Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha wants any ruling on the conflict-plagued nomination of the new supreme patriarch to be based on law and monastic rules.
Regarding the nomination of scandal-hit Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn, Gen Prayut said in California on Tuesday that if the Sangha Supreme Council, government and groups with different stances valued Buddhism, they should base a resolution on Buddhist canon law. If that was not enough, then civil and criminal codes would have to be applied.
The prime minister expressed concern over Monday's protest by monks and supporters of the 90-year-old nominee, better known as Somdet Chuang, at Phutthamonthon Buddhist Park in Nakhon Pathom province.
Somdet Chuang is acting on behalf of the supreme patriarch and chairs the Sangha Supreme Council which in January resolved to nominate him as the new supreme patriarch.
Gen Prayut said that concerned parties should stop their demonstrations and join a debate that he would organise between conflicting parties after he returns to Thailand.
Gen Prayut reiterated that unless conflicts over the supreme patriarch nomination were resolved, he would not forward it to His Majesty the King for endorsement.
Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya on Wednesday invited the media and all concerned parties to attend a news conference by the Department of Special Investigation on Thursday to hear details of the allegedly illegal acquisition of a vintage Mercedes-Benz owned by Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn.
He expected information from the briefing would clarify the vehicle issue and end protests.
