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Published on November 26, 2007

Phra Phayom Kalayano, the abbot of Wat Suan Kaew, yesterday engaged in an unprecedented political discussion with the two frontrunners for the prime minister's post - Democrat Abhist Vejjajiva and People Power Party leader Samak Sundaravej.

The two met the abbot at different times. Phra Phayom discussed morality in politics with Abhisit in the morning and with Samak in the afternoon.

The monk said some would criticise him and say monks should not be involved in politics, but argued that he wanted only to educate the public.

"If people are ignorant they will vote for politicians without balance, like what they are predicting: that people will vote for [People Power] in the North  and for Democrats in the South.

"But if the North votes for 10 Democrat candidates, then they can help check corruption in longan price supports,'' the monk said.

Abhisit said the Democrats embraced morality as a principle in drafting their policies. "If we do not uphold the public interest, but vested interests, the country will be doomed,'' he said.

Abhisit vowed to enforce the law when asked by the monk how the Democrats planned to deal with monks breaking celibacy vows and producing amulets for profit.

The Democrat leader refused to make other promises when pressed. He said the Election Commission banned candidates from making promises.

Asked what he would say to Samak in a debate, Abhisit said he wanted to know what his opponent would do for the country, and would tell him not to buy votes.

Abhisit was asked if he would devote a television channel specially to children. He responded by saying every channel should allocate time for children.

Abhisit said the best way to prevent coups was to have honest governments. "The principle that the Democrats uphold is transparency. We will not reconcile with anyone who commits offences,'' he said.

About 1,000 people turned up to hear the discussion in the morning.

Samak met with Phra Phayom to refute allegations that he is unfit to be prime minister. He insisted he was a man of morality and claimed newspapers were attacking him on the orders of "some figures".

"The cartoons in Thai Rath and Thai Post tore me to pieces. Why did they do that? Because they know I am coming on strong in the race,'' he said.

Samak said monks who broke vows of celibacy must be jailed for up to three years and those who encouraged illegal gambling should go to jail for six months.

Known as a man with strong family values, Samak told the monk instilling morality in young children would solve the problem of child prostitution.

"I do not drink, smoke or visit brothels. I only buy two lottery tickets in one draw,'' he said.

Asked why he was avoiding a face-to-face debate with Abhisit, Samak said he did not want to engage in a war of words. "Once you are on the political stage, you have to exchange punches,'' he said.

Samak responded to Abhisit's attack he was past it, saying the younger politician was an "unripe mango".

Samak insisted he was qualified to be prime minister. He pledged a government led by him would amend the Constitution.

Phra Phayom called on all parties to instill morality in the country. "Politicians should realise the danger of stressing only the economy in their policies and ignoring Dharma,'' he said.

Bancha Khaengkhan

The Nation