Man Released from Prison Desecrates Buddha Image in Temple
A man recently released from prison desecrated multiple Buddha statues at Wat Sarakhet temple in Songkhla on August 17, placing underwear on a statue's head and urinating on sacred objects in an apparent act of revenge over a past convictio
A man angry over a past conviction has been accused of desecrating a Buddha image inside Wat Sarakhet temple in Songkhla's Muang District on August 17, prompting calls for police intervention. On August 18, temple students posted a complaint on Facebook describing the incident: "This guy is truly despicable. He put his underwear on the Buddha's head ornament and urinated on the reclining Buddha statue, leaving it foul-smelling." Reporters visited the scene and met with Phra Arthchai, a monk at the temple, who showed them inside the Sri Songkhla Buddha Relic Pagoda. They found black underwear draped over the head ornament of a reclining Buddha statue in the principal posture. Urine was visible on the statue's body, traced to the suspect who had climbed to the second level and knocked off the Buddha's crown. The suspect also damaged a ceremonial tray, scattered ashes from a reliquary, vandalized a merit donation box, and defaced the Emerald Buddha with an unknown substance, which temple staff have since cleaned but traces remain.
The suspect, identified as a 30-to-35-year-old man named Ne, was questioned. According to Phra Arthchai, two months earlier Ne had been found sleeping inside the pagoda. When the monk asked him to leave at 5 p.m. closing time, Ne refused and later caused extensive damage: he knocked over worship tables, broke flower arrangements and gold stands, scattered cremated remains, and damaged other items. The monk filed a police report at Muang Songkhla station. After two months, police called to say the theft charge lacked sufficient evidence and would instead be prosecuted as property damage and intimidation. Today, word arrived that Ne had been released from prison. It is believed he committed this latest act to announce his return. At 5 p.m. on August 17, Ne placed his underwear on the Buddha's crown and urinated on the principal reclining Buddha statue inside the Sri Songkhla Buddha Relic Pagoda.
"We ask police to investigate and monitor the temple to ensure the safety of our monks," the complaint states. "We are already living in fear because of the danger, and we are responsible for opening and closing the pagoda. We worry about physical attacks, especially since this person may be carrying a weapon."
