At 9:45 more than fifty people gathered outside of Wat Suwansiriwong on Prabaramee Rd some holding signs saying “Bodies of Tsunami victims is not allowed”, “ Closing temple to take a nap”, and “ Same treatment for rich or poor”.
Protesters said that the head monk of the temple had not allowed one local family to have a nine days funeral at the temple.
The allegation came after family members of a dead woman posted comments on Facebook indicating that her family was scheduled to have a nine days funeral at the temple started on March 16, but the head-monk told them to cut it short to seven days.
Upset with the monk, the family moved the funeral to another temple on March 18 and commented on Facebook that they would be treated differently if they were rich.
While protesters waited outside, head monk, Phra Kroo Poetipanyakorn, led monks and Buddhists in a religious ceremony for the 8th day of 5th waxing moon until ceremony. The crowd were waiting outside for him until the ceremony was over, and 20 of his supporters marched behind him when he came of out of the temple building.
The protesters gave Phra Kroo a list of demads as follows:
1. The temple must allow both rich and poor families to hold funerals there.
2. The temple must allow both rich and poor family members to enter monkshood there and the fee should depend upon the family̕s financial position.
3. Everybody should be treated the same.
4. Spaces in the temple should be free for public use when necessary.
5. Set up a temple committee which residents can talk to when facing a problem.
Kathu District Chief, Sayan Chanachaiyawong, Kathu police led by Deputy Superintendent Lt Col Akanit Danpitaksan and Royal Navy came to help settle the dispute and it took them more than three hours before they reached the agreement and left the area.
Phra Kroo Poetipanyakorn agreed to allow both rich and poor families to have funerals at temple.
He also agreed that bith rich and poor families can send their family members to enter monkshood at the temple free of charge, and that the temple area will be free for all residents to use.
With regards to the protestors last request, the temple cannot provide people to be members of the committee but will allow residents to send one person as a representative to be a member of the temple committee.