Bangkok, Thailand - Four Thai Buddhists filed a complaint with police Wednesday, saying a sect that wants Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to resign has damaged the reputation of monks.
They called on police to act against the Santi Asoke sect using a law that prohibits the impersonation of monks -- a serious offence in mostly-Buddhist Thailand.
The sect has taken part in anti-Thaksin rallies in Bangkok.
"By joining political-related activities, the sect has caused Thai people to lose faith and hate monks," said one of the complainants, Sathien Wiphromma.
Similar to traditional Buddhist monks, Santi Asoke members have shaved heads but wear dark brown robes, not the saffron and golden orange worn by the mainstream.
Several Santi Asoke members were sentenced to five-and-a-half years for impersonating mainstream monks in 1989 but the punishment was suspended, according to the complaint.