The assembling monks at Phutthamonthon have ended their demonstration after their leader submitted five requests to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon at Government House on Monday evening.
Gen Prawit's intervention came after the monks clashed with soldiers who they claimed blocked an entrance to the area.
Video clips and pictures of the monks trying to lift the GMC trucks spread online.
Phra Methee Dhammacharn, assistant abbot of Wat Maha That in his capacity as secretary general of the Buddhism Protection Centre of Thailand, was escorted to Government House by police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda.
The monk gave their five demands in writing to Gen Prawit in a five-minute meeting.
- Earlier story: Monks gather to demand Supreme Patriarch endorsement
First, they want government agencies to stop meddling with monk affairs and support the religion in traditional ways.
Second, like its predecessors, the government should consult and seek consent from the Sangha Supreme Council (SSC) on issues related to monk administration.
Phra Methee talks after meeting Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon at Government House on Monday. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
Third, the prime minister should proceed with the endorsement of the 20th Supreme Patriarch after the SSC nominated Somdet Chuang based on the Sangha law.
Next, the government should make it a policy of having agencies treat monks with respect and refrain from threatening them with lawsuits.
Lastly, they want the new constitution to have a provision which says Buddhism is the national religion.
Phra Methee said after the meeting the government agreed to take care of their concerns and would report to the prime minister after he returns from the US.
"We will give the government time. Yet we feel we might have to return if the requests are not met," he said.
Gen Prawit declined to comment, saying the monk had said it all.
PM Office's Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana said the misunderstanding between the monks and soldiers on Monday might have been the result of the monk's failure to seek permission to assemble with the junta.
"We'll try to sort out the issues as soon as possible," he said, but declined to say whether the government would accelerate the endorsement of the new Supreme Patriarch.
Somdet Chuang, whose full title is Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn, is the abbot of Wat Pak Nam Phasi Charoen. He is also acting Supreme Patriarch and chairman of the Sangha Supreme Council.
A monk argues with a soldier. (Photo by Pornprom Satrabhaya)
