Playing secretly recorded tapes through loud speakers and making accusations in front of a curious crowd, a Buddhist nun who claimed to have been raped by a respected elderly monk yesterday turned what was supposed to be a solemn religious ceremony into a fiasco, with loudspeakers playing what can only be regarded as decidedly secular content.
The monk, known as Master Juhsu (
In the absence of the master, Miaowen (
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
The 40-year-old nun claimed to have spoken to four other nuns who said they had been sexually assaulted by the same man.
Miaowen and dozens of her sympathizers, before hearing of his decision to stay away, had expected to confront Juhsu during the hand-over ceremony, and brought with them loud speakers and banners.
But Juhsu, who was initially scheduled to hand over the leadership to his successor during the ceremony, issued a statement claiming he had remained absent mainly to "avoid potential disturbances."
Juhsu claimed innocence over the rape charges, accusing Miaowen in return of slandering him over his refusal to give her NT$15 million. Neither party has made any mention of exactly what the amount was for.
Taichung County Deputy Magistrate Kingbow Y.H. Chen (
Chen added that the lack of his presence would be "like shooting without a target."
Outside the Hui-jih Lecture Hall (
The tapes contained strong sexual overtones. The noise, which clearly embarrassed and angered the Buddhist officials involved in the ceremony, eventually prompted them shut the door and ask for the police to take action to stop it.
ROC Buddhist Temple Association director Shih Chao-hui (
Miaowen's spokesman, Yang Ching-hai (
Yang admitted that Miaowen had planned what she wanted from the conversation, prior to the call with Juhsu, which she recorded without him knowing it.
"According to my own judgement on the basis of evidence provided by Miaowen, I think she is telling the truth," Yang said.
"Miaowen has also recorded testimony against Juhsu from her Buddhist seniors, who know Juhsu quite well," he said.
Yang said that NT$200,000 in cash had changed hands between Miaowen and Juhsu in the past, but said it had nothing to do with the alleged sexual offenses.
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