Officials Confirm Monastery Land Rights, Proceed With Title Transfer
Officials confirmed Wat Pa Adulyaram in Khon Kaen legitimately owns disputed land since 1998 and will expedite the title transfer process after three decades of delay.
On the evening of August 16, 2026, at Wat Pa Adulyaram in Khon Kaen Municipality, Professor Thongthong Chanthrangsu, chairman of the National Committee for the Protection of Buddhism, led a delegation from the National Office of Buddhism and Khon Kaen's Buddhist Affairs Office to pay respects to the monastery's abbot, Phra Kru Adulasarinimithet. The visit aimed to offer support and follow up on the abbot's health as well as the ongoing land dispute between the monastery and the heirs of a deceased local resident, drawing a large crowd of Buddhist supporters.
Thongthong confirmed that the land belongs entirely to the monastery and that it was properly established and announced in the Government Gazette in 1998. He stated that the National Office of Buddhism has clarified that the original land title deed is in the monastery's custody and has informed the provincial land office accordingly. Land office procedures are now underway to process complaints related to the disputed documents.
The main outstanding issue is updating the government land title deed to reflect the monastery's name, despite the monastery having owned and maintained the property for many decades. Officials pledged to expedite and complete the title transfer as efficiently as possible. The abbot remarked with good humor that after waiting 30 years, he could wait a bit longer, to which Thongthong replied that he too could not afford further delays and would push for the fastest and best resolution.
Thongthong also assured the community that police and local authorities would maintain security and order at the temple to protect monks and devotees performing religious activities. He relayed two important messages from the abbot: first, devotees should remain calm, as the abbot himself is not stressed and assures everyone that the matter is in hand; second, the abbot cautioned believers to remain vigilant and not fall victim to scams. He warned against imposters claiming to be intermediaries collecting donations on his behalf, urging anyone wishing to make merit at the temple to do so directly by scanning the official QR code provided by the monastery.
