Thai Buddhists: Government must not interfere in the choice of the new patriarch

After several violent clashes between religious and police forces, the union of the monks writes a message to Parliament, asking for respect for religion and its proclamation as the State's confession. Thai Buddhism has been without a supreme leader for over two years.  His appointment is  exclusively reserved to the King by law. Prime Minister: "I do not want this dispute to lead to the decline of Thai Buddhism".

Bangkok (AsiaNews) - The government  must not meddle in matters which are the preserve of Buddhist monks and instead seek advice of the Sangha Association (SA, union of Buddhist religious) before taking any decision regarding Buddhism, which must become the state religion. This is the core of the message that Phramaetee-Dhammajarn, secretary of the Centre for Protection of Buddhism, sent to Parliament and Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, following the associations Buddhist protest in Buddhamonthon, the park dedicated to Buddha west of Bangkok. They are clamoring for the appointment of the 20th Supreme Patriarch of Thai Buddhism, after the death of Somdet Phra Yannasangwon, two years ago.

The letter was written two days after the riots that took place in Bangkok between police and monks, who were protesting against the junta interference in the choice of the next Patriarch. According to the religious, the government has no right to decide who is the best candidate to fill this position (a power that belongs only to the King) and should instead support the canditura of the Sangha, the ninety year old Sojdej Phra Maharajmangklajarn.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, at the time in California for the ASEAN Summit (Association of South-East Asian Nations), commented on the matter saying that this "is a deeply felt issue and the appointment of the Supreme Patriarch belongs only to His Majesty the King, who at the moment is not in good health and should not be disturbed".

"This – he stated - is a matter of faith and respect that can not be forced. On my return to Thailand I will invite the personalities involved to discuss the matter and leave the Thai people to decide on their behalf. If everyone has good intentions, a solution can be found in accordance with the Dharma discipline. If they submit the matter to the government, it is obliged to proceed according to the law. I call on both sides not to protest. "

If the dispute continues, warned the head of the junta, "we will have to ask whether the Dharma discipline is simply the conclusion of the problem. I am a Buddhist, and for me the monks are sacred. I would not witness the demise of this religion".

The figure of the Supreme Patriarch (in Thai language "phrasangkharat", or "King of the Sangha") was created in 1872 by Rama I, the first king of the ruling dynasty. As the head of Buddhism in Thailand, the Supreme Patriarch promotes religion and leads the Supreme Council of the Sangha, whose official job is to supervise the monks (about 200 thousand) and novices (about 70 thousand) of all Buddhist sects in the country, making sure that they follow the teachings of the Buddha, or rather they observe the prescribed rituals and do not violate the rules established by the Council.

• Thailand
• Buddhism
• Supreme Patriarch
• Military Junta
• religious freedom