Monks Report Foreign Tourists for Spray Painting Temple Walls and Shop Doors

Monks and local residents in Chiang Mai reported foreign tourists to police after they were caught on CCTV spray painting temple walls and shop doors. A male and female foreign tourist were filmed spray painting the walls of Wat Dok Nueng at 1 AM on January 30th. The temple abbot, Phra Kru Palad Preeda Jaiboon, stated that the temple has repeatedly been vandalized, costing tens of thousands of baht to repaint. The incident is not isolated, with similar vandalism occurring on house fences and shop doors throughout Chiang Mai. Local religious authorities are concerned about the impact on the city's image and potential UNESCO World Heritage status.