New bill only tightens clergy's grip on power

Sanitsuda Ekachai

After turning a blind eye to the nuns' lack of religious status and support for a long time, why has the clergy all of a sudden begun to show its concern? Is it out of compassion? Or is it part of the clergy's scheme to abort the emergence of Bhikkhuni, the female equivalent of Buddhist monks, in Thailand?

Deceptively called the Support and Protection for Buddhism Bill, it is actually the clergy's effort to protect itself from perceived threats: public criticism, new religious groups and Bhikkhuni ordination.

Continued at Bangkok Post.

Read it soon because Post articles disappear after a couple of days and were not allowed to post more than two paras.

Wow, this is a bit much:

those perceived to be distorting Buddhist teachings will be liable to jail terms of 10-25 years and/or fines of 500,000-1,000,000 baht.

. Distort by whose definition? The Sangha? Also those who imitate the Buddha's teachings. What do they mean by that?

offending a monk gets you a 100,000-500,000 fine--offend in what way? By calling out a monk who has a driver and a mercedes?

This one is quite offensive in my eyes as well:

The same punishment will be meted out to those who have sexual affairs with monks, novices and nuns. Interestingly, there is no mention of legal punishment for the monastic party, even though it takes two to tango. ........

And the Nuns won't even be autonomous according to this article.

Not a good bill, IMO, and bound to inflame sentiments against corrupt monks even further.