Monastery Disciples Remain Fearful After Arrest in Land Dispute
A man was arrested after disrupting Wat Pa Adulyaram monastery in Khon Kaen over a land dispute, but disciples remain fearful as police maintain heavy security at the temple.
Disciples at Wat Pa Adulyaram remain anxious despite police arresting a 52-year-old man who disrupted the temple. Officers in uniform and plainclothes continue to maintain a heavy security presence at multiple points inside and outside the monastery.
At 5:30 p.m. on August 19, police were positioned at the abbot's quarters and all entrances of Wat Pa Adulyaram in Khon Kaen's municipal district. The suspect, a resident of Samran subdistrict, had ridden a grey-and-black Honda Wave motorcycle into the temple grounds late at night and again in the afternoon to confront monks and supporters over a land dispute involving the estate of a former abbot and the monastery. He was taken to Muang Khon Kaen Police Station for processing.
Nai Kavi, 57, a longtime disciple, expressed ongoing concern: "Even though police arrested him, I'm still worried. With police filling the temple, reporters everywhere, and supporters around, he still showed no fear before his arrest—he parked his motorcycle right in front of the abbot's cell without hesitation, as if he came to mock us. The incident last night was shocking. If he disrupts us like this again, I and the other disciples living here will have to prepare ourselves differently. We've never experienced trouble like this before, so everyone needs to be much more careful now. The temple gates could be closed, but the abbot won't allow it because he's concerned about supporters moving freely in the neighbourhood. Personally, I'm frightened by what happened."
