A sustained rally by about 50 Nakhon Ratchasima villagers prompted police in Phimai district to release a monk arrested early today for illegal wood possession.
Phra Samroeng
Police in Udomsap sub-district detained Phra Samroeng Chanthathammo, 45, from his 800-rai monastery in the Thap Lan National Park in Wang Nam Khieo district while he was sawing wood to build new monk rooms there. Police seized 64 planks of protected timber.
Phra Samroeng said that villagers had invited him to stay at the monastery in 2009 and he and villagers were building more quarters for monks, as there were only one pavilion and four monks' rooms. He said villagers had brought him the planks.
Before police could took him to be disrobed Thursday morning, about 50 villagers gathered to protest at the Udomsap police station. Two hours later, police agreed to release him and the rally ended.
A police inspector said the temporary release was intended to relieve tension with villagers and the monk denied all charges. Police took the legal action in response to a complaint from officials at the national park and interrogation would resume later.