Thailand's Buddhism chief removed after pressure from religious groups

By Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Aukkarapon Niyomyat

 

Thailand's head of the National Office for Buddhism Pongporn Pramsaneh, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Bangkok,Thailand June 15, 2017. REUTERS/Patpicha Tanakasempipat/Files

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's junta has removed the head of the national Buddhism office, the prime minister said on Tuesday, after religious groups called on the government to sack him over his plans to clean up scandal-hit monasteries.

 

But Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said it wasn't a punishment.

 

Pongporn Pramsaneh, who joined the National Office of Buddhism in February, had vowed to reform Thailand's more than 40,000 temples by forcing them to open their finances to the public. They take billions of dollars in donations every year.

 

The former policeman was appointed amid a standoff between security forces and the influential Dhammakaya temple in February. Authorities wanted to question the temple's chief abbot on money-laundering charges.

 

Pongporn will now move to a lower profile post of inspector-general in Prayuth's office.

 

"He has got some of the jobs done. He came in to solve temple issues," Prayuth told reporters. "I'll now bring him close to me, to help me work on religious reform... This is not a punishment."

 

Pongporn told Reuters: "I have done my duties to the best of my ability."

 

Buddhism is one of the three traditional pillars of Thai society alongside the nation and monarchy. It has largely eluded the junta's control as it has stamped its authority on other aspects of Thai life since a 2014 coup.

 

The National Office of Buddhism is responsible for state administration of the religion followed by 90 percent of Thailand's 67 million people, but religious affairs are handled by a Sangha Supreme Council of elderly monks.

Despite high-profile temple scandals over murder, drugs and sex as well as improper financial dealings, Pongporn's call for change had jarred on some monks.

 

A group called the Thailand Buddhists Federation submitted a petition to the prime minister's office this month, calling for Pongporn to be removed to "prevent further damage to monks".

 

"He painted monks as villains in Thai people's eyes," the group's secretary-general, Korn Meedee, said in a statement on Facebook.

 

In July, another Buddhist group had called for Pongporn's removal, saying he had damaged the Buddhist institution.

 

Phra Buddha Issara, a firebrand monk who called for reform of Buddhism, said the junta gave in to pressure too easily given government promises to fight corruption.

 

"Are they still serious about tackling corruption or are they only moving against certain people and groups?" he said, adding that when it came to monks: "No one can touch them."

 

Reuters reported exclusively in March that the junta was drafting a law which would significantly weaken the Sangha Council. The draft is expected to be brought to parliament this year.

 

Thai security forces besieged the Dhammakaya Temple in February to try to catch its former abbot, wanted for questioning on money laundering. But police failed to catch him and he is still on the run.

 

(Reporting by Aukkarapon Niyomyat, Panarat Thepgumpanat Panu Wongcha-um, and Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Writing by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Editing by Matthew Tostevin)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-08-30

Quote

"He painted monks as villains in Thai people's eyes," the group's secretary-general, Korn Meedee, said in a statement on Facebook.

No, I think you will find the monks have been painting that picture for decades, and it is a masterpiece.

He painted monks as villains, well he was 100% correct.

So why sack him for speaking the truth.

5 minutes ago, colinneil said:

He painted monks as villains, well he was 100% correct.

So why sack him for speaking the truth.

 

Because he was speaking the truth    

 

What if the mega churches, mosques, etc. were required to open their books back in your home country?

Edited August 29, 20178 yr by 4evermaat

Good move to remove this guy. I don't wanna be donating money and investing in my next life with a bunch of monks who've been exposed as crooks. 

 

I'd rather invest and not know they're bad. This way Buddha will have to reward me in my next life 'cos I didn't know they were bad people. 

 

Right, I'm off to give a monk some food and pray with him. Got a good feeling about my lottery numbers this week. 

42 minutes ago, webfact said:

Pongporn Pramsaneh, who joined the National Office of Buddhism in February, had vowed to reform Thailand's more than 40,000 temples by forcing them to open their finances to the public. They take billions of dollars in donations every year.

 

I am always wary of a state agency getting too involved in religion, especially where it is one of 'the three pillars'. Thai governments already have too much power.

 

However, I think it is a VERY good idea that temples open their books. We already have many stories of suspicious financial dealings, and a little bit of sunshine will almost certainly provide more.

 

MANY more.

 

50 minutes ago, webfact said:

Buddhism is one of the three traditional pillars of Thai society alongside the nation and monarchy. It has largely eluded the junta's control as it has stamped its authority on other aspects of Thai life since a 2014 coup.

What about the shadow economy, surely that deserves pillar status?

Wonder if it's another position for a faithfull general ?

Edited August 30, 20178 yr by tracker1

1 hour ago, 4evermaat said:

 

Because he was speaking the truth    

 

What if the mega churches, mosques, etc. were required to open their books back in your home country?

At least in my country they do have to open their books, pay taxes on "commercial activities" and register as a Charity to exempt adherent income... ...

Karma

Corruption in Thailand can never be stopped and that includes within the Buddhist monasteries throughout the country. That is not difficult to understand but why is he not allow to clean up those monasteries that provide refuge for saffron robed criminals, sexual deviants, drunks and druggies. 

 religious groups called on the government to sack him over his plans to clean up scandal-hit monasteries.

 

clean up scandal hit monasteries - that is very naughty of him. 

Of course he has to be sacked.

He wants to do his duty and the government listens to them.  

 

Next time police are sacked because they want to arrest criminals 

TIT

2 hours ago, 4evermaat said:

 

Because he was speaking the truth    

 

What if the mega churches, mosques, etc. were required to open their books back in your home country?

They should be

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

I am always wary of a state agency getting too involved in religion, especially where it is one of 'the three pillars'. Thai governments already have too much power.

What I'm wary of is religion getting too involved in politics!

 

Religion already has too much power!

 

I think he have to transfer him because of too much pressure  from the higher up untouchables.

Then to apply pressure later on them.

2 hours ago, 4evermaat said:

 

Because he was speaking the truth    

 

What if the mega churches, mosques, etc. were required to open their books back in your home country?

Bloody good idea I call it. 

The most easy and no taxable earning is religious donations and then fly with private jet or have secret mistresses or do anything you want as long as you have that yellowish robe on you .

Doing your job gets you sacked, I guess the cops who do nothing have it right

the monks were sh*t scared their corrupt practices would be put on display for all to see and they could no longer get their cut of the profits, all those that complained should be investigated for corruption. This has not given the temples a bad name the monks have done that themselves with all the corruption they are involved in, really have to wonder why they removed him, what are they really worried about 

4 hours ago, Moonlover said:

What I'm wary of is religion getting too involved in politics!

 

Religion already has too much power!

 

being 'untouchable' will, most definitely, corrupt

Just another example that the present government doesn't give a hoot about tackling corruption, unless it serves to remove their (perceived) political foes. 

9 hours ago, 4evermaat said:

 

Because he was speaking the truth    

 

What if the mega churches, mosques, etc. were required to open their books back in your home country?

 

They are.

 

With regard to religious power, wealth, immunity and the abuse thereof, Thailand is the equivalent of pre-reformation Europe.

 

Pre-reformation Religion, 17th century politics, Feudal society/class system.......that's where you are.