1 in 10 Thai Buddhist monks need help for drug problems

One in 10 of Thailand's Buddhist monks are said to have asked for secret help in conquering drug addiction.

The Religious Affairs Department, which made the claims, says temple leaders fear they will alienate supporters if they tackle the issue publicly.

The Mahatat Monastery in Bangkok says the allegations of drug abuse are exaggerated.

A spokesman added: "Monks are human, even if some of them are capable of extraordinary things. No one should be surprised if a few of the thousands of monks in Thailand make some mistakes."

The South China Morning Post says Thai men are often pressured to enter the monkhood at some point in their lives and it is a popular refuge for many.

Phra Peter Pannapadipo, an Englishman ordained as a Thai monk, says: "Consequently we have all types of young men ordaining and they often bring into the monkhood all sorts of bad habits and vices."

Thailand's Buddhist monasteries have been hit by a number of scandals.

In November Wanchai Oonsap, a former abbot of Wat Tha Chang, was jailed for six months for illegally wearing a military uniform while entertaining two girls.