The Thai government last week handed down the death sentence to five of the eight people imprisoned over the assassination of the new Wat Wiwangkaram abbot Reverend Jorndimar in Sanghklaburi last year. The remaining three were given life sentences, to be served in Thai prison. News of the death shocked the Mon community worldwide; the Wat Wiwangkaram Temple and Monastery is known as the 'Mon Cultural Village of Wangka' and is well known throughout the Mon community both in Thailand, Burma and overseas.

The punishment was handed down on June 18th, 2008 in the Law Courts in Thong Pha Phoom, Kanchanaburi province, after extensive investigations which lasted over 12 months and ended after one of the men surrendered. A police officer from Kanchanaburi told Kaowao the convicted killers were sent to the Central Prison in Lopburi, and will have a chance at appeal in 45 days. All eight suspects were arrested within a month after the murder of the new abbot, who succeeded Reverend Ajar Tala Uttama, the founder of the Wangka Mon village.

The late Reverend Jorndimar had been a long-time follower of the late Reverend Uttama and was given charge of the temple when Uttama fell ill. Following his assassination at the temple by gunmen on December 29th, 2006, and after 74 days of respectful mourning by Thai and Burmese devotees in a lavish service sponsored and observed by the Thai royal family, Jorndimar was given full reign over the temple.

With a dispute over administration finances, the assassination of Reverend Jorndimar was planned by monk Eainda Kari and his followers, Nai Aung Nyein and Nai Nit who then recruited Nai Wun Mon and Nai Parni to implement the killing with three other men; these recruits were found in Ye Township, Mon State and were hired as 'hit men'. They were to be paid three million Baht after the successful killing, however when they received just 100,000 Baht Nai Wun Mon surrendered to authorities.

Reverend Jorndimar's funeral was held on January 26th, 2008 in Wangka village. He was a keen fundraiser for the Mon Buddhist Monks scholarship program to Sri Lanka for and was originally from Taranar (Karee Nar) village in Kyait Mayaw township, Mon state.

Reverend Uttama fled across the border at Three Pagodas Pass to Thailand from southern Burma in 1949, together with 60 Mon families, to flee the violence of Burma 's civil war. He then founded the original Wangka village, which has since been flooded due to damming, and 23 years ago relocated to the new Wangka village located near the longest Mon wooden bridge in Thailand .