Hundreds Expel Deputy Abbot Over Ceremony Dispute
Over 100 villagers forced out a deputy abbot at a Chainat temple on July 26 after disputes over ceremony scheduling and his conduct with funeral families. The monk agreed to relocate temporarily to another temple during Buddhist Lent.
More than 100 villagers gathered on the morning of July 26, 2025, to force out a deputy abbot at a temple in Huai Krot subdistrict, Sankhaburi district, Chainat province. Police arrived to maintain order after receiving the report. The deputy had been appointed by the ailing abbot to oversee chanting and coordinate merit-making ceremonies, but conflicts arose with another senior monk over scheduling and the deputy's conduct.
The deputy explained that he had been managing ceremonies for about two months before problems emerged with the other senior monk regarding how ceremonies were scheduled. He claimed he had attempted to clarify his duties according to his appointment letter, but the other monk did not listen. He noted the issue had been reported to provincial authorities. The abbot has been seriously ill following brain surgery and cannot sign documents.
The opposing senior monk countered that villagers and funeral hosts had indicated they did not want the deputy monk to lead chanting, yet the deputy allegedly approached families asking why they had not invited him. This accumulated frustration led to the gathering.
After tensions escalated and initial negotiations failed, the sub-district headman and the abbot from a neighboring temple arrived to mediate discussions in the temple's assembly hall, with police standing by for security. A resolution was reached: the deputy monk would temporarily relocate to another temple for the Buddhist Lent period, with his departure scheduled for July 27, 2025. Villagers accepted this compromise and dispersed peacefully, though some residents called for further investigation into other aspects of the dispute.
