Controversial monk at vanguard of Thai street protests - Focus

[Lite Beer]

Controversial monk at vanguard of Thai street protests - Focus

by Amélie BOTTOLLIER-DEPOIS

BANGKOK, January 28, 2014 (AFP) - A saffron-robed monk takes to the stage in the Thai capital and urges cheering protesters to fight a "black-hearted" government -- testing a taboo in the devout kingdom about clerics getting involved in politics.

Since opposition protests broke out in Bangkok three months ago, Luang Pu Buddha Issara has emerged as a key figure in the anti-government movement, organising prayers and addressing the crowds, with rally leader Suthep Thaugsuban sitting at his feet in a sign of respect.

He is even in charge of his own rally site, one of several set up around Bangkok by demonstrators seeking to force Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from office and to end the political dominance of her billionaire family.

The protest monk rails against the embattled premier and her brother Thaksin, who was deposed in a military coup in 2006 and lives in Dubai to avoid prison for a corruption conviction.

"The government, which is run by the Shinawatra family -- the brother and sister -- has no morality or ethics. They are corrupt and they allow corruption to happen. They lie everyday," said the 58-year-old, who has also been outspoken about scandals involving the bad behaviour and lavish lifestyles of some clerics.

"The religious domain has a duty to tell the secular domain what to do -- and what not to do," he told AFP, justifying his role at the vanguard of the protest movement.

But not everybody is happy with his activism.

"Monks cannot get involved with politics," said Nopparat Benjawattantnun, director-general of Office of National Buddhism, the official organisation in charge of overseeing the behaviour of monks.

"But he has not stopped," said Nopparat, who has written to authorities in Nakhon Pathom province -- home to Buddha Issara's temple -- telling them bring him into line.

'Destroying the image of Buddhism'

The protest monk is also the subject of a complaint by the Buddhist Association of Thailand, a non-governmental organisation.

"Monks can have personal feelings but political expression is banned according to Sangha regulations," said the association's secretary Sathien Wipornmaha, adding that Buddha Issara "destroys the image of Buddhism".

Buddhist monks have openly played a political role elsewhere in Southeast Asia, such as during a failed uprising against the former junta in neighbouring Myanmar in 2007.

In Thailand, where some 95 percent of the population are practising Buddhists -- one of the highest rates in the world -- many believe that the country's tens of thousands of monks should stay out of partisan politics.

Yet their participation in political or social movements is not unprecedented.

In 2010 dozens of monks participated in the "Red Shirts" pro-Thaksin protests in Bangkok, although they kept a lower profile than Buddha Issara. Some were even arrested.

"Although in theory monks are apolitical, in practice when you start to really scrutinise what's going on beneath the surface, you discover there is all kind of politics," said Duncan McCargo, professor of Southeast Asian politics at Britain's University of Leeds.

"What is unusual here is a prominent monk who is not only playing a supporting role or a legitimising role, but who is actually in the middle of a stage," he said. "It's an unusually overt role for a monk to play."

The controversy surrounding Buddha Issara's activities has not dimmed his appeal among supporters, some of whom have followed him to Bangkok from his temple.

"The secular domain was in trouble," said 75-year-old devotee Mayurachat Manothai, decked out in glasses, headband, T-shirt, rings and bracelets in the colours of the Thai flag worn by many of the protesters.

"He has to help because if the secular domain collapses, the religious domain cannot live, because there will be no one to support religion," she told AFP in front of the rally stage, where the monk was surrounded by a dozen guards dressed in bullet-proof vests and sunglasses.

"There are two leaders respected by the protesters, Khun Suthep and me," the monk said, speaking a few days before another protest leader was shot dead during a speech. Khun is a term of respect.

"If one of us is killed, a massive crowd will come out and it will be an excuse for the government to use force to crack down," he said, promising to never leave his position.

"We will stay here," the monk vowed. "We want this country to win."

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-01-28

[Briggsy]

Plenty of monks have been involved in Thai politics. If the strongmen have their back, they can do what they like.

[Costas2008]

He is only Human, after all.

[SamMunich]

What is there to get upset about?
Even the red shirts had several monks as followers and preachers.

Or does anybody remember that monk from Isaan, who collected gold from everybody to pay back the IMF-credits? Now that was one ridiculous thing...

[LadPhrao123]

"With God on our side", the battle cry of Western civilization. So sorry to see a version of it intruding in Thailand of all places. And Suthep et al shamelessly gave him his own personal pedestal. Another prop needed over here. Army won't be available for photoshoots with protestors.

[love1012]

"With God on our side", the battle cry of Western civilization. So sorry to see a version of it intruding in Thailand of all places. And Suthep et al shamelessly gave him his own personal pedestal. Another prop needed over here. Army won't be available for photoshoots with protestors.

The battle cry of all civilisations!! Some pronounce it as "Allah Aqbar"!!

[Why ask]

Bring both 'religion' and 'politics' into this, and mayhem.... then again, it is a pub brawl already (sorry, playground argument as to who has the bigger hands to make a gun shape!)

"A saffron-robed monk"

Anybody know the price of saffron nowadays?

Edited January 28, 2014 by Why ask

[SamMunich]

"With God on our side", the battle cry of Western civilization. So sorry to see a version of it intruding in Thailand of all places. And Suthep et al shamelessly gave him his own personal pedestal. Another prop needed over here. Army won't be available for photoshoots with protestors.

Yes, and let's not forget the catholic bishop of Saigon, who said that killing a communist is no sin, as they are no humans anyway.

Which in turn was repeated by a Thai monk, who was or is running a monastry for the rich just outside Pattaya. I think Pra Kittivuddho was his name.

And if you complain about Thai monks, what would you say about the Burmese monks, calling for killing all moslem minorities in reach...

[khunsiam]

In this so called buddhist nation, the people are in NEED of buddhism but not the kind this monk is preaching.

[bigbamboo]

"With God on our side", the battle cry of Western civilization. So sorry to see a version of it intruding in Thailand of all places. And Suthep et al shamelessly gave him his own personal pedestal. Another prop needed over here. Army won't be available for photoshoots with protestors.

The battle cry of all civilisations!! Some pronounce it as "Allah Aqbar"!!

Even with 'Le God' on our side Saints still couldn't win anything.

[Why ask]

"With God on our side", the battle cry of Western civilization. So sorry to see a version of it intruding in Thailand of all places. And Suthep et al shamelessly gave him his own personal pedestal. Another prop needed over here. Army won't be available for photoshoots with protestors.

The battle cry of all civilisations!! Some pronounce it as "Allah Aqbar"!!

Even with 'Le God' on our side Saints still couldn't win anything.

Les metissues must be guarding your tears.

[Why ask]

"With God on our side", the battle cry of Western civilization. So sorry to see a version of it intruding in Thailand of all places. And Suthep et al shamelessly gave him his own personal pedestal. Another prop needed over here. Army won't be available for photoshoots with protestors.

Yes, and let's not forget the catholic bishop of Saigon, who said that killing a communist is no sin, as they are no humans anyway.

Which in turn was repeated by a Thai monk, who was or is running a monastry for the rich just outside Pattaya. I think Pra Kittivuddho was his name.

And if you complain about Thai monks, what would you say about the Burmese monks, calling for killing all moslem minorities in reach...

Pls be careful what you write about Thai monks. There are some who are not hidden criminals, and actually do live by Pali.

You didn't comment, but you implied by asking for a comparison.

[ShannonT]

The monk says if the secular domain collapses the spiritual domain will also collapse.

So what hes saying is basically ...Thaksin will be reponsible for the end of Buddhism?

I thought monks could not smoke. What is this guy smoking that makes him so high and obviously stoned?

[chainarong]

It is a sad day when you see religion and politics mixing it together, never the twain shall meet , ideology on both sides are extreme in each of the learning, in Thailand you have the majority in the Buddhist faith, a simple gentle way to freedom and in politics the greasing of the palm faith, what's in it for me, corruption at every turn and bastardry is your friend, never the twain shall meet.

[RamblingSam]

I also am concerned about monks getting too involved in politics, though managing to remain unaffected by what's going on around them, in Thailand must be pretty difficult. Buddhists in other countries have got involved in this area, usually I think, because things have reached the point where that countries political and social climate has put them in a really difficult position. They are, and pretty well always have been, a 'force' promoting moderation and reason during troubled times ... something that is badly needed when things kick off.

[bangarang]

No matter what your deity is, religion has no place in politics. The government should be free of bias for the greater good of the people. That will never happen though at least not in many lifetimes from now.

[kamahele]

I'm not a fan of any religion really and see no problem with a monk, rabbi, priest whatever being voicing their opinion, however I do have issues with religious organizations who use their might to control politics and politicians.

[diehard60]

so defrock him and get it over. Then he can go and protest all he wants to. But it is funny that now he is but 3 years ago when the army was shooting he did nothing and said nothing.

[Nemesis7]

When religion and politics travel in the same cart, the riders believe nothing can stand in their way

[3NUMBAS]

i thought it was Rayban wearing Billionaire monk Nengham come out of hiding ..

[tingtongteesood]

The reds have monks involved right now too so stop bashing the protest movement for it unless you are going to stop being hypocritical and bash the reds for it too as they did and still is doing the same thing. There was a monk on the reds propaganda tv channel last week telling people to go and vote. I have photos but nowhere to host them, can I add a photo and host it here ? During protests, the protestors may seek spiritual guidance same as any other day, somebody has to do it...

[tx22cb]

The reds have monks involved right now too so stop bashing the protest movement for it unless you are going to stop being hypocritical and bash the reds for it too as they did and still is doing the same thing. There was a monk on the reds propaganda tv channel last week telling people to go and vote. I have photos but nowhere to host them, can I add a photo and host it here ? During protests, the protestors may seek spiritual guidance same as any other day, somebody has to do it...

"I have photos but nowhere to host them" - zenfolio dot com has won awards as a photo-hosting website

[lostinsurin]

The reds have monks involved right now too so stop bashing the protest movement for it unless you are going to stop being hypocritical and bash the reds for it too as they did and still is doing the same thing. There was a monk on the reds propaganda tv channel last week telling people to go and vote. I have photos but nowhere to host them, can I add a photo and host it here ? During protests, the protestors may seek spiritual guidance same as any other day, somebody has to do it...

Stop trying to make right that which is wrong, the monk is there to support a political movement not to give spiritual guidence!

Just another yellow shirt fanatic I suppose.

[Suriya4]

When religion and politics travel in the same cart, the riders believe nothing can stand in their way

Correct.

Just look at most Islamic countries.

[bankei]

There is no rule in the monks code that says a monk cannot engage in politicial activity. The so called sangha rules mention in the article are just beuracratic rules imposed by a government. Monks have no obligations to follow them from the religious point of view.

Monks do not live by Pali either - Pali is a language.

The Isarn monk mentioned above in connection with the gold was the late Maha Bua - who some considered a arahant. He was involved in politics and severely turned on Thaksin years ago. Not very arahat like (shit I am going to hell now!)

There are also monks elected to Parliament in Sri Lanka.

However, I agree that it is best for monks to keep out of party politics.

[englishoak]

Should spend a lot more time in meditation his mind is clearly focused far too much on the material and little on the spiritual.

This is not someone to look up to if seeking wisdom or enlightenment.

[Prbkk]

No mention of the demarcation dispute he had with Suthep last week...threatened to pack up and go home if he didn't get more prominence( as covered in other media). Just another zealot with an agenda...

[Loles]

It's shame.

First they took shoos, mobile phone, lady, booze with some ya baa, smart phone,

others helicopter, private jet,

and now the stage in an idiot politician place.

My Buddha.

[Why ask]

There is no rule in the monks code that says a monk cannot engage in politicial activity. The so called sangha rules mention in the article are just beuracratic rules imposed by a government. Monks have no obligations to follow them from the religious point of view.

Monks do not live by Pali either - Pali is a language.

The Isarn monk mentioned above in connection with the gold was the late Maha Bua - who some considered a arahant. He was involved in politics and severely turned on Thaksin years ago. Not very arahat like (shit I am going to hell now!)

There are also monks elected to Parliament in Sri Lanka.

However, I agree that it is best for monks to keep out of party politics.

They live by Pali scriptures..I did not mean speaking... was that too difficult to infer?

[cup-O-coffee]

Religion equates to worshiping invisible friends which men and women in power would like for the sheeple to believe exist. You had better watch out, you better not cry, I'm telling you why...

Spirituality equates to working together with human friends, which men and women in power would not like for the sheeple to believe exist. Stir up suspicion. Stir up hatred. Keep 'em hating each other over things that don;t make your day any worse or any better if you aren't thinking about it.

Politics and religion are one and the same, with the only exception being the suits and robes that adorn the person, respectively.

Break man's law, go to prison. Break the law of a god which man invented, go to perdition. Same story. Same results, Different words. Keep 'em under your thumb. Control them through fear and crisis. Make false flag enemies to keep 'em running back to you for more pap and promises. Get 'em to give up their right to think and to have knowledge.

Religion: performance-based acceptance.

Spirituality: faith-based acceptance.

The monk is merely crossing the boundaries which men and women in power have worked so long and hard to establish, and which might just be cause for people to realize what I suggest; ... or not. Or simply go on being a sheeple, or someone who runs for cover to live another day.

Edited January 29, 2014 by cup-O-coffee