Suthep becomes a monk

[Baerboxer]

 

Oh come on people, he is probably going to be a monk for a week for good luck as many thousands of Thais do every year. If you think he is trying to become a monk so the courts won't prosecute him then you have got some very strange ideas....

 

As if the courts or anyone else  would try and do anything to him. He has far to much dirt on many people complicit in the run up to the military taking power.

 

 

You have evidence of all this? Please share with us?

 

Or just more unsubstantiated supposition?

[Baerboxer]

 

All this talk on Thai Visa, going on about how Suthep was mad, and bad for Thailand. Fine.

Hold on, Suthep's demonstrations paved the way for the coup. The coup would not have happened IF Suthep didn't organize and orchestrate those demonstrations.

How many people are there, who reckon that Suthep is mad and bad, and they ALSO support the junta doing their coup ?  Was Suthep really make it all up when he said that he had already made arrangements with the military, to do a coup, a few years ago ?

 

He might not be mad, but he sure as hell is just about one of the most corrupt ex govt officials in Thailand. 

 

 

How many convictions for corruption does he have? How many criminal charges for corruption are their outstanding in Thai courts for him? 

 

Can you share all the evidence, court case history and conviction details that support your assertion?

[Basil B]

Thaksin must be thinking why he did not think of this...

[Baerboxer]

 

I do not knows K. Suthep's motives.
But having been corrupt in the past does not necessary mean still being corrupt.

Forgiving is a part not only of Christianity or Buddhism
But here every poster allows themselve to judge. - And without evidence

 

You are partly right, and most of this is just opinion anyway. But you are wrong about the "without evidence" part. Mr Suthep's corruption is legion and documented. There is lots of suspicion about many other deals, but there are well known, publicised and documented corrupt deals. A well-known series of corrupt deals by Suthep even caused the fall of a Democrat government. Evidence is not lacking.

 

.

 

 

Has Suthep been convicted of any corruption?

 

If all the evidence is there how come there was no successful prosecution?

 

Rhetorical questions. But to suggest he's worse than Thaksin is pushing it. 

 

Thaksin has one conviction and 15 court cases waiting his return, plus the ones he got off with.

[salavan]

As if the monk-hood were not corrupt enough already. (joke, it's a joke) 

 

rametindallas im suprised you never got banned/moderated for that remark you should know freedom of speech is banned here

[Cthulhu]

The great reformer has become a monk for Buddhist Lent. Good, it should keep him quiet for a while. It is said the long protest led by him cost him hundreds of millions of baht personally.Perhaps that explains his outburst and claim to have been in close consultation with General Prayuth since 2012.
It must be galling for him to see the good general take all the power and credit for cleaning up Thailand when he worked and walked so hard himself.

 

Maybe when he let the cat out of the bag at that party recently the General sent one of the lads round to tell him to button his lip and disappear for a bit.

He clearly caused a degree of embarassment to The Leader.

[wandasloan]

Has Suthep been convicted of any corruption?

 

If all the evidence is there how come there was no successful prosecution?

 

Rhetorical questions. But to suggest he's worse than Thaksin is pushing it. 

 

Thaksin has one conviction and 15 court cases waiting his return, plus the ones he got off with.

 

 

The only one who has suggested he's worse than Thaksin is you, in the above post. With public money (in government), Suthep was before Thaksin, but I have no idea how you would say one is better than the other.

 

Because of that, I would caution about using "number of convictions + number of cases" as your benchmark. You know what they say about how statistics can prove anything, and you just... well, proved it. According to your exclusive measurement standards, Stalin was a leader without fault and Osama bin Laden was just another anti-Russian man helping the mujahadeen in Afghanistan.

 

It's interesting to some people that in the last 25 years, there have been far more media articles linking Suthep directly to corruption than linking Thaksin. If you were to claim that this shows how Thaksin was far less corrupt than Suthep I would very rudely laugh in your e-face. But hey, statistics can't lie, right?

 

.

[chooka]

He has been cleansed of all his sins.  Now we have two mad monks on the loose.

[Chris Lawrence]

I just told my wife: she laughed. Maybe he doesn't want to get audited?

 

But, a very strange turn in events? Why?

[mikemac]

Unfortunately yet again the Temple becomes both a metaphorical and literal refuge for those on the run from the law.

 

And which lucky temple got to take Thaksin in ?  Or is he in "self exile", as opposed to being on the run from the law ? 

[Neilyoungnw]

I think he planned to avoild politics issue.

[mikemac]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

 

It would be great if some on the red side were to attempt to make some merit for the deaths and injuries they caused with their shootings and grenade attacks or raise or donate some money to help the families who have suffered because of them.

 

Havent seen any of them show any remorse. The closest to remorse would be the one who fired the grenades that killed the children at big C. It is reported that he cried when he admitted firing the grenades and said he didn't realize they would kill anyone. Cried for himself not the dead.

 

What the heck, fired grenades from a moving vehicle in the general direction of protesters and never gave a thought that someone might get killed. A thought process that went no farther than pulling the trigger.

 

Where has Suthep shown any remorse for the violence and deaths for which he has been complicit? Just ordering police to shoot at protesters feet (Suthep's own testimony) is hardly an act of generosity or sympathy.

 

I agree, had I been calling the shots I would not have instructed the police to shoot at their feet.

 

[wandasloan]

I just told my wife: she laughed. Maybe he doesn't want to get audited?

 

But, a very strange turn in events? Why?

 

Your wife is pretty sharp. You should listen to more of her and think less. The point is it is NOT strange. It is common, even de rigeur for politicians and other tainted people to become monks. Common. The exact reason they do it is probably just another lie, but it is definitely a cultural thing to "look at your sins" with a period of meditation and quiet (and, supposedly, humility) under the instruction in a wat.

 

Women also go to the temple - it is something like this, but the nuance is different. Women who do this almost always seem to actually feel guilt, contrition and seek redemption or self-awareness.

 

These men of politics and government, however, go because they can, because it looks good on their CVs, because it pays for another portion of the ticket both to a good reincarnation AND back to their old and profitable ways. Some - and we never will know how few - feel true feelings of religion and repentance, I've seen this myself, no names. But generally it's just a feel-good look-good thing.

 

But whatever the motive it is NOT strange and it is NOT a turn of events. Suthep will emerge from the wat, proclaim he is a better man and go right back to it. It is not a life-altering experience, and it won't alter his life. He's taking a break. As do most Thai males in their lifetime.

 

 

And which lucky temple got to take Thaksin in ?  Or is he in "self exile", as opposed to being on the run from the law ?  

 

I'm pretty sure Thaksin has not been a monk. Maybe when he reaches Suthep's age he will. I'm pretty sure there are two, three temples outside Thailand.

 

.

Edited July 16, 2014 by wandasloan

[mikemac]

 

I do not knows K. Suthep's motives.
But having been corrupt in the past does not necessary mean still being corrupt.

Forgiving is a part not only of Christianity or Buddhism
But here every poster allows themselve to judge. - And without evidence

 

You are partly right, and most of this is just opinion anyway. But you are wrong about the "without evidence" part. Mr Suthep's corruption is legion and documented. There is lots of suspicion about many other deals, but there are well known, publicised and documented corrupt deals. A well-known series of corrupt deals by Suthep even caused the fall of a Democrat government. Evidence is not lacking.

 

.

 

 

Surprised as I am, I agree with you now, as well as your post #41.

 

I think it is a well known fact that Suthep has a "shady" past and most anti-PTP posters who have been in Thailand for a number of years would be aware of that.

Not surprised his previous deeds are being brought up here, the topic is about him after all. But usually his "priors" are mentioned on topics that have nothing to do with him in order to make Yingluck, Thaksin and co' look good.

How many wrongs do make a right ?  
 

[phanangpete]

Paying penance for all his wrong doing, thinks this will get him off the hook.

Guilty as will be charged .   lol

[webfact]

Suthep Joins Ranks of Activists Seeking Safety in Monkhood
By Khaosod English


Former anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban surprised many by appearing as a monk in Surat Thani, 16 July 2014.

SURAT THANI — Former anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban surprised many by appearing as a monk today, raising speculation that he is joining a long tradition of political leaders seeking asylum through the monkhood.

Many villagers in Lamet district were baffled to see Mr. Suthep in saffron robes with his head and eyebrows shaven, as is the Buddhist tradition, collecting alms alongside other monks near Than Nam Lai Temple in Surat Thani this morning.

Mr. Suthep and other monks walked for about one kilometre to collect food donations before returning to their secluded temple. Only one temple assistant was seen accompanying Mr. Suthep throughout the journey.

Starting last November, the former deputy chairman of the Democrat Party spent six months as the firebrand leader of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) in its effort to topple the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and replace it with an unelected people’s council to carry out unspecified “national reforms.”

Mr. Suthep, who is now known by his Buddhist name "Paphakaro," did not announce his intention to be ordained as a monk. Media reports also indicate that people close to Mr. Suthep were surprised by the sudden move.

Monkhood as asylum

Although Mr. Suthep has not publicly stated his reasons for becoming a monk, Thailand has a history of political leaders joining the monkhood to avoid assassination or revenge following periods of upheaval in the country’s politics. Killing monks is considered a grave sin in Buddhist cosmology.

Prominent examples in Thailand's pre-modern history include King Maha Chakkraphat, who briefly sought exile in the monkhood in 1538 after a coup was staged against his dynasty, and King Rama IV, who spent 27 years as monk before he was crowned King of Siam to avoid a conflict of interest with his brother, King Rama III.

A more recent example is Sondhi Limthongkul, the controversial leader of the ultra-royalist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), the predecessor of the PCAD that campaigned against Ms. Yingluck's brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, starting in 2005.

Mr. Sondhi entered the monkhood in 2007, a year after Mr. Thaksin's administration was overthrown in a military coup that the PAD's protests helped engineer. Prior to his ordination, Mr. Sondhi made controversial remarks claiming that members of the Thai Royal Family were supportive of the PAD's quest against Mr. Thaksin, who the PAD had accused of being an “anti-monarchy tyrant.”

Mr. Sondhi eventually returned to secular life and nearly died life in 2009, when unknown assailants fired a full magazine of bullets from an automatic rifle at his car in Bangkok. The perpetrators were never found.

Many critics of Mr. Suthep have likened his ordination to that of Mr. Sondhi. Last month, Mr. Suthep caused an uproar when he told a gathering of PCAD donors at an exclusive club that he had been conspiring with army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha to overthrow Thaksin-allied governments since 2010.

Gen. Prayuth, who led the coup against Ms. Yingluck's government on 22 May, insisted that the coup was necessary to prevent further bloodshed and maintained that he did not take any sides in the country’s political conflict. However, since seizing power, the military junta has taken up the centerpiece of the PCAD’s platform: instituting a series of “national reforms” before the next election is held.

According to Gen. Prayuth, an interim government will be formed in September and tasked with reforming the country’s constitution. A year later, elections will be held if conditions are deemed stable.

Ekkanat Prompan, a close aide of Mr. Suthep during the anti-government campaign, was also ordained as a monk shortly after the 22 May coup.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1405500727

[khaosod]2014-07-16[/khaosod]

[15Peter20]

Its just a way for him to make sure he doesn't get lumbered with any unwanted bad karma his actions may have caused. I expect a reasonable sum of money donated to the temple will also help ensure his wrongs don't interfere with his rise up the karmic ladder. He's just being a good Buddhist.

[Thanet]

Suthep Joins Ranks of Activists Seeking Safety in Monkhood
By Khaosod English


Former anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban surprised many by appearing as a monk in Surat Thani, 16 July 2014.

SURAT THANI — Former anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban surprised many by appearing as a monk today, raising speculation that he is joining a long tradition of political leaders seeking asylum through the monkhood.

Many villagers in Lamet district were baffled to see Mr. Suthep in saffron robes with his head and eyebrows shaven, as is the Buddhist tradition, collecting alms alongside other monks near Than Nam Lai Temple in Surat Thani this morning.

Mr. Suthep and other monks walked for about one kilometre to collect food donations before returning to their secluded temple. Only one temple assistant was seen accompanying Mr. Suthep throughout the journey.

Starting last November, the former deputy chairman of the Democrat Party spent six months as the firebrand leader of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) in its effort to topple the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and replace it with an unelected people’s council to carry out unspecified “national reforms.”

Mr. Suthep, who is now known by his Buddhist name "Paphakaro," did not announce his intention to be ordained as a monk. Media reports also indicate that people close to Mr. Suthep were surprised by the sudden move.

Monkhood as asylum

Although Mr. Suthep has not publicly stated his reasons for becoming a monk, Thailand has a history of political leaders joining the monkhood to avoid assassination or revenge following periods of upheaval in the country’s politics. Killing monks is considered a grave sin in Buddhist cosmology.

Prominent examples in Thailand's pre-modern history include King Maha Chakkraphat, who briefly sought exile in the monkhood in 1538 after a coup was staged against his dynasty, and King Rama IV, who spent 27 years as monk before he was crowned King of Siam to avoid a conflict of interest with his brother, King Rama III.

A more recent example is Sondhi Limthongkul, the controversial leader of the ultra-royalist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), the predecessor of the PCAD that campaigned against Ms. Yingluck's brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, starting in 2005.

Mr. Sondhi entered the monkhood in 2007, a year after Mr. Thaksin's administration was overthrown in a military coup that the PAD's protests helped engineer. Prior to his ordination, Mr. Sondhi made controversial remarks claiming that members of the Thai Royal Family were supportive of the PAD's quest against Mr. Thaksin, who the PAD had accused of being an “anti-monarchy tyrant.”

Mr. Sondhi eventually returned to secular life and nearly died life in 2009, when unknown assailants fired a full magazine of bullets from an automatic rifle at his car in Bangkok. The perpetrators were never found.

Many critics of Mr. Suthep have likened his ordination to that of Mr. Sondhi. Last month, Mr. Suthep caused an uproar when he told a gathering of PCAD donors at an exclusive club that he had been conspiring with army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha to overthrow Thaksin-allied governments since 2010.

Gen. Prayuth, who led the coup against Ms. Yingluck's government on 22 May, insisted that the coup was necessary to prevent further bloodshed and maintained that he did not take any sides in the country’s political conflict. However, since seizing power, the military junta has taken up the centerpiece of the PCAD’s platform: instituting a series of “national reforms” before the next election is held.

According to Gen. Prayuth, an interim government will be formed in September and tasked with reforming the country’s constitution. A year later, elections will be held if conditions are deemed stable.

Ekkanat Prompan, a close aide of Mr. Suthep during the anti-government campaign, was also ordained as a monk shortly after the 22 May coup.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1405500727

[khaosod]2014-07-16[/khaosod]

 

Ah got it - the monkhood is the best suit of armour.

[Thanet]

 

What a fake he is.   

We are all fakes in one way or another,its what makes us so amusingly human

 

So we are all the same then? No good and no bad because all people are fake?

[xminator]

Its just a way for him to make sure he doesn't get lumbered with any unwanted bad karma his actions may have caused. I expect a reasonable sum of money donated to the temple will also help ensure his wrongs don't interfere with his rise up the karmic ladder. He's just being a good Buddhist.

 

Nah, look at the last picture. He was missing the feeling of receiving gifts.

[Thanet]

 

This sends a clear message to General Prayuth that he's staying out of politics for the time being, which is a good thing anyway anyone looks at it.

 

Why does he need to send a message? He's played his part in the plan, and is no longer needed.

 

 

That is likely the long and short of it.

 

By his own admission, he was part of the plan.

[metisdead]

Posts using derogatory slurs have been removed.  Another post with an aberrant spelling of a former PM's name has been removed as well as the replies.

[tx22cb]

Excellent gambit - neatly resolves a tricky conundrum.

When Suthep leaves the monkhood in a week or two, he can claim to have been "re-born", and any silly pledges that the old Suthep might have made (e.g. never going to accept the post of PM) will be deemed to be inapplicable.

 

And the whole of Thailand (well, at least the people who think they matter) will swoon with delight, and all the whistles, flags and T-shirts will see the light of day again.

 

(satire)

[Basil B]

Although Mr. Suthep has not publicly stated his reasons for becoming a monk, Thailand has a history of political leaders joining the monkhood to avoid assassination or revenge following periods of upheaval in the country’s politics. Killing monks is considered a grave sin in Buddhist cosmology.

 

Unfortunately I doubt Mr Suthep joining the monkhood will protect him from assassination by the scum who have conducted so many atrocities over the last few months.

[soalbundy]

 

 

What a fake he is.   

We are all fakes in one way or another,its what makes us so amusingly human

 

So we are all the same then? No good and no bad because all people are fake?

 

We are amusing

[fabianfred]

 

The Sangha does not "allow anyone in". You may not enter the monkhood ... (more puzzlingly) if you suffer from a physical handicap such as loss of a limb.

Only people who have the potential for achieving enlightenment in the current life are permitted to enter the monkhood. Women, nagas and handicapped people are considered not to have that potential. In the case of the handicapped, it's considered a hangover from a previous existence, so you're more than one step away from enlightenment.

 

Women do have the potential to become Arahants in this lifetime.... it is just old male monks who like to tell them just to make merit so that next life they can be born male and then become monks.... BS!

Edited July 16, 2014 by fabianfred

[wabothai]

That will be the day !!!!

[fabianfred]

If he has truly decided to turn over anew leaf... then good luck to him. But I very much doubt that all the evil karma he has created for himself will allow him any peace of mind. People might forgive him... but that does not wash away any karma which will certainly bear fruit at sometime in the future...this or another life.

[englishoak]

Does this mean that there will be no charges or prosecution while a monk ?

 

Correct he is hiding in the temple, 

 

Sanctuary !!!!

[soalbundy]

If he has truly decided to turn over anew leaf... then good luck to him. But I very much doubt that all the evil karma he has created for himself will allow him any peace of mind. People might forgive him... but that does not wash away any karma which will certainly bear fruit at sometime in the future...this or another life.

The moving hand doth write

and having writ moves on

nor all your piety nor wit shall cancel half a line

nor all your tears wash out one word of it

 

The Rubbiyat of Omar Kyam