Illegal Occupiers Of Temple To Be Evicted

[sbk]

llegal occupiers of temple to be evicted

World Heritage status under threat

State authorities have moved in to take action and evict settlers encroaching on the grounds of an ancient and deserted temple in Ayutthaya province. The Fine Arts Department has laid charges accusing three groups of people of encroaching on the premises of Wat Worachet temple in tambon Ban Pom in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district and using areas in and around the temple for holding superstitious rituals to benefit them financially. These occupiers came to the temple over five years ago.

They are a group of monks led by Phra Maha Singthon, a group of nuns, and a group of mediums who claim to have supernatural powers. Phra Maha Singthon claimed the ancient temple was built in commemoration of King Naresuan the Great during the Ayutthaya Period.

Continued at the Bangkok Post:

www.bangkokpost.com/News/27Jan2008_news07.php