After completing his daily alms one morning in 2014, Phra Yo Kanhawlang went back to the monastery to find a letter offering 200,000 baht in exchange for leaving the forest. The monk was instructed to leave a reply in writing if he was to accept the anonymous offer.
When he refused, a second letter was sent a year later, this time increasing the offer to 500,000 baht.
"They want to cut down the trees," said the 39-year-old monk, who arrived in the northeastern province of Udon Thani in late 2011 on the invitation of a former village chief. "Had I not been here, imagine what would be left."
Scores of rubber trees dominate the 80-rai forest next to the monastery, where Phra Yo is the sole inhabitant after another monk left last month due to pressure over illegal logging of the trees.
Phra Yo initiated two tree ordination ceremonies in 2012 and a third last year, where villagers tie orange clerical robes around the trees in an attempt to save the forest from logging. Despite the practice, Phra Yo estimates that dozens of the Dipterocarpus alatus trees (commonly known as yang na in Thai) -- a protected timber species which is highly valued in the construction industry -- have already been cut down.
And then came the threats. The first face-to-face encounter was in December last year, when three men arrived on two motorcycles, hurling insults and threatening Phra Yo to leave the forest. One of them was the current village chief of Ban Kha Moo 6 -- a small village of 700 residents in the outskirts of Phen district -- according to mobile phone footage taken by Phra Yo and seen by Spectrum. Phra Yo identified the other two men as the village chief's assistant and a member of the tambon administrative organisation.
In the most recent dispute last month, 30 residents gathered at the monastery in an attempt to force Phra Yo out of the community. While questioning his role as the forest guardian, they are frustrated that his interference has interrupted their way of life -- from collecting food to cutting down trees for funeral rites.
The conflict has sparked a fierce dispute involving religion, traditional beliefs and local politics between Phra Yo and the chief of Ban Kha village, who is now the subject of a district-level investigation.
INTIMIDATORY TACTICS
Phra Yo has been a controversial figure since his arrival in the community in late 2011 from Loei province.
The tree ordination ceremonies he initiated in January 2012 attracted more people from the nearby province of Nong Khai than residents of Ban Kha, some of whom live within walking distance of the monastery.
"The residents of Ban Kha are too scared; they are afraid of the influential figures," said Phra Yo.
HOLED UP: A hole in the trunk of a yang na tree that locals burn in order to extract resin. Phra Yo has prohibited locals from tapping resin, which has incited widespread upset in the village. Photos: Nanchanok Wongsamuth
The ceremony, as well as the scholarships that he provided to local students, were probably the only activities that gave him some connection with the community. But his lack of participation in other local affairs, such as declining invitations to blessing ceremonies and funeral rites, caused him to become isolated from the residents. "It's easy to get people to respect you. Just give them lottery numbers or tell them their horoscope," said Phra Yo. "But it's annoying to talk to a lot of people."
Eventually, locals stopped giving him alms, and Phra Yo was forced to perform his weekly rounds in Nong Khai instead.
Phra Yo has played an active role in protecting the forest, where he spends most of his time surveying and cutting down vines that grow on trees. Early last year, Phra Yo informed local authorities when he saw a man cutting down three yang na rubber trees. It was unclear whether the trees were located on public property, and further investigation by forest and land officials determined that the trees were located on private property. Still, yang na trees are a restricted species and have the same protected status as teak and rosewood. Permission is needed to cut the trees down, even on private property.
In another instance, he informed authorities when he saw eucalyptus trees being cut down, which angered the village chief.
Phra Yo received a series of threats following the encounter with the local administrative officers last year. He claimed that he was the target of four shooting attempts and six of his dogs died after being poisoned. One of the dogs was shot in the leg. In January, the wires connected to the monastery's electricity meter were removed, and the meter was later stolen.
COMMUNITY OPPOSITION
On June 21, around 30 Ban Kha village residents, including village chief Kongmi Yatan, gathered at the monastery to force Phra Yo to leave the area. They were joined by several local authorities who acted as mediators. The locals argued that Phra Yo's tree pots were obstructing access to the morgue, and that he would not allow them to cut down trees for funeral rites.
For centuries, locals have used the forest for funeral purposes. The corpse is traditionally carried to the morgue, where funeral rites are performed. The body remains at the morgue for a day or two before being cremated in the forest.
Three days later, Mr Kongmi submitted a letter to the Phen district chief explaining why locals opposed Phra Yo and urged him to visit the community to listen to their grievances. By then, higher-up local officials had heard about the dispute on Phra Yo's Facebook page where he accused Mr Kongmi of allowing yang na trees to be cut down.
Rubber species including yang na are protected under the Forest Act, and permission must be obtained for logging. The military-led National Council for Peace and Order last year announced an amendment to the Forest Act to include 15 additional species, including rosewood, as well as stricter prison terms and heavier fines for those convicted of breaching the law.
"I have been receiving complaints on a daily basis from locals, some who say they were prohibited from collecting mushrooms in the forest," Mr Kongmi told Spectrum at his house. "Our ancestors have made a living here for ages. The forest belongs to Ban Kha."
Mr Kongmi denied accusations that he was involved in cutting down yang na trees, saying that "the whole district knows that Phra Yo is making false accusations".
"He says he is protecting the forest, but it's not the duty of monks. It's the duty of forestry officials," said Mr Kongmi. "Monks have a duty to follow Buddhist precepts, receive alms and participate in religious activities."
Phra Yo, however, has played down the village opposition, claiming that Mr Kongmi is using this as an excuse to force him out, while ignoring the whole issue of illegal logging. He said several locals are reluctant to show their support due to pressure from Mr Kongmi.
"I'm not leaving," said Phra Yo. "I didn't do anything wrong."
Udon Thani's forestry department would not confirm whether they received reports of yang timber being cut down, but said the trees that the locals use for funeral rites are not restricted species and were not of a large size.
In April, the Phen district office issued an announcement warning locals not to encroach on forest land or cut down trees -- even for funeral purposes -- without asking for permission. Otherwise, they would face punishment under three separate laws.
OPERATING UNDER SUSPICION
Residents of Ban Kha told Spectrum they were frustrated that Phra Yo would not allow them to cut down trees for funeral purposes. The community still holds on to traditional beliefs regarding the management of dead bodies, although some restrictions have eased over time. In the past, for instance, corpses would be carried on foot to the forest morgue, but now they are transported in vehicles.
While many locals agree that a pyre should be constructed for cremation purposes, the practice is frowned upon by the spirit medium, who claims it brings misfortune and death.
Locals told Spectrum that permission to cut down trees must be sought from the medium -- who is Mr Kongmi's elder brother and a member of the tambon administrative organisation -- along with a cash offering.
The belief started in 1984, when a large tree fell over and locals agreed to use it as part of the town hall construction. Over the next four years, more than 20 villagers died, said Mr Kongmi. Residents then appointed a person as a medium, who claimed that the act was a punishment for angering forest spirits.
"Locals believe that if a pyre is constructed, more people will die," said Mr Kongmi, adding that constructing one would cost over 400,000 baht, which is more than the village can afford.
He defended the village practice of cutting down trees for funeral purposes, saying only two to three trees are cut down each time, and locals only choose decaying trees.
DISTRICT INVESTIGATION
Mr Kongmi is currently the subject of an investigation by the Phen district office, which started looking into the dispute in 2012 under Narongdet Khamphoonork, deputy district chief of security affairs.
While he sees Phra Yo as an honest monk dedicated to protecting the forest, Mr Narongdet admitted Phra Yo's frankness and reluctance to participate in local religious activities had hindered attempts to reconcile with Ban Kha residents.
Although he says there is no evidence to back up Phra Yo's claims that Mr Kongmi is involved in illegal logging, Mr Narongdet has responded to several of Phra Yo's complaints.
He also helped prevent the cutting down of eucalyptus trees that Ban Kha residents agreed to sell for 5,000 baht in order to pay for water and electricity bills.
Although the trees were planted by the residents, they are located on public property and cutting them down in large amounts is illegal, Mr Narongdet told the locals at the time.
"I told him [Mr Kongmi] it is the duty of local administrators to look after public property and prosecute any wrongdoers," said Mr Narongdet. "I warned him that those who cut down the trees will be arrested. That angered him."
After the electricity meter at the monastery was removed, Mr Narongdet on Feb 3 asked a court for a warrant to search Mr Kongmi's property on suspicion the meter might have been kept there.
"We were acting on tips that he is an influential figure and is involved in drugs," said Mr Narongdet.
The move followed the delivery of an anonymous letter to the district office on Jan 11 from a Ban Kha resident, urging authorities to investigate Mr Kongmi for abuse of authority.
The complainant accused Mr Kongmi of being an "influential figure who is unusually rich", citing his involvement in drugs and illegal logging.
"Mr Kongmi has several visitors arriving in cars in the middle of the night," said the letter seen by Spectrum. "Residents don't dare do anything."
The court turned down Mr Narongdet's request, citing a lack of evidence. But the deputy district chief is not giving up so soon.
"We are doing everything we can to make him [Mr Kongmi] leave his position," he said.
THE LONE FOREST RANGER: Phra Yo is the only remaining monk at his Udon Thani monastery and an isolated figure in his larger local community. Photos: Nanchanok Wongsamuth
THE MEDIATOR: Deputy district chief Narongdet Khamphoonork, left, strives to settle the conflict between the village chief and Phra Yo.
THE LOCAL LEADER: Kongmi Yatan, village chief of Ban Kha Moo 6, has led the push to oust Phra Yo from the community for interrupting local customs.
TREE-HUGGING: Phra Yo, above, and the writer, below, with one of the 'yang na' trees wrapped in clerical robes, symbolising protection from loggers.