Police to make background checks on all monks nationwide
Police have asked the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) for the ID card numbers of all Buddhist monks in Thailand so they could make background checks for miscreants and felons, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Parnkaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, (CIB) said on Wednesday.
There were about 300,000 monks in the country, he said.
Police would also revive all the old cases against monks that the NOB previously dismissed, he said.
The deputy commissioner said cooperation with the NOB had not been smooth in the past. The NOB did not seem serious about solving the problems.
Ongoing action would not be lenient, he stressed. "I don't want these problems to remain a cancer in the side of Buddhism," he said.
Police were determined to investigate monkly misbehaviour in the interests of protecting Buddhism, but disciplinary authority rested with the NOB, the deputy CIB chief said.
The current uptick in action against misbehaving monks started after the Royal Thai Police Office recently opened a centre dedicated to tackling the issue, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat said.
The centre was overwhelmed with misconduct complaints, including senior monks having sexual relations with women other than "Sika Golf".
Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat was referring to Wilawan 'Golf' Emsawat, 35, who was arrested at her home in Nonthaburi province on Tuesday for supporting a senior monk's embezzlement of temple funds, laundering money and receiving stolen goods.
She is suspected of having sexual relations with about 10 monks, some of them elderly and revered, and receiving and extorting huge sums of money from them.
Police said they have considerable evidence, including videos of Ms Golf involved in sexual activities with monks found stored in her mobile phones.
Police said they intend to lay more charges against her.
Sika is a traditional Thai term used to refer to a woman who is associated with a monk.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bangkok Post
an hour ago
- Bangkok Post
Cambodia's attacks kill 12 Thais
The number of fatalities from Cambodia's attacks on Thai civilian areas has risen to 12, including an eight-year-old boy, with over 30 injuries, according to the Thai army. As of 2.15pm on Thursday, Thai authorities confirmed that civilian zones were hit by supporting fire, resulting in fatalities, injuries and property damage after Cambodian forces launched artillery strikes into Thai territory following a morning assault on a Thai military base near the Ta Muen Thom temple in Surin province. The affected areas included: Surin: Two civilians killed, including an eight-year-old boy; four civilians injured; five soldiers wounded. Ubon Ratchathani: One civilian killed; four seriously injured. Si Sa Ket: Eight civilians killed, including a 15-year-old; 15 civilians injured; one soldier killed, two wounded. Buri Ram: One civilian injured. The attacks also caused property damage, with reports of residential damage and damage to agricultural property and livestock in affected areas. In a statement, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin condemned Cambodia's actions, labelling the attacks as inhumane and a severe violation of human dignity and Thailand's sovereignty. He highlighted ongoing efforts to coordinate emergency medical responses, with additional personnel and resources dispatched to the impacted zones. Mr Somsak reaffirmed Thailand's commitment to safeguarding its people, stating: "The government will pursue all necessary measures to respond to the aggression and ensure the safety of its citizens." The army reiterated its commitment to protecting Thailand's sovereignty and its citizens, stating it is prepared to take all necessary military measures in response to what it described as violations of humanitarian principles. "The Royal Thai Army strongly condemns the violent actions targeting civilians by Cambodian forces," the statement read. "Thailand stands ready to defend its sovereignty and protect its people from such inhumane acts." Thai villages hit by Cambodian rockets In Surin's Kap Choeng district, two people were killed and two injured when BM-21 rockets fired from Cambodia struck their village in the morning. Evacuations of up to 40,000 residents to emergency shelters were under way. District chief Sutthiroj Charoenthanasak confirmed that two rockets struck the village at 9.40am while residents were awaiting evacuation. Four people were wounded, with two later dying at hospital: a 12-year-old child and an adult. Authorities were evacuating people from 86 villages to emergency shelters at schools in the neighbouring Prasat district, Surin. Mr Sutthiroj said shelter capacity was adequate and most evacuees had arrived safely. Officials have not yet surveyed the attack site due to concerns over continued Cambodian artillery fire, he added. Patients in Kap Choeng were being evacuated from Phanom Dong Rak and Kap Choeng hospitals after rockets fell near the Ta Muen temple ruins. Further casualty reports were not immediately available. In Si Sa Ket, two people were reported killed and many other civilians hurt when Cambodian rockets fell into a supermarket at a petrol station in Ban Phue, provincial governor Watthana Phutthichat said. Fire and Rescue Thailand reported that the two deaths at the supermarket were students. A Thaipbs reporter said their bodies were found in the ruins. The 2nd Army Region posted a video of the incident on its Facebook page at 11.30am.
Bangkok Post
an hour ago
- Bangkok Post
Thailand, Cambodia exchange heavy artillery as fighting rages for a second day
SURIN - Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery on Friday as their worst fighting in more than a decade stretched for a second day, despite calls from the region and beyond for an immediate ceasefire in an escalating border conflict that has killed at least 15 people. Thailand's Second Army Region reported clashes from before dawn in Ubon Ratchathani and Surin provinces and said Cambodia had used artillery and Russian-made BM-21 rocket systems. Authorities said 100,000 people had been evacuated from conflict areas on the Thai side. "Cambodian forces have conducted sustained bombardment utilising heavy weapons, field artillery, and BM-21 rocket systems," the Royal Thai Army said in a statement. "Thai forces have responded with appropriate supporting fire in accordance with the tactical situation." Both sides blamed each other for starting the conflict on Thursday at a disputed border area, which quickly escalated from small arms fire to heavy shelling in at least six locations 209 kilometres apart along a frontier where sovereignty has been disputed for more than a century. Reuters journalists in Surin reported hearing intermittent bursts of explosions on Friday, amid a heavy presence of armed Thai soldiers along roads and gas stations in the largely agrarian area. A Thai military convoy, including around a dozen trucks, armoured vehicles and tanks, cut across provincial roads ringed by paddy fields and moved towards the border. The fighting erupted on Thursday just hours after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh the previous night and expelled Cambodia's envoy, in response to a second Thai soldier losing a limb to a landmine that Bangkok alleged had been laid recently by rival troops. Cambodia has dismissed that as baseless. Death toll rises The Thai death toll had risen to 14 as of late Thursday, 13 of them civilians, according to the health ministry. It said 46 people were wounded, including 14 soldiers. Cambodia's national government has not provided details of any casualties or evacuations of civilians. A government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest clashes. Meth Meas Pheakdey, spokesperson for the provincial administration of Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province, said one civilian had been killed and five were wounded, with 1,500 families evacuated. Thailand had positioned six F-16 fighter jets on Thursday in a rare combat deployment, one of which was mobilised to strike a Cambodian military target, among measures Cambodia called "reckless and brutal military aggression". The United States, a long-time treaty ally of Thailand, called for an "immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and a peaceful resolution." Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which Thailand and Cambodia are members, said he had spoken to leaders of both countries and urged them to find a peaceful way out. "I welcome the positive signals and willingness shown by both Bangkok and Phnom Penh to consider this path forward. Malaysia stands ready to assist and facilitate this process in the spirit of Asean unity and shared responsibility," he said in a social media post late on Thursday.
Bangkok Post
an hour ago
- Bangkok Post
Thai soldier who lost leg 'has no regrets'
UBON RATCHATHANI: A soldier seriously injured by a landmine during a border operation near Chong Arn Ma has said he has no regrets, affirming his commitment to the nation despite losing his right leg. Sgt Maj Pichitchai Boonchula, a squad leader from Infantry Company 1, 22nd Military Circle, is receiving treatment at Fort Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital in Warin Chamrap district after stepping on a mine while inspecting an area recently cleared of opposing forces on Wednesday, the second landmine incident after the Chong Bok incident on July 16. "At the time, I was leading my men to prepare for the next stage of the operation," he said. "While checking the area, I turned around and stepped on the mine. It was a spot we regularly patrol, and no explosives had ever been detected there." The Thai unit was carrying out a mission to remove Cambodian forces from the area. Although the number of Cambodian troops present was unknown, Thai soldiers discovered only a temporary shelter used for rain cover. The area was secured, and Thai authorities are awaiting further negotiations with their Cambodian counterparts, he said. Sgt Maj Pichitchai said his condition has improved, and his morale remains strong. "I have no regrets. I was mentally prepared. I'm here for the country," he said. He urged fellow soldiers to be extra cautious during patrols, noting this was the second landmine incident in the area. He also called for enhanced training in the use of explosive detection equipment. Two more soldiers -- Cpl Butthep Jarubanyong and Pvt Jakkrapong Khuadchan -- were admitted late on Wednesday with chest pain and hearing loss caused by the explosion, bringing the total number of injured personnel to seven.
