DSI and ombudsman's office asked to probe Sangha Supreme Council’s conduct



BANGKOK: -- A petition will be submitted to the Department of Special Investigation and the office of ombudsman next week demanding a probe into the conduct of the Sangha Supreme Council and the Office of National Buddhism for their refusal to defrock Phra Dhammachayo, abbot of Wat Dhammakaya as commanded by the late Supreme Patriach.

Mr Paiboon Nititawan, former member of the National Reform Council, said Thursday he found the conduct of the Sangha Supreme Council and the Office of National Buddhism amounting to dereliction of duty in accordance with Section 157 of the Criminal Court.

Both the council and the Buddhism office met on Wednesday to consider a request from the DSI that they should abide by the late Supreme Patriach’s command calling for the defrocking of the controversial monk.

After two hours of meeting, they resolved that the embezzlement case against Phra Dhammachayo was already finalized and there was no need for him to be defrocked.

Mr Paiboon said he wanted the DSI and the ombudsman to consider consider Phra Dhammachayo’s case to determine whether the resolution of the Sangha Supreme Council not to defrock the monk was legally right or not.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/150555


-- Thai PBS 2016-02-12

DSI chief says he has to accept Sangha Supreme Council’s decision



BANGKOK: -- Department of Special Investigation chief Pol Col Paisit Wongmuang said Thursday that he had to accept the decision of the Sangha Supreme Council and the Office of National Buddhism regarding Phra Dhammachayo because the two organizations are directly responsible for monastic affairs.

However, he said that whether the decision would be acceptable to the media and the public is a separate matter and both the sangha council and the Buddhism office would be held accountable for its decision-making.

The DSI chief pointed out that anyone who has doubt about the decision and believe that the two monastic bodies have defied Section 157 of the Criminal Code, they can take the case to the National Anti-Corriuption Commission.

Justice Minister Paiboon Kumchaya, meanwhile, maintained that monastic affairs are not the responsibility of the DSI but if there is a petition for the DSI to consider monastic affairs, it will just pass on the matter to relevant agencies for consideration.

Regarding Phra Dhammachayo’s case, the minister said that if anyone is not happy with the sangha council’s decision, he/she can take up the case to authorities concerned as wished.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/150562


-- Thai PBS 2016-02-12

The acting Supreme Patriarch is a staunch supporter of Phra Dhammachayo, nothing is going to happen. You can take that to the bank. Oh wait.. they already did.