DRUGS AT TEMPLE EMBARRASS MONKS FURTHER

BANGKOK - The seizure of 16,000 methamphetamine pills from a Buddhist
temple in Bangkok on Tuesday is the latest blow for Thailand's monks
already embarrassed by revelations that one in 10 is hooked on the pills.

The drugs, sealed in a container, were pulled out from a temple pond in
Khao San Road - Bangkok's colourful backpacker haunt made famous by the
Leonardo DiCaprio movie, The Beach.

The discovery came just a day after revelations by Mr Manop Polparin, a
specialist with the state's Religious Affairs Department, that an estimated
one in 10 of Thailand's 30,000 Buddhist monks and novice monks wer addicted
to methamphetamines.

But he admitted that temple abbots did not want to face the problem and
refused to work with the police, fearing a backlash from the public.

Thailand had been hit by a series of scandals in which monks had been
caught womanising, collecting antique Mercedes-Benz cars and drinking alcohol.

Although there have been attempts to help addicted monks, the state could
only afford 10 baht (S$0.40) per monk for rehabilitation.

Thai monks were susceptible to addiction because many came from
disadvantaged backgrounds and only became ordained to obtain a free education.

Such openness meant that there was a lack of screening of those entering.