More than 400 angry residents staged a protest at a well-known Buddhist temple in Ubon Ratchathani on Sunday to demand that the abbot be expelled within 24 hours for allegedly embezzling cash donations.
Hundreds of residents stage a protest to demand the abbot of Wat Phra Tor in Ubon Ratchathani be expelled for allegedly embezzling the temple's money on Jan 18. (Photo by Dusit Singkhiri)
The protesting villagers came from from Na Tan, Pho Sai and Khemarat districts of this northeastern province and converged on the compound of Wat Paksaeng, known as Wat Phra Tor, where an ancient Buddha statue is enshrined.
They accused Phra Khru Phutthavarathikul, abbot of the temple and also Na Tan district monk chief, of embezzling temple money and demanded he leave the temple within 24 hours.
Samroeng Ruapsuay, a retired teacher and protest leader, said the temple drew in about 10 million baht in donations annually. He said the abbot had allegedly withdrawn money from the temple’s accounts for personal use without notifying the temple’s committee and local residents.
He also alleged the abbot had produced many Buddha amulets for sale to Buddhists paying respects to the ancient Buddha statue. The monk was also accused of ordering the felling of several teak trees in the temple compound to give the logs to a close female follower to build a resort. The abbot allegedly made remarks insulting poor residents as well, Mr Samroeng said,
The protest group urged the National Office of Buddhism to investigate the temple’s expenditure.
Na Tan district chief Anirut Dansirawanit and representatives from the provincial Buddhism office held talks with the protesters.
Mr Anirut promised to forward their demands to the provincial chief monk to decide the fate of the abbot. Approval from the governor will be sought to order a probe into the temple’s spending, he said.
Phra Khru Phutthavarathikul denied any involvement in alleged embezzlement. The abbot said the protest was instigated by those who had lost benefits at the temple.
He insisted the allegations were untrue and was ready to be investigated.