Thai monks ordered to stay away from pro-democracy rallies

It could be the end of protest “carrots” – as monks are called in the pro-democracy movement – after the top religious authority today forbade them from joining rallies.

The government’s National Buddhism Office announced that the Sangha Supreme Council, the top ecclesiastical body, had agreed to order temples nationwide to bar their monks and novices from participating in political activities at risk of unspecified punishment. 

Office Director Narong Songarom, who reports to the embattled prime minister, said both his office and the council had received complaints from people about monks participating in political demonstrations.He said that a few warnings were issued to head monks with little effect. He cited the Sangha Act of 1995, which states that Buddhist monks can’t be involved in politics.

Yet monks have long played a role in popular uprisings,…