If The Sangha Council’s closeddoor meeting on January 5 agreed to nominate someone as Supreme Patriarch and the process was proven to be proper, it will bring a closure to the matter.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam said yesterday that the government would check on the selection process, but it had no authority to judge a candidate’s behaviour or appropriateness.

The government hadn’t received any nomination yet. The premier theywouldn’t forward the new Supreme Patriarch’s name for royal endorsement while there were objections.

“If the disputes persist, the government wouldn’t forward such a controversial matter for His Majesty the King’s endorsement.

“In the case of a controversy, the Office of His Majesty’s Principal Private Secretary would send it back anyway,” he said.

This nomination would receive the approval of the Sangha Council, which would nominate a candidate from the monks with the most seniority.

“It was clear that Somdej Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn [Somdej Chuang], the abbot of Paknam Bhasicharoen Temple in Samut Prakan, was the seniormost candidate.

“So why did people try to say otherwise? If people disagree with this, who else should be appointed legitimately when the law stipulates that the candidate will be the seniormost monk who can perform the duties,” he said. The problem seemed to stem from disciples’ preferences, as everyone would want their master to take the top post.

“We should let this go according to its natural course,” he added.

Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya urged Thai society to separate the controversy of Dhammakaya Temple and its abbot Phra Dhammachayo from the nomination of the Supreme Patriarch. Protesters had tried to link Somdej Chuang with Phra Dhammachayo.

The probe into the abbot were still underway. The case against Phra Dhammachayo had already been submitted months ago to the Office of the Attorney General, whose work couldn’t be interfered with by the ministry. The Department of Special Investigation was still checking luxury cars for any tax evasion, including the car under Somdej Chuang’s name.

“There’s no secret of anyone’s bad deeds these days and [DSI] officials are working on the cases,” he said.

“I don’t want society to pressure the case investigators or force them to act, or else the DSI might go back to being a [political] tool,” he added.