Bad monks beware -- Thailand launches behaviour hotline

[Lite Beer]

Bad monks beware -- Thailand launches behaviour hotline

BANGKOK, June 18, 2014 (AFP) - Misbehaving monks face censure after Thai religious authorities said they had launched a 24-hour hotline for the public to report unruly acts by Buddhist bad boys.

The move follows a cascade of high-profile scandals ranging from reports of monks taking drugs and drinking, to a case in May of five defrocked abbots charged with sexually abusing boys.

The National Office of Buddhism (NOB) said the idea for a hotline emerged after Thailand's coup-making General Prayut Chan-O-Cha expressed concern over the image of Buddhism, a religion that counts an estimated 95 percent of its 67 million population as devotees.

"We have already set up a hotline to receive complaints from people if they see anything that endangers our religion," the office's Napparat Benjawattananant told AFP on Wednesday.

"People can file a complaint if they see monks are involved in irreligious things. For example if they see fake monks collecting donations," he added.

The office said there are around 270,000 monks across the country, which counts religion as one of its key pillars.

"We don't have enough staff to check every monk so we need to mobilise the general public," he said, adding officials will take action immediately after receiving complaints.
A slew of scandals involving monks has tarnished the clergy's image in recent months.

Last September, authorities seized nearly $800,000 worth of assets, including a Porsche and a Mercedes-Benz, from a monk who was defrocked for a controversial trip in a private jet and who was also accused of fathering a child by an underage girl a decade earlier.

"There have been a lot of cases regarding bad behaviour related to monks, so we just want to fix this problem," said Thai junta spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-06-18

[kurnell]

Also need one for politicians, taxi drivers, business owners, police, in fact everyone

[UbonRatch]

Oh! Dear!

Thailand the hub of exposure is now a far cry from untruth.

This is going to be very damaging indeed.

Not the best way to go about this one... unfortunately, IMHO.

[trd]

Also need one for politicians, taxi drivers, business owners, police, in fact everyone

What about young children? No, better still, a hotline to report them when they are still in the womb!

[MaxLee]

"Bad monks beware -- Thailand launches behaviour hotline"

Extend it to Dubai, Laos and USA as well based on this year's special guest, if you know who I mean

[englishoak]

which counts religion as one of its key pillars.

In that case why is the place morals wise such a mess ?

Might have been a key pillar at one time, its not anymore.... now its money... THATS a key pillar here.... 2 or 3 pillars tbh.

[firefox999uk]

And the number of the hotline is ?????

Have a Nice Day

[55Jay]

Good.

About 5 months ago, I saw a fairly young guy dressed as a monk and a gang of about 8 guys and a beat up pick up truck, going house to house in my village in the afternoon, I presumed asking for money. The monk was out on the road, walking fast and giving orders like a squad leader. It looked strange to me.

Just so happened my BIL, who is a monk at a distant temple, was visiting us/parents at the house that day, sitting at the concrete picnic table in his robe. This group did not call up to us or come up the driveway, and kept on moving to other houses. I asked the wife what that was all about and she said they were dodgy and most likely, when they saw her brother sitting at the table, they didn't want to approach. I don't care for religion in the first place, but that pissed me off.

[Confuscious]

"Last September, authorities seized nearly $800,000 worth of assets, including a Porsche and a Mercedes-Benz, from a monk who was defrocked for a controversial trip in a private jet and who was also accused of fathering a child by an underage girl a decade earlier."

Was that monk not a key leader in the PDRC movement this year?
Still dressed as a monk and receiving lots of money?
As far as I remember, a hotel paid him also a lot of money because they refused to give him a room.

How can a defrocked monk, lead the PDRC movement for months in a monk habit?

Looks to me that this all a smoke screen to keep the people happy.

[UbonRatch]

Dhamma will catch them, as even in the West we say, "What goes around comes around."

[kurnell]

Also need one for politicians, taxi drivers, business owners, police, in fact everyone

What about young children? No, better still, a hotline to report them when they are still in the womb!

Got that right. Pets too. Dogs, cats, budgies...the lot

[Oscar2]

"...Buddhism, a religion that counts an estimated 95 percent of its 67 million population as devotees...."

i'm not so sure how accurate that is. i don't believe it is.

[Choonpon]

Is there a hotline for corrupted officials? This is more essential and urgent.

[ratcatcher]

"...Buddhism, a religion that counts an estimated 95 percent of its 67 million population as devotees...."

i'm not so sure how accurate that is. i don't believe it is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_Thailand

Buddhism in Thailand is largely of the Theravada school. Nearly 95% of Thailand's population is Buddhist of the Theravadaschool,

OK don't believe it.

[Basil B]

Also need one for politicians, taxi drivers, business owners, police, in fact everyone

There are many hot lines, maybe they will be told to answer the phone more often...

Edited June 18, 2014 by Basil B

[trd]

Also need one for politicians, taxi drivers, business owners, police, in fact everyone

What about young children? No, better still, a hotline to report them when they are still in the womb!

Got that right. Pets too. Dogs, cats, budgies...the lot

One of my cats has already given me a three finger paw, so is under close observation right now.

[stoneyboy]

And the number of the hotline is ?????

Have a Nice Day

The number is obviously 555 555 555 555

Good for a laugh.

[nidieunimaitre]

"...Buddhism, a religion that counts an estimated 95 percent of its 67 million population as devotees...."

i'm not so sure how accurate that is. i don't believe it is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_Thailand

Buddhism in Thailand is largely of the Theravada school. Nearly 95% of Thailand's population is Buddhist of the Theravadaschool,

OK don't believe it.

What % of the population is less then 6 years old?

Babies of the Theravada school, yeah right.

Statistics......

[nidieunimaitre]

Also need one for politicians, taxi drivers, business owners, police, in fact everyone

There are many hot lines, maybe they will be told to answer the phone more often...

We need a hot line to report hotlines that undertake no action when we contact them.

[moe666]

"Last September, authorities seized nearly $800,000 worth of assets, including a Porsche and a Mercedes-Benz, from a monk who was defrocked for a controversial trip in a private jet and who was also accused of fathering a child by an underage girl a decade earlier."

Was that monk not a key leader in the PDRC movement this year?

Still dressed as a monk and receiving lots of money?

As far as I remember, a hotel paid him also a lot of money because they refused to give him a room.

How can a defrocked monk, lead the PDRC movement for months in a monk habit?

Looks to me that this all a smoke screen to keep the people happy.

Why do not you find out about Google being your friend, not the same monks, as the bad one is in the states.

[DrTuner]

Here's an idea for a "hotline": create a smartphone app that records video, tags the gps location and automatically uploads to a government server in order to be investigated. Many Thais already have a phone capable of that.

[NongKhaiKid]

Hope they hired a lot of phone operators.

[farang000999]

The Junta is just announcing a new one of these every day. Let's see how they actually follow through. Thais are notorious for big talk and little action.

[noitom]

Now this is big news and reform - Going after bad monk behavior. And the generals are just the ones to determine what is bad behavior and good behavior. They are the last stop for righteousness. The buck stops with the generals of the Thai army.

[NongKhaiKid]

Also need one for politicians, taxi drivers, business owners, police, in fact everyone

There are many hot lines, maybe they will be told to answer the phone more often...

We need a hot line to report hotlines that undertake no action when we contact them.

Ever tried getting a response from an embassy's ' duty officer on a Friday afternoon ? Maybe their golf course is a mobile phone reception black spot.

[rhythmworx]

"Hello, is that NOB?"

"yes this is NOB how can we help you"

"I have just been sat in a bar on soi diana and some monks came along offering to bless me at 6AM in the morning, they tied bits of string round my wrist, at first I thought they was going to take me hostage. I couldn't offer alms like rice as I don't carry any around when I'm having a drink so I offered them to join me in a few glasses of Samsong and soda."

"We was having a good time when one of them pulled out his iPhone and shown me some of his previous barfines, they were pretty ladies, I thought he was a fake monk, so to make myself feeI secure I told him that I was a plain clothes monk and only here because I have been tracking down terrorists from other countries."

"He gracefully Wai'd to me and said he was on the same mission too and that we should go to soi 6, as that is where the ring leader resides, we went to soi 6 and I cant remember much after that, I think he drugged my drink and now I have a check bin for 20.000 baht have no money and cant find my trousers."

"don't worry Mr farang NOB will help you track him down and get your trousers back."

"What do I do in the mean time with this mamasan screaming at me with a broken bottle?"

"just tell her its OK mai bpen arai"

(the sound of a smash..............followed by silence)

"Hello this is NOB are you still there Mister?"

................................

Edited June 18, 2014 by rhythmworx

[NongKhaiKid]

"...Buddhism, a religion that counts an estimated 95 percent of its 67 million population as devotees...."

i'm not so sure how accurate that is. i don't believe it is.

I gave up on religion more decades ago than i care to remember but i do admire those who genuinely believe and don't ram it down other peoples' throats.

Many involved with all religions simply go through the motions for many reasons including pressure and expectation from family and peer groups and I see a lot of that here.

However, Buddhism is one of Thailand's mainstay institutions and I wonder how many Thais would dare to use the hotline to complain about a monk fearing an adverse response from family and friends or because they think it will not do any good since Buddhism is one of the country's ' untouchable ' pillars.

[JoeLing]

"...Buddhism, a religion that counts an estimated 95 percent of its 67 million population as devotees...."

i'm not so sure how accurate that is. i don't believe it is.

Believe it mate. It's fairly accurate, apart from that small spelling mistake:

Buddhism, Bath-ism, a religion that counts an estimated 95 percent of its 67 million population as devotees.

Edited June 19, 2014 by JoeLing

[kuifje]

Good they started this hotline. I hope many people will open there eyes about all the misbehavour of the monks which are created by the wrong way Buddism is practiced here.

But also educate all people who go to temples and donate to monks.

You already donate food, you can donate something for maintenance or upkeep of the temples, but keep it within normal amounts.

But monks are supposed not to have assets.

Please stop donate absurds amounts to the monks. If you donate 20-200 baht in envellope it should be more than enough.

Stop, stop, stop the amounts of 500, 1000 or more.

Realise a minimum salary is about 200-300 baht a day, A very good salary is about 1000-2000 baht a day.

So stop to donate 500 or 1000 baht to every monk is just not right..

You know, my 10 year old, said he will be a monk later in live, because they have alot of money.

Something is wrong here !!!

[BillyBobThai]

Here's an idea for a "hotline": create a smartphone app that records video, tags the gps location and automatically uploads to a government server in order to be investigated. Many Thais already have a phone capable of that.

Only a matter of time. The app will also have facial recognition software that will give you their name, address, and mothers maiden name.