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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Temple-sits-on-forest-land-its-title-deeds-may-be–30287468.html

TEMPLE OF TIGERS

SUPOJ KAEWKASRI
THE NATION June 6, 2016 1:00 am

File Photo

THE National Office of Buddhism is consulting with the Office of Land Reform for Agriculture over whether to revoke the Sor Por Kor title deed for land occupied by the ‘Tiger Temple’ in Kanchanaburi.

Pradab Phothikanchanawat, director of the National Office of Buddhism’s Kanchanaburi office, said the Land Reform Office found that the temple – known as Wat Pa Luangta Bua – used Sor Por Kor land for the wrong purposes, or purposes other than requested.

The temple sought permission from the Land Reform Office to use a plot of about 391 rai in 2003.

An inspection of the land found that the temple built monasteries for 15 monks and one novice. There were also areas set aside as living quarters of wildlife.

[Fine out more about the controversy of Tiger Temple]

He said the Land Reform Office had to further check if the temple encroached on more Sor Por Kor land than it had requested.

“If the results of the check shows that the land is used not in accordance with the purpose allowed by the Office, it could revoke use of the title deeds,” Pradab said.

He said he actually foresaw difficulties in revoking titles for the land and wanted the office to allow the temple to retain land that was used for Buddhism purposes.

“But it also depends on objectives and conditions that the Land Office gave to the temple in using the Sor Por Kor land and whether the temple follows the regulations,” he said.

Pradab said Luangta Chan, the abbot, was not at the temple, but he had assigned his deputy to oversee the temple. However, the abbot still had the authority on making decisions.

He said he had reported this issue to Phra Thep Methaporn, the chief monk in Kanchanaburi, and was awaiting his decision on the matter.

[Behind the Tiger Temple’s walls]

The officials had found ongoing construction of a vihara – a Buddha image hall – that was 115 metres x85m x14m, plus a building of four bathrooms (5.9m x3.7m x3m) and a storage room (15m x8m x4m) in the temple’s area.

Supap Korphak, kamnan of Tambon Sing who led the inspection team, has been assigned to prevent the temple from dismantling any building within the temple’s compound. The officials filed a report with police at Sai Yok police station to take legal action against Wat Pa Luangta Bua, Wat Pa Luangta Bua foundation and Tiger Temple Co Ltd.

Sources said related officials checked the temple’s land and found that the land spanning 391 rai was located in forest areas.

Use of the forest land was in violation of Articles 54, 55 and 72 of the Forestry Act 1941, Article 9 of the Land Code 1954, Article 99 of the Enhancement and the Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act 1992.

Amnat Patcharakul, a forestry official specialist, was made a witness for violation of these laws by the temple.

Officials at the Land Reform Office for Agriculture in Kanchanaburi filed a complaint with police against the temple over this issue.

WILDLIFE officials yesterday claim to have found 40 dead tiger cubs in a freezer in Kanchanaburi’s Tiger Temple, where 137 tigers were removed earlier. Authorities are now working to prove if there’s any connection between the two events.

The dead cubs were frozen together with a number of other dead animals including a binturong – a protected species also known as a bearcat – as well as chicken meat for feeding live tigers. Officials from the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department allegedly found the dead animals while they were searching Wat Pa Luangta Maha Bua Yannasam-panno, more widely known as the Tiger Temple.

[Fine out more about the controversy of Tiger Temple]

They said temple staff told them they had kept some dead tiger cubs, the binturong and some tigers’ organs as well as of other animals. The officials later questioned staff to find out whether the cub carcasses had any connection with the temple’s live removed tigers, according to deputy director Adisorn Noochdumrong, deputy director of the wildlife department.

It remained unclear why the temple had to keep the carcasses and the legal division of the wildlife department would examine whether the authorities could take any action on the matter, according to Adisorn.

[Behind the Tiger Temple’s walls]

Meanwhile, WWF has commended the Thai authorities for taking definitive action to permanently remove the tigers from the temple to facilities in Ratchaburi.

“WWF was dismayed last month when the Tiger Temple was granted an official zoo permit by the wildlife department. This was despite longstanding allegations and ample evidence that the Tiger Temple was trafficking tigers into the illegal wildlife trade.

“This week’s actions to remove the tigers from the Tiger Temple are long overdue and we strongly encourage authorities to make the removal of the tigers permanent,” said Yowalak Thiarachow, country director, WWF-Thailand.

In addition to the Tiger Temple, other facilities with captive tigers should also be investigated to ensure tigers don’t fall prey to illegal wildlife trafficking and abuse, the WWF said. Facilities found in violation of international and national wildlife laws must be prohibited from acquiring, owning and breeding tigers, it said.