Napholdej supports 10-year passports for monks overseas

Matichon•General•4d ago

Reader Briefing

Napholdej Maneelangka supports the Sangha Supreme Council's resolution to allow monks and novices to apply for 10-year passports.

•The Sangha Supreme Council approved a principle allowing monks and novices to request general passports with a maximum validity of 10 years.
•The policy applies to monks traveling abroad for personal reasons after passing through the Control Center for Monks Traveling Abroad (Sor Tor Por).
•Napholdej Maneelangka stated that longer passports reduce the burden of time and cost associated with returning to Thailand for document renewal.
•The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will implement the guidelines according to legal frameworks.

•The Sangha Supreme Council approved a resolution based on a letter from the Supreme Patriarch regarding the duration of general passports for monks and novices.
•Napholdej Maneelangka previously consulted the Department of Consular Affairs, which confirmed that 10-year passports could be issued if the Sangha Supreme Council set the principle.
•The Sangha Supreme Council officially extended passport validity from 2 years to 5 years in 2014.
•Napholdej Maneelangka noted that limited passport validity disrupts the work of Dhammaduta monks who reside abroad for long periods to build temples and networks.
•Napholdej Maneelangka clarified that a 10-year passport does not automatically grant a 10-year visa, as visa approval remains the authority of the destination country.
•Napholdej Maneelangka argued that the fact some monks may disrobe while abroad should not be used as a reason to limit rights for all monks.
•Napholdej Maneelangka cited the Constitution's Section 27 on equality, Section 38 on freedom of travel, and Section 67 on the state's duty to protect Buddhism.
•The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will proceed with the implementation according to relevant laws and regulations.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Napholdej Maneelangka

"Extending from 5 to 10 years may seem like just adding time, but in practice, it will help monks work continuously."

การขยายจาก 5 ปีเป็น 10 ปี แม้ดูเหมือนเป็นเพียงการเพิ่มระยะเวลา แต่ในทางปฏิบัติจะช่วยให้พระสงฆ์สามารถทำงานได้อย่างต่อเนื่อง

Napholdej Maneelangka

"I view this issue not just as a matter of documents, but as a matter of continuity in propagating Buddhism."

ผมมองว่าประเด็นนี้ไม่ได้เป็นเพียงเรื่องเอกสาร แต่เป็นเรื่องของ ความต่อเนื่องในการทำงานเผยแผ่พระพุทธศาสนา

Napholdej Maneelangka(ณพลเดช มณีลังกา)

A reserve senator for Chiang Rai province and former sub-committee member on Buddhism for the House of Representatives.

Supreme Patriarch(สมเด็จพระอริยวงศาคตญาณ สมเด็จพระสังฆราช สกลมหาสังฆปริณายก)ℹ️

The head of the Thai Buddhist order who issued the letter regarding passport duration for monks.

Somdet Phra Wachirasitthacharn (Thongchai Sukkhano)(สมเด็จพระวชิรสิทธาจารย์ (ธงชัย สุขญาโณ))

A member of the Sangha Supreme Council and Abbot of Wat Saket who previously pushed for extending passport validity to 5 years.

Sangha Supreme Council(มหาเถรสมาคม)ℹ️

The governing body of Thai Buddhist monks that approved the principle for 10-year passports.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs(กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ)ℹ️

The government agency responsible for issuing passports and implementing the new guidelines.

Control Center for Monks Traveling Abroad(ศูนย์ควบคุมการไปต่างประเทศสำหรับพระภิกษุสามเณร)

The center through which monks and novices must pass before requesting a passport.

Department of Consular Affairs(กรมการกงสุล)

The department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that handles passport issuance.

Constitution(รัฐธรรมนูญ)ℹ️

The supreme law of Thailand cited regarding equality, freedom of travel, and state support for Buddhism.