100 Phichit locals demand acting temple abbot’s ouster

Almost 100 residents, led by a lawmaker, staged a protest at Wat Luang Phor Ngern Bangklan in Phichit yesterday, demanding the top clergy body dismiss the temple’s acting abbot who is seeking to examine and return the temple’s assets allegedly held by his predecessor.

In 2014, the Sangha Supreme Council (SSC) dismissed the temple’s abbot, Phra Kru Wisit Silaporn, from the post due to various scandals surrounding him, and appointed Phra Pisutta Warakorn as the acting abbot.

However, the acting abbot was said to have been unable to fully perform his duties as Phra Kru Wisit Silaporn refused to hand over the temple’s assets to him.

A group of people accused of having benefited from construction projects and sales of sacred items at the temple also protested against the appointment of the acting abbot.

On July 17, the Phichit Provincial Court ordered the former abbot to return safe boxes, bank accounts and other assets to the acting abbot.

On Sept 27 the acting abbot held a press briefing, declaring the temple has more than 100 million baht worth of assets including cash, antiques and Buddha images.

He said Phra Kru Wisit Silaporn kept the assets and refused to return them, so the temple can start the process of examining and regulating them under a court order as well as an SSC resolution.

Phra Pisutta Warakorn later ordered the dismissal of National Legislative Assembly (NLA) member Kittisak Ratanawaraha, who served as a member of the panel tasked with examining the temple’s assets. No word has been given as to why he was purged.

Yesterday, Mr Kittisak led the protesters to surround the living quarters of Phra Kru Wisit Silaporn.

The group demanded the SSC, the ecclesiastical provincial governor and the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) replace the acting abbot.

Phra Pisutta Warakorn was not in the temple when the protest took place.