IN THE face of Thailand’s imminent Sangha crisis, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has suggested that the two rival camps debate in public to find a solution to the conflict over the next Supreme Patriarch.

Should the debate go ahead, it will be the first time for Buddhist monks to debate in front of the public.

“Let people hear your reasons,” Prayut said.

The PM is currently in the United States to attend the US-Asean Summit.

One camp is fiercely demanding that Somdej Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn (Somdej Chuang) be officially appointed as the new supreme patriarch, while the second camp is questioning his suitability to be the country’s top monk.

Even though Somdej Chuang is already serving as the acting Supreme Patriarch and chair of the SSC, his name has been linked to a few scandals.

Among them is the allegedly illegal Mercedes Benz found in his possession. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will hold a press conference today to disclose all the details related to the investigation into the vehicle.

Though Somdej Chuang has won solid support from his supporters, he is also facing stiff opposition from those who feel he does not deserve the top monk’s post.

“Each side has millions of supporters. I want to end the conflict right away,” Prayut said.

Aware of the intense conflict, the prime minister has not yet put forward Somdej Chuang’s name as new supreme patriarch for royal endorsement, even though the SSC nominated him for the post last month

“I have already ordered relevant authorities to find a way to bring monks on both sides together for a debate,” Prayut said. “When I return to Thailand, I will have those who think differently attend a debate for people to hear.”

Prayut floated the idea of a debate because he was concerned that thousands of monks staged a big rally in Nakhon Pathom province on Monday to push for Somdej Chuang’s appointment, and some even had a tussle with soldiers.

“It’s necessary that the dispute is settled before any names are submitted for royal endorsement,” the premier said, adding that he wanted all groups to stop rallying.

When asked about Prayut‘s idea, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan responded by saying, “Yes, it can be done.”

Phra Buddha Isara, who opposes Somdej Chuang, said he has long been waiting for such a debate to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, police said yesterday that they were planning to charge Phra Medhi Dhammajahn with violating the Public Assembly Act. The move is reportedly a result of a complaint filed by Phra Buddha Isara, who is firmly opposed to Somdej Chuang’s appointment.

In an interview with Nation TV on Tuesday, Phra Medhi Dhammajahn said the monks who had gathered at the Buddhist Park on Monday happened to share the same opinion.

“Monks should be able to gather at the Buddhist Park, and the gathering should not be considered a rally,” he said.

As for the clash with soldiers, Phra Medhi Dhammajahn said some soldiers provoked the monks by asking how much they were paid for joining the activity.

“By the way, I don’t know the monk who went into a headlock with a soldier. I only met the monk when I tried to negotiate with the soldiers,” he said.

Speaking at the same show on Nation TV, Phra Buddha Isara said the recent rally was apparently staged to defend Somdej Chuang and to benefit Wat Phra Dhammakaya. He also voiced his staunch opposition to Somdej Chuang’s appointment as supreme patriarch.

“He has been derelict in Phra Dhammachayo’s case,” the monk said, adding that the late Supreme Patriarch had met him several times and instructed him to act on Phra Dhammachayo.

In the eyes of many, Phra Dhamma-chayo – the controversial abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya -can no longer be considered a monk as per the 1999 letters written by the then-Supreme Patriarch.

Phra Dhammachayo is also facing allegations over a big embezzlement case related to a cooperative.

THE Department of Special Investigation (DSI) plans to conclude within one month its investigation into a Mercedes Benz owned by the monk who has been nominated as the new Supreme Patriarch.

There are have been suspicions that the luxury car might be connected to a tax evasion scheme.

PM’s Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana said said the pending case against Somdej Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn, also known as Somdej Chuang, the 80-year-old abbot of Pak Nam Temple, would be taken into account before any move to officially appoint him as Supreme Patriarch.

“We will compile complete information before we forward his name to the prime minister for consideration,” Suwaphan said.

Col Major Worranan Srilum, head of the DSI’s Special Case Management Centre, said his agency planned to review all relevant documents and interrogate the figures involved in the case.

“We believe we should be able to conclude the investigation within one month,” he said.

Somdej Chuang has been serving as acting Supreme Patriarch and, backed by the Supreme Sangha Council, he has been nominated for permanent elevation to the top monastic post.

However, many groups have questioned his suitability for the role.

Representatives of several networks yesterday petitioned the National Reform Steering Assembly, saying that the elderly monk was not qualified to serve as Supreme Patriarch.

Among the petition’s charges were that the monk had flouted a written order from Somdej Phra Nyanasamvara, the late Supreme Patriarch. He had also collected luxury cars.

Damkerng Jindarha, who has helped with Wat Pak Nam’s affairs, has argued that the three Mercedes Benz, including the one being investigated by the DSI, were just antiques.

“The temple has collected antiques and put them inside a museum for visitors, particularly the younger generations, to check out,” he said.

Damkerng guided Worranan around the museum yesterday. Located inside the compound at Wat Pak Nam, it also contains many other collectibles.

Worranan said the temple had already handed over car-registration papers to him.

“The documents show the vehicle was assembled in Thailand. But we have to investigate further,” he said.

Cars assembled in Thailand are subject to a lower tax rate, compared with imported vehicles.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a DSI official disclosed that they had already checked workshops identified as assemblers of the vehicle that landed Somdej Chuang in the car-affair controversy.

“One of them is now deserted. The other is still open but lacks any car-assembling equipment,” he said.

Available records show the Benz in question was declared a non-active vehicle in 2013.

Paiboon Nititawan, head of a Buddhist-reform panel of the now-defunct National Reform Council, called on the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday to determine exactly which person or organisation had the legal mandate to nominate the new Supreme Patriarch.

“I think by the letter of the law, it’s the prime minister who is in charge of nomination,” he said.

By tradition, the Supreme Sangha Council has nominated the new Supreme Patriarch for the PM to endorse.

“But we can’t stick to the tradition when the law rules otherwise,” Paiboon said.

He said he had already asked Suwaphan to delay presenting the Supreme Sangha Council’s resolution to nominate Somdej Chuang as the new Supreme Patriarch to the prime minister.

“We had better wait for the interpretation of the Office of the Ombudsman,” Paiboon said.

Suwaphan said he would meet with Phanom Sornsilp, director of the National Buddhism Office, on Monday to go over a few details involving legal matters, facts and customs raised by opposition groups.

The name of the abbot of Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen in Samut Prakan was tabled at a closed-door meeting of the council on January 5 and approved by its resolution on Monday. The government will not need to set up a committee to scrutinise the list of eligible senior monks since monastic law deems the nomination process as complete when the council agrees on a candidate without any objection, Suwaphan said.

Besides the points to discuss with Phanom, he will also bring up some protesting persons’ attempts to link Somdej Chuang to various outstanding legal cases.

After that, he will consult with Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who oversees the National Buddhism Office.

Then he will inform Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha not only about the council’s nomination but also related information.

Since the prime minister will be the one proposing the name for royal endorsement, he needs to be fully briefed to proceed on this to ensure transparency, Suwaphan said.

As for some groups’ objections and alleged threat to file a royal petition, he said he respected their right to voice concerns, as it was a Thai citizen’s duty to protect Buddhism. However, people should use discretion in proceeding with their cause as this is a sensitive matter.