Prime Minister Anutin led Buddhists in the Rajabopit Temple foundation day ceremony and merit-making for the 76th birthday of Somdet Phra Maha Wirawong, Assistant Abbot of Rajabopit Temple and Secretary to the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand.
At 07:00 on 22 January 2026 at Wat Rajabopit Sasitmahasimaram Ratchawarawihan, Rattanakosin District, Bangkok, Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, joined a merit-making ceremony and alms-giving to 108 monks in celebration of the foundation day of Wat Rajabopit Sasitmahasimaram Ratchawarawihan and the auspicious occasion of Somdet Phra Maha Wirawong (Akkachino), Assistant Abbot and Secretary to the Supreme Patriarch, turning 76 years old.
The event was attended by Arsit Sampanrat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior; Pongsathorn Piromrat, Prime Minister's Advisor; Theerapat Kachamat, Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation; Pracha Unpetchvorakorn, Inspector General of the Ministry of Interior; Warong Saengmuang, Deputy Director-General of the Community Development Department; Ronarong Tipsiri, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration; Police Major General Paisan Wongwatchramongkol, from the Office of the Prime Minister's Secretariat; along with numerous government officials, staff from the Ministry of Interior, and Buddhists.
Somdet Phra Maha Wirawong (Suchin Akkachino) was born on Sunday, 22 January 1950, in Bang Sai District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. He was ordained as a novice monk on 20 November 1962, with Somdet Phra Sangharaja Chao Krom Luang Chinworalongkorn—then holding the ecclesiastical title Phra Upali Khunnupamacharya—as his preceptor. He was fully ordained as a monk at the ordination hall of Wat Rajabopit Sasitmahasimaram Ratchawarawihan on 22 February 1970. His preceptor was Somdet Phra Sangharaja Chao Krom Luang Chinworalongkorn, then titled Somdet Phra Phutthakosajarn; with Phra Sirivatmethi (Thongkam Komphuwanno) and Phra Rajaphatarajarn (Pleng Kuwamo) as sermon teachers, and Phra Kru Wijitthammaphikun (Jian Khemacharo) as the witness teacher. His monastic name Akkachino means “victor in the path of Dharma.”
His Majesty the King graciously bestowed upon Somdet Phra Maha Wirawong (Suchin Akkachino) the ecclesiastical title of Somdet Phra Maha Wirawong Jaturongprathan Wisut Chinwaruttamathamwathapawit Wijitthavasnavorangkun Wibulsilacharnwat Rachanuwatwithan Pariyatthayathikan Borom Sangharam Kamavasi Aranyawasi, effective since 28 July 2019.
Before leaving, many attendees requested to take photos with Prime Minister Anutin. Two male students asked for a selfie and said, “We like you very much,” then sang a campaign song of the Bhumjaithai Party, including the line, “If Anutin becomes prime minister, suffering, sorrow, illness, and danger will pass.” Anutin sang along and laughed happily. One student then shook his hand and said, “I will ask my mother to vote for you.”
Anutin Urges Not to Link Southern Unrest with Election
Prime Minister Anutin also commented on the unrest in the three southern border provinces following a clash with insurgents in Yala Province on 21 January. Asked if any directives were necessary as the election approaches, he urged not to link the incidents with the election. He noted that Lieutenant General Narathip Phoinok, Commander of the Fourth Army Area, has coordinated cooperation across all sectors to fully control the situation. When pressed about the election’s final phase, Anutin reiterated not to connect the unrest with the election, emphasizing that the events in the three southern provinces are acts of terrorism. Authorities are maintaining vigilance, reinforcing forces, and, as seen in the recent petrol station arson, such acts undermine public morale. He said he has instructed that such incidents must not occur again, especially regarding intelligence.