Activist monk Phra Buddha Isara has claimed that some senior members of the Sangha Supreme Council (SSC) with close ties to Wat Phra Dhammakaya are lobbying for a Department of Special Investigation official to become the new chief of the National Office of Buddhism (NOB).
The abbot of Wat Or Noi in Nakhon Pathom wrote on Facebook that he has received inside information that certain senior members of the SSC are lobbying for a C8 level DSI official to become the new NOB director, succeeding Pol Lt Col Pongporn Pramsaneh who was transferred to the PM’s Office Ministry as an inspector-general on Aug 29.
The DSI official played a role in negotiating a compromise with Wat Phra Dhammakaya during operations to find and arrest Phra Dhammajayo, the former abbot of the controversial temple who is wanted for alleged embezzlement, Phra Buddha Isara wrote.
In an interview with the Bangkok Post on Saturday, Phra Buddha Isara said that speculation over the appointment of the new NOB director has made him feel concerned about the Thai clergy.
If the government lets those with close ties to Wat Phra Dhammakaya head the NOB, efforts to address corruption in the clergy such as the ongoing investigation into the alleged embezzlement of temple funds will come to a halt and the clergy will revert to the state of a lack of transparency as before, Phra Buddha Isara said.
The monk added that Wat Phra Dhammakaya remains powerful and it is seeking to make a recovery.
"I believe that Pol Lt Col Pongporn was transferred because of pressure from those in the SSC who refused to cooperate," Phra Buddha Isara said.
"As far as I know, it was Pol Lt Col Pongporn who brought problems involving the clergy for consideration to SSC meetings, but most members just ignored them. These monks agreed that if Pol Lt Col Pongporn remained in office, they would be in trouble. Therefore, they tried to pressure him until he could not work and was removed," the monk said. Asked if he will stage a protest if the new NOB director with close ties to Wat Phra Dhammakaya is appointed, Phra Buddha Isara only said he will wait until the new NOB director is appointed.
"Personally, I want Gen Prayut to be the NOB director himself because he is the type that will not run away from problems," Phra Buddha Isara said.
However, PM’s Office Minister Ormsin Chivapruck told the Bangkok Post that he is the only one who will have to nominate the new director.
“Let him [Phra Buddha Isara] talk. We still have until the end of September to consider the new director who must be highly capable, good and virtuous," Mr Ormsin said.
Paiboon Nititawan, a former senator and ex-member of the now-defunct National Reform Council, yesterday said that it is clear the government’s removal of Pol Lt Col Pongporn was a conspiracy with the SSC to end the investigation into temple bribery.
Mr Paiboon added that Gen Prayut should express his sincerity by asking the Royal Thai Police and the Justice Ministry to pursue an investigation into the case.
He said it is impossible not to find culprits as there should be clear evidence to take legal action against the abbots involved in corruption. The director’s transfer is a sign the government doesn’t want to be further involved with any senior monks, he said.
"It is clear that the government has been strongly considerate towards the SSC, which is the reason why the former NOB director was transferred. The new director can be anyone. We will examine the government instead of the NOB," he said.
Mr Paiboon said he believed the new NOB director would be the kind of person who will follow the Sangha council’s instructions.
He also said that it would be predictable that the case of alleged embezzlement of temple funds countrywide goes nowhere, as with the case of Wat Phra Dhammakaya. This will finally put the government in a bad light and the public sector would again have to spearhead the fight for transparency and reform in the clergy.