Pongporn back as Buddhism office chief

The cabinet has reinstated Pol Lt Col Pongporn Pramsaneh to the top post at the National Office of Buddhism (NOB), a move that has drawn both applause and criticism from monks.

Pongporn: Returns to his old job

The new order, issued yesterday along with an order to appoint deputy Prime Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn to oversee the NOB, is believed to have been made to reinforce the ongoing investigation into the alleged multi-million-baht embezzlement of temple funds, empowering Pol Lt Col Pongporn to spearhead the probe.

Known for his tough stance on crime, Pol Lt Col Pongporn was earlier transferred to the post of inspector-general under the Prime Minister's Office amid criticism that the government was under pressure by senior monks who did not want Pol Lt Col Pongporn to continue his probe.

It was a move to "temporarily take him out for a talk", Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday, brushing aside questions surrounding the job change.

Pol Lt Col Pongporn was transferred to the PM's Office on Aug 29. On Sept 5, it resolved to assign Manas Taratjai, chief of the Religious Affairs Department, to be Pol Lt Col Pongporn's successor.

But the transfer was not submitted for royal endorsement, government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

Pol Lt Col Pongporn also objected to the transfer order at the time.

The reinstatement of Pol Lt Col Pongporn, which will take effect on Sunday, was supported by many parties, including Phra Ratchathammanithet, commonly known as Phra Phayom Kalayano, abbot of Wat Suan Kaeo in Nonthaburi, and activist monk Phra Buddha Issara, the abbot of Wat Or Noi.

Phra Phayom said he believed the earlier transfer order was probably a plan to "trick" all wrongdoer suspects in the temple fund scandal, making them less careful covering up their alleged mistakes.

This allowed the alleged wrongdoings to become more evident, the monk said.

"I really want to applaud this order because the return of Pol Lt Col Pongporn will actively push ahead the probe into suspected temples," Phra Buddha Issara said.

However, Phra Thamkittimethi, chairman of the Buddhism Protection Centre of Thailand, criticised the reinstatement order, and expressed concern over future ties between the NOB and temples.

"Pol Lt Col Pongporn does not understand the 'culture' of working with monks," he said.