Thailand's Buddhism chief removed after pressure from religious groupsBANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand s junta has removed the head of the national Buddhism office, the prime minister said on Tuesday, after religious groups called on the government to sack him over his plans to clean up scandal-hit monasteries.  But Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said it wasn t a punishment. Pongporn Pramsaneh, who joined the National Office of Buddhism in February, had vowed to reform Thailand s more than 40,000 temples by forcing them to open their finances to the public. They take billions of dollars in donations every year. The former policeman was appointed amid a standoff between security forces and the influential Dhammakaya temple in February. Authorities wanted to question the temple s chief abbot on money-laundering charges. Pongporn will now move to a lower profile post of inspector-general in Prayuth s office.  He has got some of the jobs done. He came in to solve temple issues,  Prayuth told reporters.  I ll now bring him close to me, to help me work on religious reform... This is not a punishment.  Pongporn told Reuters:  I have done my duties to the best of my ability.  Buddhism is one of the three traditional pillars of Thai society alongside the nation and monarchy. It has largely eluded the junta s control as it has stamped its authority on other aspects of Thai life since a 2014 coup. The National Office of Buddhism is responsible for state administration of the religion followed by 90 percent of Thailand s 67 million people, but religious affairs are handled by a Sangha Supreme Council of elderly monks. Despite high-profile temple scandals over murder, drugs and sex as well as improper financial dealings, Pongporn s call for change had jarred on some monks. A group called the Thailand Buddhists Federation submitted a petition to the prime minister s office this month, calling for Pongporn to be removed to  prevent further damage to monks .   He painted monks as villains in Thai people s eyes,  the group s secretary-general, Korn Meedee, said in a statement on Facebook.  In July, another Buddhist group had called for Pongporn s removal, saying he had damaged the Buddhist institution.  Phra Buddha Issara, a firebrand monk who called for reform of Buddhism, said the junta gave in to pressure too easily given government promises to fight corruption.   Are they still serious about tackling corruption or are they only moving against certain people and groups?  he said, adding that when it came to monks:  No one can touch them.       Reuters reported exclusively in March that the junta was drafting a law which would significantly weaken the Sangha Council. The draft is expected to be brought to parliament this year. Thai security forces besieged the Dhammakaya Temple in February to try to catch its former abbot, wanted for questioning on money laundering. But police failed to catch him and he is still on the run. worldnews
thailand buddhism chief removed pressure religious groupsbangkok reuters thailand junta removed head national buddhism office prime minister said tuesday religious groups called government sack plans clean monasteries but prime minister prayuth said punishment pongporn pramsaneh joined national office buddhism february vowed reform thailand temples forcing open finances public they take billions dollars donations every year the former policeman appointed amid standoff security forces influential dhammakaya temple february authorities wanted question temple chief abbot charges pongporn move lower profile post prayuth office he got jobs done he came solve temple issues prayuth told reporters i bring close help work religious reform this punishment pongporn told reuters i done duties best ability buddhism one three traditional pillars thai society alongside nation monarchy it largely ended junta control stamped authority aspects thai life since coup the national office buddhism responsible state administration religion followed percent thailand million people religious affairs handled manga supreme council elderly monks despite temple scandals murder drugs sex well improper financial dealings pongporn call change barred monks a group called thailand buddhist federation submitted petition prime minister office month calling pongporn removed prevent damage monks he painted monks villains thai people eyes group born needed said statement facebook in july another buddhist group called pongporn removal saying damaged buddhist institution para buddha sara rebrand monk called reform buddhism said junta gave pressure easily given government promises fight corruption are still serious tackling corruption moving certain people groups said adding came monks no one touch reuters reported exclusively march junta drafting law would significantly weaken manga council the draft expected brought parliament year thai security forces besieged dhammakaya temple february try catch former abbot wanted questioning money laundering but police failed catch still run worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Thailand's Buddhism chief removed after pressure from religious groupsBANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand s junta has removed the head of the national Buddhism office, the prime minister said on Tuesday, after religious groups called on the government to sack him over his plans to clean up scandal-hit monasteries.  But Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said it wasn t a punishment. Pongporn Pramsaneh, who joined the National Office of Buddhism in February, had vowed to reform Thailand s more than 40,000 temples by forcing them to open their finances to the public. They take billions of dollars in donations every year. The former policeman was appointed amid a standoff between security forces and the influential Dhammakaya temple in February. Authorities wanted to question the temple s chief abbot on money-laundering charges. Pongporn will now move to a lower profile post of inspector-general in Prayuth s office.  He has got some of the jobs done. He came in to solve temple issues,  Prayuth told reporters.  I ll now bring him close to me, to help me work on religious reform... This is not a punishment.  Pongporn told Reuters:  I have done my duties to the best of my ability.  Buddhism is one of the three traditional pillars of Thai society alongside the nation and monarchy. It has largely eluded the junta s control as it has stamped its authority on other aspects of Thai life since a 2014 coup. The National Office of Buddhism is responsible for state administration of the religion followed by 90 percent of Thailand s 67 million people, but religious affairs are handled by a Sangha Supreme Council of elderly monks. Despite high-profile temple scandals over murder, drugs and sex as well as improper financial dealings, Pongporn s call for change had jarred on some monks. A group called the Thailand Buddhists Federation submitted a petition to the prime minister s office this month, calling for Pongporn to be removed to  prevent further damage to monks .   He painted monks as villains in Thai people s eyes,  the group s secretary-general, Korn Meedee, said in a statement on Facebook.  In July, another Buddhist group had called for Pongporn s removal, saying he had damaged the Buddhist institution.  Phra Buddha Issara, a firebrand monk who called for reform of Buddhism, said the junta gave in to pressure too easily given government promises to fight corruption.   Are they still serious about tackling corruption or are they only moving against certain people and groups?  he said, adding that when it came to monks:  No one can touch them.       Reuters reported exclusively in March that the junta was drafting a law which would significantly weaken the Sangha Council. The draft is expected to be brought to parliament this year. Thai security forces besieged the Dhammakaya Temple in February to try to catch its former abbot, wanted for questioning on money laundering. But police failed to catch him and he is still on the run. worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: thailand buddhism chief removed pressure religious groupsbangkok reuters thailand junta removed head national buddhism office prime minister said tuesday religious groups called government sack plans clean monasteries but prime minister prayuth said punishment pongporn pramsaneh joined national office buddhism february vowed reform thailand temples forcing open finances public they take billions dollars donations every year the former policeman appointed amid standoff security forces influential dhammakaya temple february authorities wanted question temple chief abbot charges pongporn move lower profile post prayuth office he got jobs done he came solve temple issues prayuth told reporters i bring close help work religious reform this punishment pongporn told reuters i done duties best ability buddhism one three traditional pillars thai society alongside nation monarchy it largely ended junta control stamped authority aspects thai life since coup the national office buddhism responsible state administration religion followed percent thailand million people religious affairs handled manga supreme council elderly monks despite temple scandals murder drugs sex well improper financial dealings pongporn call change barred monks a group called thailand buddhist federation submitted petition prime minister office month calling pongporn removed prevent damage monks he painted monks villains thai people eyes group born needed said statement facebook in july another buddhist group called pongporn removal saying damaged buddhist institution para buddha sara rebrand monk called reform buddhism said junta gave pressure easily given government promises fight corruption are still serious tackling corruption moving certain people groups said adding came monks no one touch reuters reported exclusively march junta drafting law would significantly weaken manga council the draft expected brought parliament year thai security forces besieged dhammakaya temple february try catch former abbot wanted questioning money laundering but police failed catch still run worldnews