Wat Suan Kaeo Temple and Landowners Settle Decade-Long Dispute

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The tussle over land ownership between Wat Suan Kaeo, a temple in Nonthaburi, Thailand, and the descendants of the original landowners has finally been resolved. Reaching a conclusion after two arduous decades, this legal battle drew much public interest due to the high stakes and massive involvement of funds in this case.

 

Wat Suan Kaeo's abbot, Phra Phayom Kalayano, alongside lawyer Anantachai, head of the Dharmongkol Foundation, announced the resolution yesterday. The dispute, which stretched over 20 years, arose when the temple lost its right to a plot of land it had purchased legally following claims from the original owners' heirs.

 

Interest was drawn towards this case due to the temple's approach for resolution, choosing negotiation rather than aggression. Anantachai revealed that the land was purchased using funds donated by monks and the public. However, the temple lost the court battle when the land was claimed as inheritance by the heirs of the original landowners, resulting in an order to vacate the premises by 2022.

 

The judgment also required Wat Suan Kaeo to dismantle all structures on the land and fork out 1.9 million baht in damages, which sparked concern given the temple's currently limited funds. However, as part of the amicable settlement plan, the Hirunpradit family, the heirs, agreed to dissolution.

 

 

Despite the financial strain, the abbot announced a Kathin Fundraiser which will raise money to cover the debt. Any surplus funds would be used to repurchase the land with the aim of fulfilling the original dream of developing a botanical garden.

 

The abbot further expressed gratitude for the peaceful resolution and thanked everyone involved - temple patrons, the land department, the Hirunpradit family and especially lawyer Anantachai. The end of the long-standing dispute allowed all parties to move forward, leaving no lingering unrest.

 

For those willing to assist financially, Wat Suan Kaeo Temple has opened a savings account in Krung Thai Bank under the number 121-1-18038-7. These donations aim to help maintain the temple's legacy and preserve the sanctity of the generous contributions originally used to purchase the land.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-11-14