‘Aunt Da’, estate administrator report to Khon Kaen police over temple trespass, related offences

KHON KAEN – Chommanee Noichan, widely known as  “Aunt Da,” and an estate administrator reported to police on Friday to acknowledge charges in connection with a dispute over land donated to a forest temple in Muang district of this northeastern province.

Ms Chommanee 62, and Ms Buakhai Sornsamut, administrator of Hiang Phimsri’s estate, arrived at Muang Khon Kaen police station to meet investigators at about 10am.

The two women were accompanied by Woradet Changbu, a former adviser to the heirs and other members of the Hiang Phimsri family and their legal team.

Speaking briefly to reporters before entering the station, Ms Chommanee and members of the group expressed confidence in their position, insisting that the heirs would present only factual information during questioning.

Ms Buakhai said she was not concerned about the proceedings and maintained that the facts would ultimately prevail.

Mr Woradet said the group had prepared documents and evidence to file complaints and make official records with police covering four issues related to Wat Pa Adulyaram, its abbot and allegations concerning the improper establishment of the forest temple. 

He said the evidence would be used in future court proceedings and to inform the public of what the group believed to be the facts of the dispute.

Pol Col Yossawat Kaewsuebtunyanij, superintendent of Muang Khon Kaen police station, said investigators would question those involved and proceed with charges in accordance with legal procedures.

Ms Chommanee was implicated in allegations of joint trespassing and threatening to cause intimidation, including a threat to use an excavator to demolish a fence, as well as alleged offences relating to a criminal association and lese-majeste under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, said the station police chief.

Ms Buakhai became involved in a separate case involving allegations that false statements about a land title deed at the centre of the dispute were provided to land officials in an application for a replacement title deed.

Ms Chommanee said she would give an extended interview after completing the police process.

Speaking to reporters, Pol Col Yossawat said Ms Chommanee and seven others acknowledge charges in the temple trespassing case as summoned by police. Ms Buakhai was also questioned in a separate case. All nine suspects denied the charges.

Ms Chommanee faces four charges: jointly trespassing on another person’s property with two or more people, disturbing the peaceful possession of a property; participating in a criminal association; threatening others in a manner that caused fear; and an offence under Section 112 of the Criminal Code.

He said three people have been charged under Section 112 in connection with an offence against national security, Ms Chommanee and two others seen in a video with her who have yet to have their identities revealed.

Ms Buakhai has been charged with filing a false complaint with officials, said Pol Col Yossawat.

“Investigators informed the suspects of their rights and charges. As they voluntarily reported to police to acknowledge the charges, they were not arrested and no bail was required,” Pol Col Yossawat said.

Ms Chommanee represents the heirs of Hiang who donated the land on which the forest temple was built three decades ago. They have been fighting to reclaim the land in a dispute that centres on whether a title can legally be transferred to a temple.

The dispute escalated on Aug 10 when vehicles and construction materials were brought in to block access to the religious site. Security video showed “Aunt Da” at the scene, leading to the trespassing charge.

On Wednesday, land officials in Khon Kaen amended details on the land title deed to recognise Wat Pa Ayulyaram as the lawful holder, a move aimed at resolving the long-running conflict with the heirs of the land donor.

The deed for the land where the temple was built had originally listed former village headman Hiang as the registered owner. It was his wish that the land be used to build a temple, according to temple representatives and those close to him.

Phra Kru Adulyasananithet said earlier that the 21-rai site was formally donated in 1990 in front of local residents, with photographs and copies of the title deed kept as evidence. Hiang died the following year.

Permission to build was sought in 1992 and the complex was officially registered as a temple in 1998.

The temple had previously won cases at every court level, but Hiang’s heirs continued to pursue the matter, applying for a replacement deed on July 27 this year.

 The 72-year-old abbot lodged an objection to the application, and asked to have the property where Wat Pa Adulyaram stands registered in the temple’s name.

Source – Bangkok News