Andrew Drummond

Thailand: Buddhism in crisis
Bottom shaking Abbot in micro-skirt flees temple with posse of lady-boys
From Andrew Drummond, Bangkok,
February 8 2009
The Abbot of a Buddhist monastery here in Thailand has apparently fled from his temple with a group of transvestites – in the latest incident in a country where Buddhism has been described as being in a crisis.
Allegations have been made that the Abbot of the Sri Boon Ruang Temple in Lamphun, Northern Thailand, had has a full sex change operation and cruised the local town for clients at night with a group of lady-boys as his acolytes .
The Provincial Governor of the province at the weekend gave until tomorrow (Monday) for 38-yr-old Abbot Phra Khru Wichit Sarakan to ‘come out’.  And if he did not resign, said Governor Direk Kongrit, “I will have to take action”.
In the scandal which has rocked the majority Buddhist population of Thailand, it is alleged that Phra Khru Wichit Sarakan, dressed up in micro-skirts, wore lipstick and mascara, and cruised local nightspots as a female with a crowd of transvestites using the name ‘Jaidao’.
According to a waitress in the Tawan Daeng restaurant in Lamphun: “Jaidow used to come here often with a group of five or six. He always wore shorts and very short skirts.  “When he got drunk he used to dance and wiggle his bottom a lot. He used to give big tips to the waiters if they were young and handsome.”
The Abbot is also reported to have replaced forty monks at his temple with 40 ‘katoeys’ said the Provincial Governor, using a Thai expression which covers ‘effeminate men, transsexuals, and transvestites’ often also referred to in Thailand as ‘the third sex’.
Governor Direk Kongrit, raided the temple last week with local police, and saw young men run away from the monks rooms. 
“We also found two ‘katoeys’ in a monks room. But they said they had come to collect some money to do some flower arranging.
“In the Abbot’s room police have found a lot of women’s clothing including bras, panties, and extra large women’s shoes. We know enough. We do not feel it necessary to conduct the investigation any further.
“We have been in touch with the Abbot, who was not present during the raid. He has not admitted he has had an operation to have his private parts replaced by those of a woman. He said he did not want the publicity to get worse then it was. Out of respect because of his position and because he is also a local district councillor, I am not going to order a search.
“Perhaps he might admit this to journalists.  But it appears there are only two normal monks and one novice left in the temple which is known locally as ‘Temple Katoey’.
 Today the Abbot had already fled. “I have decided to leave and move away. It is better for all concerned,” he told a reporter from the Kom Chat Luek newspaper.
The allegation that he had a sex change came from a boyfriend whom he was putting through university.
Meanwhile the Abbots of all temples in Lamphun Province are being called to meet the Provincial Governor next week. “I need to clarify my position on this. We have heard of many reports of ‘katoeys’ in other temples,” said Governor Kongrit.
 Buddhism in Thailand has been described as being in turmoil with many newspapers using the headline ‘Buddhism in Crisis’  with many monks being outed for having mistresses on the side, gambling, and property developing, all with the cash from donations.