In the wake of recent This is the second time for the monks' morning rounds to get suspended. The first was in November 2006, when the
The provincial monastic office said Buddhists may choose to give food to the monks at the temples during the month, with escorts provided for their trips.
A senior monk said the practice was a requirement for the monks in the region. Even in a small number, they are a symbol of Buddhism and "a spiritual sanctum for all Buddhists amidst violence."
The abbot of Wat Khao Kong said the alms rounds for his temple stopped on January 31, with food now provided mainly by soldiers on local guard duty, and from Buddhist visitors.
The abbot of Wat Ras Samosorn said, "When the monks go out taking alms, they are escorted heavily all the way from and back to the temple. It is not a good sight, but there is no better way to solve the problem."