Bangkok: Minister Suchart Tancharoen is preparing to establish a committee to investigate the director of the Lopburi Buddhist Office for alleged negligence. The inquiry will determine whether the director should be transferred to the Phutthamonthon office, following discrepancies surrounding the Phra Bat Nam Phu Temple case. Suchart expressed concerns about the lack of awareness in the province regarding Luang Por Alongkot and called for a reevaluation of the Buddhist Office before the Sangha.

According to Thai News Agency, Suchart addressed issues concerning Luang Por Alongkot of Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu in Lopburi Province, highlighting mismatches between his ID card and monk registration certificates, as well as discrepancies in his birth date and ordination certificate. Furthermore, there were irregularities in the use of his ID card number for PromptPay registration, leading to funds being transferred to a foundation account with unclear connections to the temple. Suchart emphasized the need for further investigation to clarify these matters.

Suchart suggested it might be time for a reform of the Buddhist community and proposed consultations with the Sangha Supreme Council to consider mandatory blood and urine tests for monks, as well as asset declarations. He stressed the importance of provincial Offices of Buddhism being informed about events in their regions. Despite ongoing issues in Lopburi Province, local Buddhist offices remain uninformed, prompting Suchart to push for a reevaluation of their operations. He plans to review the actions of the Lopburi Provincial Office of Buddhism Director and consider reassigning him to the Buddhamonthon Office. A committee will be appointed to investigate the lack of compliance with government policy directives previously issued by Suchart.

Suchart acknowledged the long-standing nature of these issues, noting that rebuilding trust among Buddhists will take time. He called for cooperation from the Supreme Sangha Council to engage in inspections and reforms. He also recognized the seriousness of the situation, with new issues continuously arising, suggesting a decline in the Buddhist community due to improper practices and a lack of adherence to Dharma and Vinaya.

When questioned about the alleged wrongdoings in the case of Luang Por Alongkot, such as body storage and use of a fake ID card, Suchart indicated that he would instruct the National Office of Buddhism’s director to form a committee to investigate the negligence of provincial offices. He pointed out that while reporters and locals were aware of the issues, provincial office directors were not, highlighting the accountability of provincial Offices of Buddhism. To date, the National Office of Buddhism has not directly communicated with Luang Por Alongkot.