Bangkok: “Weeraphat” has announced his resignation from the Religion, Arts and Culture Committee, citing discomfort and challenges in fulfilling his duties due to a lack of meetings and unwillingness to address pressing issues, such as those involving monks and the female golfer case.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Veeraphat Khantha, who served as the spokesman for the Religious Affairs, Arts and Culture Committee, expressed the need to speak out about his concerns. He highlighted that over the past two years, the committee held fewer meetings than other committees in the House of Representatives, which typically have 70-90 meetings, while his committee had less than half of that number. This has led to many unresolved issues and limited discussions.

Mr. Khantha revealed that even when problems were raised, there was reluctance to address them. He noted that critical issues, such as those involving monks and a female golfer, were often ignored or sidestepped. Despite being a committee with the authority to investigate and resolve disputes, there was a notable absence of resolutions on these matters.

Furthermore, the committee recently received a petition from Mr. Srisuwan Janya, which was directly submitted to the chairman and members. The petition touched on various topics, including the controversies surrounding Ms. Golf and the monks. Mr. Khantha criticized the committee for not engaging with these issues, suggesting that they are merely the surface of deeper underlying problems, such as monks’ misconduct and embezzlement cases.

In his statement, Mr. Khantha expressed regret over the stagnation of issues that should have been addressed over the past two years. He emphasized that the reluctance to tackle these problems is a broader issue in Thailand, where sensitive topics are often avoided. He questioned whether there is a genuine desire to resolve these problems sustainably or if they are merely being discussed superficially.

Mr. Khantha concluded by announcing his decision to resign after almost two years in the position, citing the lack of freedom to speak openly within the committee. He plans to continue addressing concerns raised by monks and Buddhists independently, under the banner of the Prachachon Party. He aims to engage in open discussions about the core issues affecting Buddhism in Thailand.

The chairwoman of the Religious Affairs, Arts and Culture Committee is Ms. Thiapchutha Khaokham, an MP from the Pheu Thai Party.