Monks To Fight To Stay In Forests

[george]

Monks to fight to stay in forests

RAYONG: -- Buddhist monks are preparing to rally against a Royal Forest Department (RFD) policy to drive 68 monasteries out of preserved forests, saying the policy discriminates against them while either giving leniency to or allowing hotels and resorts to illegally encroach on restricted lands.

Phra Khru Sumuh Suchin Paribunno, abbot of Thammasathit in Rayong province, said he believed the policy had hidden motives, and that a group of monks, mostly those practising meditation and dubbed 'jungle monks', would not join in a department meeting on August 27.

"How can they expect monks to accept an 'incorrect' policy against us? If meditating monks are not allowed to stay in the forests, where else can we live? The Buddhist meditation practice began before the department was founded. His Majesty the King has given his support for the monks to stay in the forests," he said.

A large number of monks will attend a meeting on August 11 at Wat Pa Ban Tad in Udon Thani, which is headed by highly-revered meditation master Laungta Maha Bua, to decide on how to respond to the RFD policy.

Phra Khru Watchara Thammajarn, abbot of Wat Pa Chaichumphol in Phetchabun, said most of the 68 monasteries were built before the policy was issued, and monks had always been granted approval to fell trees to build their living quarters. He said in most cases people who encroached on public lands or forests were government agencies or their officials, or financiers with connections to corrupt officials.

-- The Nation 2009-08-06

[rockyysdt]

Monks to fight to stay in forests

RAYONG: -- Buddhist monks are preparing to rally against a Royal Forest Department (RFD) policy to drive 68 monasteries out of preserved forests, saying the policy discriminates against them while either giving leniency to or allowing hotels and resorts to illegally encroach on restricted lands.

Phra Khru Sumuh Suchin Paribunno, abbot of Thammasathit in Rayong province, said he believed the policy had hidden motives, and that a group of monks, mostly those practising meditation and dubbed 'jungle monks', would not join in a department meeting on August 27.

Phra Khru Watchara Thammajarn, abbot of Wat Pa Chaichumphol in Phetchabun, said most of the 68 monasteries were built before the policy was issued, and monks had always been granted approval to fell trees to build their living quarters. He said in most cases people who encroached on public lands or forests were government agencies or their officials, or financiers with connections to corrupt officials.

-- The Nation 2009-08-06

Provided the monks observe guidelines designed to protect the environment they should be allowed to continue in preserved forests.

If officials belonging to and or controlling the Royal Forest Department have hidden motives involving corruption then I suspect the khamma they accumulate from their actions will cause them to suffer considerably for many lifetimes.

If only they knew.