Thai Monk Causes Uproar With Corporate Ads

Thai monk causes uproar with corporate ads in temple

BANGKOK: -- A Thai Buddhist monk agreed to strip corporate sponsorship logos from his famous Bangkok temple on Monday after the brash advertisements caused an uproar in the deeply religious kingdom.

Thai television showed images of monks holding large ceremonial fans bearing advertisements for the "MK" restaurant chain and the BTS mass transit system, as well as prominent sponsorship signs above rows of golden Buddha statues.

The head monk of Samiennaree temple, Prakru Uthaithamarat, said the advertisements were merely a sign of gratitude after 1.0 million baht (US$24,600) of corporate money was pumped into a new pavilion for the temple, but agreed to bow to popular opinion and remove them.

"It does not violate any Buddhist rules but if Buddhists say it is inappropriate, I will change it," he said.

The use of logos on monk's ceremonial fans, which usually carry reflective passages on the nature of death during traditional Thai funerals, drew particularly harsh criticism.

A furious Thai woman who attended a funeral at the temple told the Thai Post newspaper that whenever she looked up for words of comfort she instead saw a sign enticing her to eat at "MK".

-- AFP 2004-06-21