thailandedition
Thammasat Scholar: Buddhism Protection Committee not lay governance of monks

Thammasat Scholar: Buddhism Protection Committee not lay governance of monks

Prachachat•General•2h ago

Reader Briefing

A legal scholar clarifies that the National Buddhism Protection Committee's role is advisory and supportive, not direct governance of the monastic order, with all actions requiring Buddhist ecclesiastical approval.

  • •The National Buddhism Protection Committee (NBPC) has been established to organize and protect Buddhism in Thailand.
  • •Key appointments to the NBPC include former central bank and finance ministers, focusing on financial and asset management within temples.
  • •The NBPC's functions are distinct from direct governance of monks, requiring Supreme Patriarch and Sangha Supreme Council approval for any measures concerning monastic affairs.
  • •The establishment of the NBPC, along with central disciplinary and Dhamma expert committees, reflects the Thai state's proactive stance in safeguarding Buddhism, raising discussions on religious freedom.

Overview

  • •On February 2, 2026, the appointment of the chairperson and qualified committee members for the National Buddhism Protection Committee (NBPC) was announced.
  • •The NBPC was established under the Prime Minister's Office Regulation on the Protection of Buddhism B.E. 2025 to address potential distortions and threats to Buddhism.
  • •Asst. Prof. Dr. Krich Phoonyama, a Thammasat University law lecturer, explained the NBPC's functions and limitations regarding monastic governance.
  • •The NBPC's primary role is to propose measures and establish mechanisms for the state and monastic order, not to govern monks directly.
  • •The NBPC's measures directly related to monastic governance require the Supreme Patriarch's approval and the Sangha Supreme Council's endorsement.
  • •The appointment of former central bank chairman and former finance minister to the NBPC signals a focus on organizing Buddhist financial and asset management.
  • •The Central Disciplinary Committee and Central Dhamma Committee have been established under the same regulation but have not yet had their members appointed.
  • •The effectiveness and practical application of the NBPC's measures in combating corruption within the monastic order will be continuously monitored.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on Prachachat (Thai Version)View in Google Translate

Source: Prachachat (Original)

Key Quotes

Asst. Prof. Dr. Krich Phoonyama
"The operations of the National Buddhism Protection Committee (NBPC) will not lead to laypeople governing monks, as the NBPC's main task is to propose measures and establish mechanisms for the state and the monastic order to protect Buddhism."
การดำเนินงานของคณะกรรมการคุ้มครองพระพุทธศาสนาแห่งชาติ (คพช.) จะไม่ทำให้เกิดฆราวาสมาปกครองพระสงฆ์ เนื่องจากหน้าที่หลักของ คพช. จะเป็นการเสนอมาตรการ และวางกลไกต่าง ๆ ต่อฝ่ายบ้านเมืองและฝ่ายคณะสงฆ์ เพื่อคุ้มครองและปกป้องพระพุทธศาสนา
Asst. Prof. Dr. Krich Phoonyama
"If any measures or mechanisms determined by the NBPC directly relate to the governance of the monastic order, they must receive the Supreme Patriarch's approval and the Sangha Supreme Council's endorsement first."
หากมาตรการหรือกลไกใด ๆ ที่ คพช. กำหนด มีความเกี่ยวข้องกับการปกครองคณะสงฆ์โดยตรง จะต้องได้รับพระสังฆราชานุมัติและต้องผ่านความเห็นชอบของมหาเถรสมาคม (มส.) ก่อน
Asst. Prof. Dr. Krich Phoonyama
"All operations of the NBPC do not affect the authority of the Supreme Patriarch and the Sangha Supreme Council."
การดำเนินการทั้งหลายทั้งปวงของ คพช. ไม่กระทบกระเทือนถึงอำนาจของสมเด็จพระสังฆราช และ มส.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Krich Phoonyama
"This NBPC is an attempt by the Thai state to support and protect Buddhism, believing there is a trend of distorting teachings and undermining Buddhism in various forms."
คพช. ที่ตั้งขึ้นนี้ นับเป็นความพยายามของรัฐไทยที่จะอุปถัมภ์และคุ้มครองพระพุทธศาสนา ด้วยความเชื่อว่าในขณะนี้ มีแนวโน้มที่จะเกิดการบิดเบือนหลักธรรมคำสอน ตลอดจนการบ่อนทำลายพระพุทธศาสนาในรูปแบบต่าง ๆ

Key Entities

Person

Thammasat Scholar(นักวิชาการธรรมศาสตร์)
An academic from Thammasat University offering legal and analytical insights on the National Buddhism Protection Committee.
Former Chairman of the Bank of Thailand Board(ประธานบอร์ดแบงก์ชาติ)
An individual appointed as a qualified committee member for the National Buddhism Protection Committee, specializing in financial matters.
Minister of Finance(รมว.คลัง)
An individual appointed as a qualified committee member for the National Buddhism Protection Committee, specializing in asset management.
Layperson(ฆราวาส)
Refers to non-ordained individuals, whose governance over monks is clarified as not being the role of the National Buddhism Protection Committee.
Monks(พระสงฆ์)
Members of the Buddhist monastic order, whose governance by laypersons is clarified as not being the function of the National Buddhism Protection Committee.
Supreme Patriarch(พระสังฆราช)
The highest-ranking monk in Thailand, whose approval is required for measures concerning monastic governance proposed by the NBPC.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Krich Phoonyama(ผศ. ดร. กริช ภูญียามา)
An Associate Professor in Law at Thammasat University who elaborated on the National Buddhism Protection Committee's mandate and regulations.
Paramethee Vimol Siri(ปรเมธี วิมลศิริ)
Former Chairman of the Bank of Thailand Board, appointed as a qualified member of the NBPC responsible for financial matters.
Akom Terbpitayapaisit(อาคม เติมพิทยาไพสิฐ)
Former Minister of Finance, appointed as a qualified member of the NBPC responsible for asset management.
Permanent Secretary for Interior(ปลัดกระทรวงมหาดไทย)
An ex-officio committee member of the NBPC, representing the Ministry of Interior.
Secretary-General of the Office of the Council of State(เลขาธิการสำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา)
An ex-officio committee member of the NBPC, representing the Office of the Council of State.
Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police(ผู้บัญชาการตำรวจแห่งชาติ)
An ex-officio committee member of the NBPC, representing the Royal Thai Police.

Organization

Buddhism Protection Committee(กก.คุ้มครองพุทธศาสนา)
An organization established to protect and organize Buddhism in Thailand, with specific roles and limitations regarding monastic governance.
NBPC(คพช.)
Acronym for the National Buddhism Protection Committee, responsible for proposing measures to protect Buddhism, requiring ecclesiastical approval for monastic affairs.
Sangha Supreme Council(มหาเถรสมาคม)
The highest governing body of the Buddhist clergy in Thailand, whose endorsement is required for NBPC measures affecting monastic affairs.
Thammasat University(มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์)ℹ️
An educational institution in Thailand where Asst. Prof. Dr. Krich Phoonyama teaches law and from which insights on the NBPC were provided.
National Buddhism Protection Committee(คณะกรรมการคุ้มครองพระพุทธศาสนาแห่งชาติ)
A committee established to protect Buddhism, operating under specific regulations that require ecclesiastical approval for monastic governance matters.
Sangha Supreme Council (SSC)(มหาเถรสมาคม (มส.))
The apex monastic governing body in Thailand, whose consensus is necessary for any NBPC proposals impacting the monastic order's administration.
Bank of Thailand(ธนาคารแห่งประเทศไทย)ℹ️
Thailand's central bank, where the former chairman of its board was appointed as a qualified member of the NBPC.
Central Disciplinary Committee(คณะวินัยธรกลาง)
A committee to be appointed under the Prime Minister's Office Regulation, tasked with adjudicating issues related to the interpretation and application of monastic discipline.
Central Dhamma Committee(คณะธรรมธรกลาง)
A committee to be appointed under the Prime Minister's Office Regulation, responsible for adjudicating issues concerning the distortion of Buddhist teachings.

Law

Prime Minister's Office Regulation on the Protection of Buddhism B.E. 2025(ระเบียบสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรีว่าด้วยการคุ้มครองพระพุทธศาสนา พ.ศ. 2025)
The foundational regulation establishing the National Buddhism Protection Committee and outlining its operational framework.