NEWS
Thai Buddhist Temple Empty As All Monks Test Positive For Drug Abuse
A small Buddhist temple in northern Thailand has been left without monks after the entire monastery was found to have been using methamphetamine, according to local officials.
Following orders to investigate drug use in Phetchabun province, the sheriff and village headman in Bung Sam Phan subdistrict, some 150 miles north of Bangkok, poked around schools, factories and temples in search of drug addicts and dealers so they could be sent for rehabilitation.
“As a community leader, I was frightened because I never thought the monks would be addicted to drugs,” said Sungyut Namburi, the village headman. “I never thought that drugs would spread to temples.”
Monks are revered figures in Thai culture; in Bangkok’s metro system, seats are reserved for them alongside pregnant and elderly individuals. Particularly in rural areas outside Bangkok, monks are trusted advisers, often serving as counselors and role models to the community.
So it was much to Sungyut’s surprise that all four monks in one small temple tested positive for methamphetamine use when he and the sheriff paid a visit to the monastery Friday. At another small temple, two monks tested positive, he said.
But the writing was on the wall: The monks’ personality and behavior gave them away as drug users, Sungyut said. Some villagers had tipped him off, telling him to check on temples in the community.
Even the abbot — the head of the monastery, who had served as a monk for 10 years — was found to be using drugs. “When I inspected the abbot’s shelter, I was stunned because it was a mess,” Sungyut said. After the drug tests came back positive, he said, the monks confessed to using drugs. Some of them admitted to being longtime addicts.
The scandal in Phetchabun province comes amid a nationwide crackdown on drugs following a mass killing at a day-care center in October that left 38 dead, most of them children. The suspect, a former police officer, was reported to have been dismissed from the force for methamphetamine possession.
Niti Rungjaruenkij, head of the subdistrict’s administration, said the drug users in the community — including the ex-monks — were enrolled in rehabilitation Wednesday.
Sungyut noted that the monks had to leave the monkhood first, as having a monk in rehab would be “inappropriate,” he said. After they are clean from drugs, he said, they can become a monk again if they choose to do so.
But for now, “the temple is empty” without the monks, Sungyut said. He and the sheriff have discussed inviting a “good monk” from elsewhere to fill in. A few monks who heard about the scandal had also offered to stay at the temple to support the community in the interim, he said.
At first, the revelations shocked the community, Sungyut said, causing him to fear that people may lose faith. “It was very difficult for villagers” when they learned of the monks’ transgressions, he said, but they later thanked him for his efforts.
After all, “they are misbehaving monks,” he said, “and they should leave the monkhood if they can’t follow and practice the disciplines.”
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has successfully carried out a decisive strike against a terrorist enclave in the Lake Chad Basin, delivering a significant blow to militant operations.
Recall that on November 23, 2024, fighter jets from the NAF’s Operation Hadin Kai targeted the notorious Jubillaram area, a known stronghold of terrorist elements in the Tumbuns region.
In a statement issued on Monday, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, Director of Public Relations and Information for the NAF, confirmed that the operation was a direct response to recent intelligence.
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“This strategic location, identified through meticulous intelligence efforts, served as a critical food storage site and a sanctuary for terrorist commanders and fighters,” Akinboyewa said.
The airstrike, which followed a string of successful intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, was linked to several recent terrorist attacks, including an assault on Nigerian troops in Kareto on November 16, 2024.
“Intelligence had previously linked terrorists in this location to recent attacks, including the assault on troops in Kareto,” Akinboyewa added.
During the operation, NAF fighter jets launched a precise air interdiction mission, destroying key infrastructure used by the terrorists, including food storage facilities.
This strike disrupted the militants’ logistical operations and significantly weakened their capacity for future attacks.
“The destruction of the terrorist enclave, including food storage facilities, severely disrupted their logistical operations,” Akinboyewa noted.
Following the airstrike, mop-up operations were conducted using cannons to neutralize any remaining hostile elements.
“Mop-up operations using cannons ensured the complete elimination of fleeing hostile elements,” Akinboyewa stated, emphasizing that the operation was a comprehensive success.
The NAF reaffirmed its commitment to continuing operations in the fight against terrorism.
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“This mission demonstrates the NAF’s unwavering commitment to defending our nation and people, acting singly and supporting surface forces in counterterrorism operations,” Akinboyewa said.
“The NAF will sustain these robust independent and joint operations until all enemies of Nigeria’s prosperity and wellbeing are brought to justice.”
A diving excursion turned tragic on Monday when a tourist boat, Sea Story, sank in the Red Sea, off the coast of Egypt.
Officials confirmed that 17 people are still missing, while 28 others have been rescued.
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The boat was carrying 45 individuals, including 31 international tourists and 14 crew members, when it went down near the popular diving destination of Marsa Alam.
Rescue teams, including coast guard boats and helicopters, are continuing an intensive search for survivors.
Details shortly………….
A significant clash is expected in the House of Representatives this week as lawmakers from the ruling party and the opposition prepare to debate President Bola Tinubu’s request for a $2.2 billion loan to cover a N9.7 trillion deficit in the 2024 budget.
The Senate has already approved the request, with the House set to deliberate on it in the coming days.
Approval Likely, Says Deputy Spokesperson
Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Philip Agbese, expressed confidence that the loan would be approved. Speaking with The PUNCH, he emphasised that the Tinubu administration has been prudent with resources, and the loan aligns with capital projects outlined in the President’s letter to the National Assembly.
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“The Tinubu-led government has been prudent with our resources. We will approve the loan request without hesitation,” Agbese stated, assuring that the process would adhere to strict procedures.
Nigeria’s total public debt currently stands at N136 trillion. Despite this, Agbese defended the loan, citing the administration’s focus on critical infrastructure and fiscal policies to safeguard taxpayer resources.
He emphasised the government’s commitment to accountability, stating that the loan would be monitored to ensure its use aligns with its intended purpose.
However, members of the minority caucus have warned against the over-reliance on borrowing. Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda stressed that borrowing should be a last resort. “What did we get as income, and how was it applied that we required borrowing? What efforts have we made to raise funds without borrowing?” he asked, insisting that only verifiable answers to these questions would justify the loan.
Labour Party lawmaker Afam Oghene echoed similar concerns, pointing out the nation’s growing debt profile and urging transparency in how the funds would be allocated. “Nigerians are worried about the Presidency’s repeated requests for loan approvals… The concern is not just about the loans but also about the transparency and integrity of how the funds are being deployed,” he noted.
Some lawmakers argue that the loan is necessary for national development. APC representative Chike Okafor asserted that under-investment in critical sectors like health, education, and infrastructure necessitates borrowing. “What I do not support is borrowing to fund ordinary appetite. By this, I mean borrowing just to fund recurrent expenditures,” he clarified.
As the debate unfolds, the House must balance the need for infrastructural development with concerns about the country’s growing debt. The ruling party appears committed to securing the loan, while opposition lawmakers vow to scrutinise its necessity and terms.
This week’s deliberations will likely determine the trajectory of Nigeria’s fiscal policy amid mounting economic challenges.
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