Residents from Luang Ta Kien and Ta Kien Thong in the Huai Thalaeng district of Nakhon Ratchasima have staged a protest today against an unidentified monastery that has encroached upon a historic site. Despite an order issued by the Department of Fine Arts almost a year ago instructing the removal of the structure, no action has been taken. The villagers, who have filed multiple complaints against the monastery, are becoming increasingly disheartened.
The dispute surrounding the ancient site began about a year ago when villagers reported to various government authorities that the monastery had constructed a building over the Ban Luang Ta Kien stone temple, commonly referred to as the Kok Prasat Temple. This construction obstructed the local residents from visiting the temple and conducting their rituals, prompting an extensive investigation by multiple government agencies.
On September 29th of the previous year, the Department of Fine Arts issued an order for the monastery to dismantle the religious building that had been constructed over the stone temple. Despite the villagers’ initial relief and hope of regaining their beloved ancient stone temple, no enforcement of this directive has occurred nearly a year later. It was initially understood that the monastery had sought legal protection against this order pending a court verdict or another ruling. Consequently, the villagers have once again come together to demand action.
Samruay Sutthiphata, one of the protesters, disclosed that when the Department of Fine Arts first issued the removal order for the religious building from the stone temple, there was a collective sense of joy among the villagers. They were optimistic about the return of their cherished ancient stone temple and had even made plans for a merit-making festival in the sixth month, during which they would pay homage to their ancestors who resided in the stone temple—an enduring tradition. However, the building was never dismantled, and the villagers had to conduct the festival at the village hall, as they had been doing since the monastery’s construction had restricted their access to the temple.
Initially, nearly all villagers supported the effort to regain control of the Ban Luang Ta Kien stone temple. However, as the case progressed with no apparent resolution in sight, and several village leaders faced multiple charges, including robbery, perjury, defamation, and others, many villagers began to lose hope, as reported by Sanook. They decided not to continue their fight, citing past instances where their complaints to the Department of Fine Arts resulted in orders to halt construction, only for the monastery to disregard them and continue expanding, eventually becoming the large monastery it is today.
Presently, only a few determined villagers are persisting in their struggle to reclaim the ancient stone temple, unwilling to allow it to be transformed into someone’s private property—a symbol of their heritage.
