23-11-2024 (BANGKOK) Thai authorities have launched an investigation into the discovery of 41 human cadavers at a Buddhist monastery in Phichit province, where they were allegedly being used for meditation practices, raising concerns about both legal and religious propriety.
The Pa Nakhon Chaibovorn monastery in Pho Thale district has come under scrutiny after police found dozens of bodies on the premises, prompting a thorough investigation into their acquisition and use. Pol Maj Gen Tadej Klomkliang, Phichit’s provincial police chief, announced on Saturday that authorities are examining documentation and gathering evidence to determine whether any laws were breached.
While monastery officials claim the bodies were donated by devoted followers who died of natural causes, investigators are working to verify these assertions and establish the circumstances of each death. The case has taken an intriguing turn following conflicting statements from religious authorities.
Kom Pattarakulprasert, director of the Phichit Office of Buddhism, revealed a disturbing discrepancy in his recent interaction with the monastery’s leader, Phra Ajarn Saifon Phandito. “When directly questioned about the presence of cadavers, the answer was negative,” Pattarakulprasert said. “The subsequent discovery of 41 bodies by journalists has raised serious questions about transparency.”
