'Change of regulations needed'
An amendment needs to be made to monastic regulations to authorise inspectors to immediately take action against monks who misbehave, usually on sight if wrongdoing is spotted or reported, a seminar organised by Buddhist Maha Chulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya U
The move was needed to try to counter an apparent slump in public faith in recent years about monks’ behaviour.
The Supreme Sangha Council is in the process of giving more authority to “monastic police” to collect evidence with the help of police after complaints are filed about monks who misbehave, according to Somkiat Songsri, head of the Council secretariat.
“In the case of misbehaviour that is a criminal offence, police can take immediate action, which is standard procedure already, but a legal amendment is being sought to authorise ‘monastic police’ to take action on sight against monks misbehaving,” he said.
Monastic inspectors are known traditionally as “monk police”, who are senior monks attached to the provincial and regional monastic offices, but they are few in number. Under monastic regulations, they are the first to act when called upon after complaints or claims about monks misbehaving, either in violation of the 227-point commandments in the Buddhist teaching, which are key concerns about the faith, or other social mischief which is a minor concern.
But “monk police” are often reluctant to take action against high-profile monks, such as the ongoing case engulfing Luang Pu Nenkham, who faces criminal prosecution for allegedly having sex with an underage girl and fathering a child. There is also the prospect that millions of baht worth of assets – donated money – being seized, if it has been used for purposes other than donors intended and not for the charitable purposes claimed by the monk.
Phra Sri Khampheerayana, a deputy dean at the Buddhist university, said Luang Pu Nenkham’s case meant little compared to teaching by various sects or temples that was not in line with the Buddha’s teaching or the scripture in the holy Tripitika canon, which needed immediate correction.
In Luang Pu Nenkham’s case, if he refuses to return to Thailand to face a monastic inquiry, police could take criminal action for allegedly having sex with an underage girl – after he is disrobed – if a DNA-based paternity check found that the girl’s son, now 11, was his child. Monks are prohibited from even touching women, and having sex with one is a severe violation of their vow of celibacy.