Bangkok: Aunt Da and her entourage stormed the National Office of Buddhism to submit a petition requesting an investigation into whether Wat Pa Adulyaram in Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province, is listed in the official register of temples and has been legally established. At 12:40 PM, Ms. Chommanee Noijan, 62 years old, also known as Auntie Da, along with her entourage, arrived at the National Office of Buddhism on Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Road to request verification of the establishment of Wat Pa Adulyaram. They were checking whether the temple had been properly established according to the regulations of the National Office of Buddhism and the Sangha Act, as the temple's name was not previously found in the National Office of Buddhism's list of temples. Mr. Teeradet Chantarat, Director of the Office of the Director, National Office of Buddhism, represented the office in receiving the letter.
According to Thai News Agency, Aunt Da revealed after submitting the petition that she had filed a request with the National Office of Buddhism to inspect the documents related to the establishment of Wat Pa Adulyaram, the petition to the King, and all other documents related to the establishment of Wat Pa Adulyaram. The National Office of Buddhism has scheduled her to pick up the documents on Friday afternoon, August 21st.
Aunt Da also stated that she had submitted petitions to the National Office of Buddhism several times but never received any documents. She said that once the matter became news, they suddenly received the documents. She added that if the temple's documents are correct, her family has no problem, but if they are wrong, society must be fair to her family. She emphasized that the land in question is not public land but is privately occupied (with a land title deed, specifically a Sor Kor 1) registered in the name of her grandfather, and the title deed was issued correctly in 1990. Furthermore, she stressed that the land had never been a cemetery before.
Aunt Da reiterated her desire to meet with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to inquire about and seek clarification for her family and the public, in his capacity as Minister of Interior, overseeing the Department of Provincial Administration and the Department of Land. Currently, the family only wants to verify whether the temple is legitimate. If it is, the family has no problem; if it is, they will address the issue later. She only asks that social media refrain from judging her family prematurely, as several family members have fallen ill after the online backlash over the past week.