Wat Lao Buddharam Legal Battle
Founders of West Charlotte Buddhist Temple Want Monks To Leave
When you think about Buddhist monks and temples there’s a serenity that naturally comes to mind. But in Charlotte at the Laotian Cultural Center there is an angry battle brewing between those who founded it and the monks they say refuse to leave.
The colorful compound off Toddville Road was founded by brothers Syma and Sypahy Anthanonh nearly 20 years ago. They built a temple and sponsored monks to come live in the parsonage.
Now, after a dispute over finances and control, they want the monks out. But the monks won’t leave.
“We have asked these people nicely on at least three occasions to leave,” said Syphay Anthanohn. “They will not leave.”
The dispute pits founding members against the monks and their supporters. This month a Mecklenburg County judge ruled that Syma Anthanonh is the center’s president and that the center controls the property. But attorney Julian Arronte, who represents the cultural center, said that hasn’t solved anything.
“I know our clients called police and tried to have these people taken off the property, and the police wouldn’t do anything about it,” he said.
Police point to another part of the court ruling, which states those monks are not trespassers, and said because of that officers have no legal authority to make the monks leave.
No one answered the door at the monks’ house Friday afternoon, but an attorney representing them told Eyewitness News the monks have support from nearly 200 people who regularly worship at the temple and said they shouldn’t have to leave.
So the temple compound remains in turmoil.
There is some concern that the dispute could escalate this weekend. The Laotian Cultural Center officials said they’re worried that the monks have invited non-members to a service this Sunday.
If that happened, the center may hire private security to keep the non-members out.
Police said they don’t plan to get involved in what they believe is a private dispute, but they will be present to keep the peace if that becomes necessary.
WSOC Charlotte News
March 28, 2008
Which temple is next?
Similar things happened in Elgin-Chicago if anyone can remember several years back.
We have similar things here in Saginaw temple too. Also happened at temple in Amarillo.
What I like to know is the story about the finance. I wonder what is the problem here, especially monk does not possess any money.
The temple is in Syma’s name and it’s known as Syma’s Temple for the local. People wanted him to turn it to the temple’s name but he refused because it’s his, and not the temple. There are 3 or 4 Buddhist temples in that area of Charlotte, Greensboro, and Lexington but not all are exclusively for Lao people, and one monk that left there recently built Wat Lao in the Charlotte area, not too far from there. Syma’s temple is very nice, in good location, and I’ve been there once. I think bottom line is that he is trying to force the monks out, but they just refuse to budge and I don’t blame them one bit, I stand behind the monk 100%. I heard that he even pad locked the door in several occasions, people just break in, and have their Tuk Badt as usual as if nothing has happened.
[...] news coverage of the legal battle over Wat Lao Buddharam in North Carolina. One thing that was not mentioned in the video is the next hearing on April 24, [...]
Dallas,
We are outsiders so we don’t know the details of the story. One thing for sure this is bad for the community. It’s not a win win situation for anyone.
You asked about the money part. There are a few Buddhist monks that I know of that are sending money back home to support their families. This is a different setting than what you and I are used to in Laos. The monks that I am talking about would keep offering money when they go to people’s homes to do ceremony or the extra offering at the temple so they can send it back to Laos. I don’t know how the other temples are so I can’t speak for all of them.
One thing to keep in mind is that a religious institution is by no means a democratic institution. At our Church for example we invited a pastor to serve there for a fix amount of time, then we evaluate the contract. We offered housing and health care benefits to him and his family members. When we got a new pastor some old members didn’t like the idea that the new pastor wanted the church to be more multi-nationals and after a brief dispute those members left because they wanted the previous pastor back.
If there is an improper handling of the fund at Wat Lao Buddharam, then let the law handles the problem. People shouldn’t spread rumors and saying things on the internet or on the street that is on the line of slandering someone’s name, in this case the founders of the Laotian Culture Center of North Carolina. (Note this is not to anyone in here, don’t want any misunderstanding here.)
I don’t know these people but I know it is not easy to sponsor anyone into the country and there are endless financial obligations. The temples I know are not loaded with money and they are struggling with paying the monthly bills, from utilities to private health care insurance for the monks. Most Lao people I know don’t go to the temple every weekend and making offering (10% to 20% of their income) like the American people at their churches. If it’s about money, then it’s really sad.
If the police won’t do anything, then what about INS? If the founders sponsored the monks, can’t they do something about it and send the monks back to Laos or Thailand? Maybe these monks have permanent residency already or are from the US so no solution there.
There are different types of money offering to the monks that perform service at someone’s home. It is the offered intention of what the money is for, but if they want to give to the money to the monk (not the wat) then it is called ‘Phud Jai Money’, the monk can keep and use this to buy their personal items for essential living, such as medicine and such. They don’t have to turn this money to the Wat, but if it’s for the Wat, then the offered would have to specifically put that in writing, but Tum boun money should always be turned to the Wat in full. I would not write things to make someone look bad intentionally but I can’t stand to see one sided story because obviously the news was given by the owner of the temple side of the story. I think the story of the monks are not representing well here, but one thing that I look at, the monks must have some charisma as religious leader to still have many followers.
When will the Lao People learn how to get along with each other and help each other out. The Lao center people of Charlotte N.C. seem to be money hungry. I believe those people takes some of the funds that they have collected through the years and use it for there own good. I know how the system works in the Lao community. I maybe only 22 but i’m not that stupid not to see how this is going. Kicking monks out because they won’t hand their money to them. You guys are ignorant,money hungry, and fake. DOn’t portray to the world that you give a damn about the temple because you don’t. You care how much money they are receiving and you need a way to get it. I not here to pick sides.i’m here to voice my opinion. take it as it is. I”m From Lowell Massachusetts. Comment me back if you please.
Hi Lowell Ma, I hear what you are saying, and I do feel sad seeing such thing in our Lao community and talking in general term, it’s sad to see someone farming on other people’s backs. I think in situation like this, most would think that either the owner and/or the monks are taking the money for personal use, but I think this particular case is quiet big because it’s large sum of money that we’re talking about, and over 20 years period of income, to us it’s money hungry and corruption, which I hate to see or hear of someone doing it, but to the IRS, I believed it’s tax evasion (money laundry,) taking money offered with good intention (tax free income) and transferred it into something else, sheltering tax by using non profit filing status. I would not want to be the judge or jury for this case, but the legal battle is still going on and I hope to see justice serve.
This is about the misrepresentation of the temple. They used the name of Wat Lao Buddharam to entice older Laotian people to come, worship, and donate. In 2002 when the facility was paid for, the money became a commodity that has been wasted by basic stupidity of trying to do an expansion without meeting local codes and losing $132,000 of downpayments on 3 projects, all failing for the same code denial. Failure to account for large checks written to Syma’s wife is part of the turmoil, a very large amount of money.
The facility was incorporated as Laotian Culture Center, but people wouldn’t donate unless it was presented and advertised as Wat Lao Buddharam. People would trust the name WAT, but not anything else because it is the highest order of respect in Laos. Here it is an advertising falsehood, and trusting people believed a smiling Lao countryman to their ultimate disappointment.
It is important to note that in November, 2002, Syma handed out a paper stating that Wat Lao Buddharam had paid off “its’” debts of over $528,000 and now you can be a member without paying dues. This paper had the name “Wat Lao Buddharam” mentioned 11 times, Laotian Culture Center one time, and LCC 6 times including the title and closing scripts. It also stated “Wat Lao Buddharam, including their asset is belonged to all Lao Buddhists, legally, and it is registered in the 7th range of Wat under the By-laws of Lao Monks Inc, in America since the year of 1900 to today” Was he lying then, now, or then and now?
Mr.John wrote: It also stated “Wat Lao Buddharam, including their asset is belonged to all Lao Buddhists, legally, and it is registered in the 7th range of Wat under the By-laws of Lao Monks Inc, in America since the year of 1900 to today” Was he lying then, now, or then and now?
I think you know the answer. I’ve heard of this paper that you are talking about but have never seen it myself, and I was told that it was written in Lao language. Was it written in Lao language? and can they not use this as evidence in his trial? or is that over because I’ve not heard otherwise. People can write anything that they want but it doesn’t mean that we have to believe everything that we read or hear, but most of us learn from our own mistake.
I think this is where a lot of the misleading and fraudulent transactions amongst the Lao people where the documents are in Lao Language with (supposingly) proper signature(s) and all but not legally binding in the court of Law, and besides Wat Lao Buddharam was never a legal entity until recently.
I can send you a copy of this paper. One side is written in Lao and the other side is English translation. I believe Syma read this paper in the Sala in Lao on the day he handed it out, and that represents a legally binding contract in North Carolina, it is a verbal contract. In the context of its’ public presentation, it should also serve as a legally binding contract. He has fabricated documents to try and cover all the lies he has told. His latest “evidence” of dues payments had copies of checks alleged written to join LCC by his family only. Most of them were copied twice around 10 pages apart in the evidence sheet to “fluff” his documentation. His latest action on June 18th was to assault the kuti with a gang of thugs wielding 2 x 4s and threatening to kill the monks if they didn’t leave. Responding police failed to get a translator for the monks and with Syma’s lawyer claiming his papers were in order (and they weren’t) the police helped evict the monks, even tho’ it is the Sheriff’s Dept. responsibility and not the police who do that kind of activity. Syma and gang proceded to break the bathroom fixtures and other stuff making the kuti uninhabitable and he has been hiding out of sight ever since. Rumor is he is carrying a couple long swords in his truck in case he gets cornered somewhere.
it is sad you hear that. i have seen this probleme in wat thai dc too. is all money.
it is sad to hear that . i have that experience that too at wat thai DC, it all money. but they can solve it.
the By-laws of Lao Monks Inc, in America since the year of 1900.
There was Lao Wat since beginning of 20th century here in United States? Amazing. I would have never thought Lao people made it to America during that time.
I thought this ordeal was over. I thought Syma was found guild and put in jail. I am confused.
Mr. John wrote: I can send you a copy of this paper.
Thanks, no need to give me a copy because I’m not very fluent in Pasa Lao, after reading it, things might get lost in translation. I heard about the latest incident, people are just disgusted by his actions. I also heard that he beat up a woman with a 2×4, and several men saw and jumped him, he was sent to the hospital. One elderly man that lives in Salisbury that used to associate with him is now shaking his head, amazed that someone like him can stoop this low, this is what I called farming on someone’s back, people like him have no shame at all.