They said it was “highly likely” that monks would refuse to take part in functions hosted by the government.

Phra Palat Non Kittipanyo, head of monk students at Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya University, a monastic institution of higher education, said that if the government continued to interfere in monastic affairs, monks would boycott the government.

“The university’s students will ask the monastic order to boycott the government by not accepting invitations to attend government functions. It’s because the government has brought politics into the monastic world and shattered peace,” the monk said.

Phra Khru Kanchana Kijjarak, a leader of the Network of Young Monks Groups, said that it was highly likely that monks would boycott functions to be organised by the government.

He said police and military officers were sent to meet abbots at different temples in Bangkok and the surrounding provinces over the past week to tell them not to allow monks in their temples to join rallies over the appointment of new Supreme Patriarch.

A large group of monks recently attended a gathering at the Buddha Monthon Buddhist Park to call on the government to make an early decision on the appointment of new Supreme Patriarch.

The government yesterday maintained that it has no plan to hold any public hearing on the appointment of new Supreme Patriarch.

Government spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the government would adhere to relevant laws and regulations. He also called on relevant parties to stop causing confusion in society.

“Some groups of people suggest that monks should settle this matter themselves and the government supports this idea,” the spokesman said,

The conflict over a new head of the Thai monastic order involves the Sangha Supreme Council’s nomination of Somdej Chuang, abbot of Wat Pak Nam Phasi Charoen as the new Supreme Patriarch. Critics have accused him of questionable ties with the controversial Dhammakaya Temple and its abbot, Dhammachayo, whom the late previous Supreme Patriarch had suggested to be disrobed due to violation of monastic rules.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has been under pressure from Somdej Chuang’s supporters to seek royal endorsement for his nomination.

Sansern, the government spokesman, said yesterday the administration would wait till all complaints that the nominated monk faces were dealt with, before following the normal procedure of appointment.

The Department of Special Investigation is investigating whether a vintage car registered under Somdej Chuang’s name was illegally imported.