Troops stop construction of Dhamakaya pagoda on Chiang Rai hilltop

BANGKOK: -- A combined force of 100 soldiers, forestry officials and police stormed a hilltop in Thoeng district of Chiang Rai province following complaint of forest intrusion to construct a huge pagoda.

Acted on command of the National Council of Peace and Order, Maj-Gen Pornchai Duriyaphan, deputy director of the Chiang Rai Internal Security Operation Command, led the combined force to the hilltop where a vast area had been landscaped and many trees cut to pave way for the construction of a huge pagoda of a Buddhism sect of Dhamakaya temple in Pathumthani.

Thirty concrete supporting piles had been hammered into the ground while over a dozen were laid on the ground.

No workers were there when authorities arrived. But worker camps were built and several construction machines and materials were left there.

Authorities impounded all equipment there and put up sign ordering construction to stop definitely.

Investigation later revealed that a village headman sold the piece of land atop the hill to a person at 3 million baht to construct the pagoda.

After the and purchase there had been lobbies for influential local authorities to facilitate the construction with claim that a top government official will be arriving to chair the opening of the pagoda.

Maj Gen Pornchai said authorities had earlier obtained information that the pagoda named “Phu Chedi” was being constructed illegally on the hilltop which is in forest reserve.

Investigation was launched and later found it intruded forest land which is illegal.

Authorities were looking for responsible persons for questioning and had halted all construction, he added.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/troops-stop-construction-dhamakaya-pagoda-chiang-rai-hilltop

-- Thai PBS 2015-02-13

From the OP

"After the and purchase there had been lobbies for influential local authorities to facilitate the construction with claim that a top government official will be arriving to chair the opening of the pagoda."

Anyone know when the land was purchased, maybe that will provide some clues as to who the "top government official" might have been.

And what did the headman do with the 3 million he got from selling crown land?

I am sure he shared it with the community right?

Cult Buddhism?

Big business religion is just wrong.

Stormed the hill? Very military reporting there. Probably just sedately drove their trucks to the top.

Just another Thai conducting business here in the land of smiles.

Removed a troll post.