Thailand arrests senior monks to clean up Buddhism

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BANGKOK (Reuters) -

Thai police raided four Buddhist temples on Thursday, arresting several prominent monks and worshipers in the year’s biggest such operation amid a crackdown on illegal financial dealings by temples.

The raids are the military government’s latest bid to reform Buddhism, which is followed by more than 90 percent of Thailand’s population of 69 million, but whose image has been tarnished by money and sex scandals involving monks.

Thailand’s temples, which earn billions of dollars every year from donations, have been embroiled in scandals ranging from murder, sex and drugs to shady financial dealings. Under pressure from the junta, Thailand’s body of Buddhist monks has been trying to clean up its own act since last year, by enforcing tougher discipline for more than 300,000 monks.

Buddhist monks are highly respected in Thailand and taking action against them was historically considered taboo. But recent scandals have forced authorities to rethink how they handle allegations against Buddhist religious leaders.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-buddhism/thailand-arrests-senior-monks-in-temple-raids-to-clean-up-buddhism-idUSKCN1IP0X3