Khon Kaen News Center — A close disciple of the abbot of Wat Pa Adulayaram has revealed that a generous devotee was willing to contribute more than 1.5 million baht to help the temple with a land transfer, but was asked by the abbot to hold off because the land is still in the court process. The actual cost of the transfer is only around 7,000–8,000 baht. Meanwhile, a group of faithful supporters has donated and installed eight CCTV cameras at the temple free of charge to help maintain security on the grounds.
A reporter noted that as of today (17 August), the atmosphere at Wat Pa Adulayaram in Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province, remains one of steady activity, with members of the public and devotees continuing to arrive. Staff from a private company came to donate and install eight CCTV cameras at the temple at no cost, with the aim of monitoring security inside the temple and assisting officials in overseeing the surrounding area of Wat Pa Adulayaram.
Maitri Watkapanitj, 39, owner of EK Network Co., Ltd., a CCTV installation business in Khon Kaen Province, said that all the CCTV cameras donated were paid for out of his own pocket after he followed news on various pages in Khon Kaen Province and learned that there was talk of raising funds to procure cameras for the temple. Since he was already in this line of business, he decided to donate an additional eight cameras and sent a team to complete the installation. The cost of the equipment alone came to approximately 25,000 baht.
No installation fee was charged. He said he had been following the news about the temple's land dispute throughout, and as a Khon Kaen native who had visited the temple on several occasions in the past, he recalled that the atmosphere there used to be quite quiet with few visitors. Having seen the news coverage, he wanted to come and offer support in the area of security, noting in particular that police officers would be able to make better use of the cameras to monitor the surrounding area more conveniently.
The donated cameras are IP-based with a resolution of 2 megapixels, capable of recording footage for playback and allowing remote viewing via mobile phone. Phra Anuwat or the temple committee can access the footage. The installation points are focused on the temple's entry and exit gates, as well as a spot where the monks had reported that electrical wiring had previously gone missing, prompting the addition of one more camera at that location.
Maitri added that if the full cost of labour and equipment were calculated at normal market rates, it would come to approximately 35,000 baht — with installation running at around 1,500 baht per point and each camera costing around 1,000 baht, in addition to a recording unit, a power switch, and other accessories. On this occasion, however, he chose to offer everything to the temple as a merit-making contribution and a gesture of support for security at Wat Pa Adulayaram.
Thanakorn Bunnakhon, 33, a close disciple of Phra Khru Adulsan Nithet, the abbot of Wat Pa Adulayaram, told reporters that after devotees followed news reports stating that the temple's land transfer would require approximately 1,500,000 baht, some members of the public made their way to the temple intending to help. One individual came with the intention of presenting the money directly to the abbot. Just as that person was about to bring the money forward, the abbot asked them to stop, as the land is still before the court.
The abbot had also received information from Land Department officials indicating that the actual processing cost may be only around 7,000–8,000 baht. This caused the would-be donor to hesitate, and the money was not handed over, as the abbot did not accept it. The identity and origin of that individual are not known; it is only known that they arrived by minivan or some similar vehicle.
Thanakorn further said that in addition to cash donations, he sometimes answers phone calls on behalf of the abbot from people wishing to offer assistance. In such cases he advises callers that if they wish to help, they can transfer money via the temple's QR code or bank account number, which have been published through various media, or if they want greater peace of mind, they are welcome to come to the temple in person and present the money directly to the abbot, who will then decide whether or not to accept it. For smaller amounts — in the hundreds of baht, for instance — the abbot may accept them.
For larger sums, however, the abbot may consider it inappropriate and decline, out of concern that it might not look right. Thanakorn therefore passed a message to all devotees who wish to donate money to help the temple: please come to the temple directly, or transfer funds via the temple's QR code, so that any assistance given is proper and transparent.
