Novice monks walk in a procession at Buddha Utthayan Makha Bucha Anusorn Buddhist park in Nakhon Nayok to mark Makha Bucha Day on March 4, 2015. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

National Reform Council (NRC) member Paiboon Nititawan has decided to disband the NRC panel on protecting Buddhism that he chairs amid growing criticism of its recent moves against the clergy.

The committee’s dissolution comes a day after NRC chairman Thienchay Kiranandana insisted the council would not make any recommendations on reforms related to Buddhist monks.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had said earlier the government will not intervene in monastic affairs except when they involve prosecutions.

The Paiboon panel was created more than a month ago to lay down guidelines for the protection of Buddhism as a fresh scandal involving controversial Wat Phra Dhammakaya and its abbot Phra Dhammachayo emerged.

The committee also sent a petition in which it asked the Sangha Supreme Council (SSC) to review its 1999 decision clearing Wat Phra Dhammakaya’s abbot of distorting Buddhist doctrine and embezzlement.

That petition sparked a row with a group of monks who recently urged the government to dissolve the NRC panel or face more pressure from monks nationwide.

Admitting his panel is feeling the heat, Mr Paiboon said the committee has completed raising awareness about the need to reform Buddhist monks’ affairs.

Asked about Mr Thienchay’s stance on the issue, he said: “The NRC chairman wanted the committee to carry on. But as its head, I think the committee has completed its job and if it continues working, it will outlast its usefulness. This may draw criticism against the NRC chairman.

“Our work has raised public awareness [about problems in the clergy] and the mission is complete,” he said.

He said he would keep working on religious reforms through an advocacy network. It would follow up on the alleged embezzlement of the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative, a scandal in which Wat Phra Dhammakaya was implicated.

Also yesterday, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) revealed its investigation findings regarding the 878 cheques worth 11.3 billion baht paid by the credit union and authorised by ex-chairman Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, the key scam suspect.

Of the total number of cheques paid by the cooperative, 43 of them worth 932 million baht were paid to Wat Phra Dhammakaya and the temple’s monks, including the abbot.

In addition, 27 cheques worth 348 million baht were paid to temple followers close to Mr Supachai; 12 cheques worth 272 million baht were paid to former Wat Phra Dhammakaya monk Sataporn Wattanasirikul and his SW Holding Group; and three cheques worth 46 million baht were paid to Mongkol Setthi Credit Union Coperative founded by Mr Supachai.

The DSI investigation will also look at 135 cheques worth 2.56 billion baht paid to the group of Ratpracha Credit Union Cooperative, Jiradet Wongpiankul and Watchanont Navaisararak; and 658 cheques worth 7.2 billion baht which were paid to other juristic people and went through various overseas transfers.

Meanwhile, Mr Supachai yesterday denied any role in the alleged embezzlement linked to donations to the temple.

He said he made two donations worth 634 million baht to the temple and the abbot during 2009-2010 and the money came from loans he took out from the cooperative.

He said he followed the cooperative’s proper loan regulations and procedures and had already repaid the borrowed money as it appeared in the cooperative’s annual audit report.

Mr Supachai denied claims that he siphoned money from the cooperative and insisted the controversial temple and its abbot had nothing to do with the scandal.

His donations to Phra Dhammachayo were made openly. The abbot was unaware of the size of his donations, the former caretaker of the temple added.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday the cooperative and Wat Phra Dhammakaya are scheduled to negotiate the return of the money in a court on March 16.

Meanwhile, activist monk Phra Buddha Isra, yesterday filed a petition with the Office of the Auditor-General calling for an investigation into alleged high spending by SSC members and by two monastic universities — Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University and Mahamakutrajavidyalaya University.

In response, Phra Maha Show Dassaniyo from the latter university lodged a police complaint against Phra Buddha Isra for his alleged intimidation of Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn, the acting Supreme Patriarch.