The Thai government said Tuesday it was investigating claims that supposedly celibate Buddhist monks have been using a U.S.-based social networking Web site to flirt with women.
"We are looking for a way to monitor the use of the Web site by monks," said Chakrapob Penkair, a minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office.
The controversy arose after a self-styled watchdog group — the Network of Civilians to Protect the Nation, the Religion and the King — said monks were using the social networking site hi5 to flirt with women.
One user who called himself "Monk Chat" sent a message to a woman that said "(I) miss you," reported Thai Rath, Thailand's top-selling newspaper.
Buddhist monks must abstain from sexual behavior, which in practice means avoiding almost any contact with women. About 90 percent of Thailand's 65 million people are Buddhist.
Charkapob urged other Thai Web users to look out for monks conducting themselves in an unseemly manner online.
Thai Charkapob called on other web users to look at the monks involved in the unseemly way on the Internet.
"We urge people who use the site to tell monks to leave," Chakrapob said. "Other users need to show them that it is inappropriate for monks to chat with women online."
Last year, Thailand's government has blocked access to YouTube video site in the next few months because of the dispute over the contents deemed insulting to the King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej.
One high-ranking official from the Ministry of Culture, Ladda Thangsupachai, said monks should not be prohibited from using the Internet because they can use it to teach Buddhist philosophy for young people.
"Cyberspace can be very useful for monks," Ladda said. "But it's wrong to use it to pick up girls."
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