Temple row intensifies in tit-for-tat property battle

Temple row intensifies in tit-for-tat property battle

The Kalayanamit temple's conflict with the local community has intensified, with the temple successfully booting out another tenant.

The unlucky tenant was Chaiyasit Kittiwanitchapant, a community leader who has spearheaded a fight to save temple heritage which has been largely bulldozed by the temple abbot, Phra Phrom Chedi.

The Wat Kalaya conflict dates back to 2003 when the abbot took charge at this temple in Thon Buri.

He started to demolish old buildings on the temple grounds, many cultural heritage items, and replace them with new structures.

The blatant act frustrated the community dwellers, who alerted the Fine Arts Department which tried to intervene.

As it failed to convince the monk those buildings must be preserved, the department took a case to court and won.

But more than 22 items were torn down while the court case was pending. Among them was a stupa dedicated to the wife of King Rama V, Chao Chom Manda Chaem, and ancestors of the Prawitra family, who have royal lineage from King Rama V. 

After the Fine Arts Department stepped in, the abbot started to get tough with the community. He scrapped all rental contracts in 2006 and took a case to court, which issued a court order leading to yesterday's demolition effort.

"He is unhappy as we get in his way. But we want to keep those buildings. They are national heritage items," the community leader said.

The temple's demolition of another building yesterday is seen as an act of revenge by the abbot after he lost his case against the department, which last month flattened three new buildings that were constructed on the monk's orders.

Now the community lives in a climate of apprehension.

No one knows whose house might be next.

Even though the community's roots can be traced back generations, the law is not on its side.

Under Thai law, the temple is a legal entity that has full rights over its property.

Ancestral rights do not apply on temple land. 

By law, the tenants are illegal dwellers. 

The court-backed eviction threat has caused dozens of dwellers to pack and leave over the years. Only 48 families struggle on, seemingly without hope.

One tenant has challenged the the temple's ownership claim.

"Historical records show that Chao Chom Manda Chaem purchased the land, totalling 22 rai, that houses the community and rented it to dwellers, with the hope the rent would support the temple," the tenant said, asking that he not be named.

But later, her great grandchildren gave all the land to the temple. "But Chao Chom Manda's wish was clear, that dwellers could live on the land and support the temple," he said.

The tenant said the temple has cut off ties with the community.

"The abbot just wears a saffron robe. What he is doing is cruel. With that kind of heart, he's not a monk, in our opinion. Monks must show compassion to people," he said.

Local conservationists also challenged the temple's claim it was clearing the land to pave the way for a history learning centre.

They said the community itself can be a learning centre for those wishing to absorb community traditions.

It is home to a Thon Buri music conservatory, Ban Phattayakosol, which was famous in the reigns of King Rama 5 to King Rama 7.

The worn-out houses can be renovated to restore their appeal, they say.

One conservationist, Sudara Sudchaya of the Lek Prapai Viriyaphan foundation, said the community has a long history and potential to be developed under cultural tourism.

"Kallaya community is known as a place where the breeding of pla khem mor (a kind of fighting fish, called wrestling halfbeak or Malayan halfbeak) is preserved," she said.

She said this species of fish is an indigenous creature in Thon Buri-style orchard waterways. A traditional Thai dessert shop of the Wat Kallaya community is also well-known, she said.

"The community has tried to improve itself to accommodate cultural tourism,'' said the conservationist.

Ms Sudara said it's unfortunate the temple-community conflict has escalated to a confrontation. "In our tradition, temple and community cannot be separated. It's our old ways," she said.

With the house demolition incident, reconciliation seems impossible. It's interesting that as the conflicts drag on, we have not heard a single word from the Sangha Council, nor the National Office of Buddhism.

The Sangha Council has a duty to oversee monks' behaviour. Yet it has not uttered a word, even when a senior monk such as this abbot breaches conservation law, or fights with his community.

How can it allow one temple to act in such a way that erodes people's faith in monks and Buddhism?


Ploenpote Atthakor is Deputy Editorial Pages Editor, Bangkok Post.

Ploenpote Atthakor

Former editorial page Editor

Ploenpote Atthakor is former editorial pages editor, Bangkok Post.

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