All monks test positive for methamphetamine, a Buddhist temple closed
Worried villagers, who can't perform any ceremonies
A Buddhist temple in central Thailand closed after all its monks were banned after testing positive for drugs .
It happened in the district of Bung Sam Phan, in the province of Phetchabun, reports a local official.
The four monks at the temple, including an abbot, all tested positive for methamphetamine , district official Boonlert Thintapthai said. They were all sent to a specialized clinic.
"The temple - explained the official - is now empty and the inhabitants of the nearby villages are worried that they won't be able to perform any ceremonies. We will send more monks as soon as possible to enable the village residents to fulfill their religious obligations .'
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Thailand is a major transit country for methamphetamine arriving from Burma's Shan state via Laos. Methamphetamine pills are sold on the streets of Thailand for less than 20 baht, the equivalent of about 50 cents .
(Unioneonline/L)
