The government absolutely will not agree to demands that Thailand have two supreme patriarchs, Deputy Prime Minister Visanu Krue-ngam said yesterday.
Mr Visanu, speaking at a seminar on the prosperity and security of Buddhism, said the current campaign by some interests was dangerous because it could divide the monkhood.
There are two Buddhist sects in Thailand _ Dhammayutika and the Mahanikaya. The Supreme Patriarch belongs to the Dhammayutika sect.
Mr Visanu said the government also would not bow to a demand for the establishment of another sect. That was also seen as another threat to the Thai monastic order.
The government respected the freedom of religion guaranteed by the constitution, but would not go so far as to allow another Buddhist sect to come to existence. ``The government confirms here that it will not be patron to another sect,'' he said.
Public faith in the monastic order had eroded, as evidenced by demand for monks to disclose their assets to the National Counter Corruption Commission. That was also a threat to Buddhism.
Monks really needed to adjust. There had been vocal criticism lately of weaknesses of temple abbots and ecclesiastical governors at all levels, and the lack of participation of monks in helping society solve its problems.
``The monastic order cannot tell the people what it thinks about abortion, or execution by lethal injection or if women should be allowed to be ordained as Bhikkhuni,'' Mr Visanu said.
He supported the use of law in addition to monastic punishment to penalise monks found involved in sex, fraud, drugs, the weapons trade and destruction of ancient ruins. The Buddhism office, police, the Anti-Money Laundering Office and the Justice Ministry would draw up appropriate measures, he said.