Social media widely circulated claims that soldiers requested food from a temple. Recently, the subdistrict administrative organization and village headman investigated and confirmed this was not true. The abbot explained that the soldiers only came to rest and rotate their personnel at the temple.
A Facebook user posted that “Frontline soldiers in the Baranae zone had to come down and ask for temple food. This morning they came to receive it. Our team will support supplies with a fully loaded truck, 17 Dec 2025 GMT+7.” This message was then widely shared on social media, with some expressing sympathy for the soldiers, while others urged investigation, fearing false information could harm the military's reputation.
On 23 Dec 2025 GMT+7, Boontham Sriwongsa, mayor of Nong Waeng Subdistrict Municipality, Lahan Sai District, along with Prapot Sodok, village headman of Nong Waeng, Thitiwatch Pornpeerasul, chief of Huk 31 rescue unit in Lahan Sai, and a news team visited a temple in Lahan Sai District, Buriram Province, to verify the claims.
Upon questioning the abbot, monks, and local residents, it was confirmed there was no instance of soldiers asking for food or supplies from the temple or villagers. However, such posts caused discomfort among government agencies, local administrative organizations, monks, and villagers because they caused damage to reputations. Various local organizations and private sectors have continuously supported frontline soldiers with food supplies. Posting untrue information during such sensitive times harms others.
The abbot, Phra Ajarn Lek, told us that after seeing the post, he felt uneasy because it was untrue. Soldiers have only come to rest and rotate personnel at the temple without interfering or disturbing the temple. Importantly, they have never asked for food from the temple as claimed. He is unsure of the poster’s intention but acknowledged that it has negatively affected many parties.
Prapot, the village headman of Nong Waeng, stated that after investigating the area, the post was false. No soldiers ever asked for food or disturbed the temple. They only came to shower and rotate personnel. The temple does not interfere with military matters. He does not know where the poster got their information or their purpose—whether to harm the military or not. He urged people not to spread false information as it affects many parties.
The mayor of Nong Waeng Subdistrict said upon learning of the post, he felt uneasy and immediately investigated the facts. The investigation found the claims were untrue. No soldiers asked for food from the temple as claimed. Such posts harm the military, which already supports its personnel, and negatively impact local agencies and private sectors that continuously supply food. He does not understand the poster’s intentions.