(Updated) Monk makes FB complaint over police blockades

Collecting alms in the midst of police barricades, barbed wire, tents and vehicles is no easy task, a monk from famous Bangkok temple Wat Benchamabophit complains on Facebook.

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Wednesday morning update

Monks walk past police barricades set up to enforce the Internal Security Act (ISA). THANARK KHOONTON

Here is an update from Bangkok Post reporter Lamphai Intathep:

Police have agreed to reposition barricades outside Wat Benchamabopit after monks at the temple complained that Internal Security Act (ISA) measures were preventing daily almsgiving activities.

Phra Thepkittiweethee, deputy abbot of the temple, told the Bangkok Post that monks were suffering as a result of the tight security measures, since the barricades prevent them from going out to receive food offerings.

"I've already negotiated with the police and they've agreed to slightly move the barricades to make way for monks to collect alms and allow Buddhist laymen and tourists to enter the temple more conveniently," he said. "If not, we'll have to climb over the barricades."

The temple currently houses about 200 people, of which 109 are monks and novices.

The deputy abbot said police told him that they cannot lessen security further because of anti-government rallies in the area.

"Due to the security measures, we are collecting less alms and the number of Buddhists coming to make merit and tourists visiting the temple is decreasing," he said.

Despite this, Phra Thepkittiweethee said Buddhists who were aware of the issue had been coming to offer food at the temple, while the temple kitchen has been continuing to provide two meals a day for monks at a cost of 5,000 baht. He denied that some monks have been forced to cook for themselves, as had been claimed.

But the deputy abbot warned that the temple's problems with the ISA extended beyond almsgiving activities.

He said some police officers had been using areas within the temple compound to sit down or take a nap and were littering and even smoking inside. This is improper for a religious site and looks untidy to tourists, he said.

"Please do not forget that temples are a tourist attraction. People travel so far and pay a lot to come to Thailand including this temple."

On Tuesday, no officers were reported inside parts of the temple compound used for religious ceremonies.

Phra Thepkittiweethee said the police had listened to the monks' problems, which are gradually being solved through negotiations.

Monks at Wat Benchamabophit have to negotiate police barricades to accept alms offerings every morning. THANARAK KHOONTON

Monks irked by police blockades

Post online reporters

Police are trying to appease monks at Wat Benchamabophit by helping clean the temple after a monk posted a Facebook message complaining about Internal Security Act (ISA) blockades impeding their ability to collect alms.

After the message was posted online last week, riot police whose job it is to protect Government House and areas on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue from protesters have been undertaking voluntary work at the temple, including cleaning toilets and collecting rubbish.

Phra Maha Apichart Punnachantho, who posted the first Facebook message, took to social media again on Monday, thanking officers for their efforts but warning that they are still missing the point.

Problems with daily almsgiving will continue as long as barricades, barbed wire, tents and police vehicles are kept in the immediate vicinity of the temple, he said.

Bangkok's Wat Benchamabophit lies in the area covered by the Internal Security Act, so is subject to strict security measures. But monks are unimpressed. THANARAK KHOONTON

He said police checkpoints and barricades were essentially blocking people from giving alms to Wat Benchamabophit, known among tourists as the marble temple, which is situated in the area covered by the ISA.

He added that he was speaking out on behalf of other monks who are having to cook food for themselves as a result of the heightened security measures.

Deputy spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Bureau Pol Maj Gen Adul Narongsak on Monday ordered Pol Col Kanchalee Intararam, chief of Dusit police station, to talk with the temple's deputy abbot Phra Thepkittiweethee.

He said the pair should draw up a plan to set up alms-giving points outside the area sealed off by police, allowing people who want to offer food to the monks to do so with ease.

But Pol Maj Gen Adul dismissed Phra Maha Apichart Punnachantho's claim that all monks at the temple are suffering as a result of the ISA blockades. Other monks at Wat Benchamabophit have been unaffected and understand the duty of the police, he said.

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