted misconduct among senior monks, unrelated to the current high-profile case involving Ms. Golf, which is under active investigation.
In the controversial case concerning the abbot of Wat Prayurawongsawas, Pol. Col. Charoenkiat noted that despite some officers downplaying the severity of the misconduct, there is substantial evidence of inappropriate behavior, including financial irregularities connected to a laywoman and testimony from witnesses.
The case against Ms. Golf is also being expanded to trace financial transactions linked to temple funds. The police are gathering statements from monks involved, including those who have left the monastic order, to understand the extent of the blackmail and financial exploitation.
Further investigations are ongoing, with officials set to visit Wat Mahathat in Phitsanulok and a Buddhist college to gather more evidence. This effort represents a significant step by Thai authorities to preserve the sanctity of Buddhism and address corruption within its ranks.