UDON THANI - A group of men broke into a three-storey protestant Christian church in Nong Wua So district on Wednesday and vandalised it, in a dispute that apparently centres on local Buddhists’ resentment over the church’s growing influence in the area, the Daily News website reported.
Daily News photos
A number of villagers have reportedly converted to Christianity since the church was opened there three years ago.
Police quoted the church's caretaker, Yothin Yungpornsook, as saying that about 20 men, who claimed to be laymen from a Buddhist temple in the neighbourhood, stormed into the church and confined him to a bedroom on the first floor.
They then ransacked and vandalised the building.
Mr Yothin said one of the intruders was wearing a Buddhist monk's robe. The mob had taken the church’s crucifix away with them.
He said he tried to reason with them, but they would not listen.
Police investigators reported finding the church’s nameplate, tables, chairs, computers and other items scattered on the floor, the Daily News website said.
“The church signed a rental contract with Nittaya Napetch, the landlord, for 37,000 baht per year and the contract will expire in April next year,” Mr Yothion told police.
Many villagers had converted to Christianity since then, he said, because the church only gives to the people, and never asks for or collects money from them, not even a single baht.
"This may have upset the ransackers, who claimed to be laymen of a Buddhist temple,” Mr Yothin said.
Nong Wua So District chief officer Wasin Chantrapon said the conflict between the local people and the church had existed for a long time. It flared up after a group of residents claiming to be laymen of a Buddhist temple in the area renewed their demand that the church leave and spread its teaching elsewhere.
Mr Wasin, who was assigned to mediate the dispute, said the church representatives led by Prof Dr Pracha Thaiwatcharamas, chairman of Udon Thani Protestant Christendom, had twice talked with the dissidents and local religious and cultural bodies in an effort to find a solution to the problem.
At latest talks on Tuesday, the church agreed to move elsewhere but requested time to find a new place and settle the rental contract with Mrs Nittaya, which has time to run.
“The church representatives also requested the Nong Wua So district office to help it find a new church site on Ratchaphatsadu [State property] land, but their church was attacked first,” Mr wasin said.
Mr Pracha said the church has already made an agreement with the district's administration and such an incident should not have happened.
"We're just evangelists and have never caused trouble for the people, and they also have the right to worship in any religion.
"We've been living here for more than three years and there has never been any incident. If they want us to leave then we're ready to leave but they have to give us time because the lease of the building will end until next April," Mr Pracha said.
Thirapat Adithep, Nong Wua So district chief, and a team of police officers inspected the church and are overseeing security around the area to prevent any recurrence of the attack.
