Wat Dhammakaya now at maximum security alert

[Brer Fox]

They should bring in the heavy brigade who have a track record of doing the hard yards after busting open that wicked and evil Pattaya Bridge Club.

[Wilsonandson]

Breaking###Just in###

Jonathon Head reveals the true identity of the Abbot of Dhammakaya.

[SOTIRIOS]

...does this make any sense....???

[Eric Loh]

This attitude is exactly why Thailand will continue to have issues with the masses when they gather.....seen at Swampy and the 2010 red shirt revolt...and the PDRC fiasco...the authorities continually bumble along in their inept attitude and cannot make decisions to quash this nonsense.

This current revolt against the rule of law, obviously overuled by religion, must be stopped.

Clearly the difference is that all the rest of the mentioned demonstrations were in public places and created lots of inconveniences to the general public. As long as they keep within their compound, this fight is between them and the junta. The general public and the economy are not affected and that's good. And the rule of law has already been overuled by the military coup. The junta may have been over zealous in their "get rid of Thaksin regime" motive.

[taony]

Wonder how the PM feels having such a major challenge to his authority and regime to deal with ?

Oh maybe he doesn't know much about what with his head being buried so deep in the sand.

Sand or his ass?

[JAG]

Just an idle thought, but with body armour and that sort of thing being illegal in Thailand (Hong Kong Journalist chappie), how did they manage to get hold of what looks like military spec razor wire?

Money talks I suppose...

[scorecard]

Just a side comment:

- What's the result of the investigation into the status of the medical report issued without authorization? And why hasn't the DSI mentioned this further in the media, and why hasn't the temple admin. mentioned this further?

- Why hasn't the DSI demanded an updated medical report along with specifics of what type of report / who can sign, authorize said report / where and when it must be delivered etc?

- Why hasn't the temple administration mentioned this matter any further (very convenient)?

- Why hasn't the DSI continued to demand access to the temple / the monk, along with a team of appropriate accredited medical specialists? (A team with enough specialists that the temple cannot respond by saying 'not the right medical specialists')?

- Why hasn't the temple administration issued further comments on this point (very convenient)?

Edited June 1, 2016 by scorecard

[Siripon]

DSI needs offer ultimatum & when not met joint effort with army to storm place & arrest all .

Until Thailands shows some balls it will remain the toilet gutter joke it is, think the pm lacking in family jewels & gumption as this corruption & illegal mob is well off his lovely road map. Most other countries would of nipped this in bud before escalated & temple turned into a castle :-S it just rediculous & proof of incompetence, nepotism & corruption beyond belief even for this sewer of a country ...

Ultimatums and using force are likely exactly what a certain opportunist wants to accelerate/inflame this precarious situation (we've seen this play many times since 2006 and it never ends well, usually involving multiple innocent pawns/casualties). The General is wisely erring on the side of caution as the group backing this allegedly corrupt Monk has done wet-work before and this standoff has all the ingredients to get ugly quickly if not handled extremely carefully.

This excerpt from a former Monk at the temple who resigned:

================

-In the senatorial elections of 2000, Dhammajayo supported candidates with links to the Thai Rak Thai Party. The former abbot of Phra Dhammakaya Temple was the first one to initiate contact with members of Thai Rak Thai. It was decided that the Thai Rak Thai Party would have Dhammakaya's backing. Thai Rak Thai representatives were given the opportunity to speak to the temple's followers, who were urged to cast their votes for the party, as it would naturally be beneficial for their master and temple.

Thaksin Shinawatra was hailed as the ideal lay Buddhist, who had been blessed by the merit of his past lives and was endowed with a great many virtues. The temple played a song praising Thaksin composed by the Phra Dhammajayo himself on its Dow Tham satellite television channel - broadcasting 24 hours a day.

The Thai Rak Thai-Phra Dhammakaya Temple relationship proved mutually beneficial. It allowed the Thai Rak Thai Party to promote itself with greater efficiency. Phra Dhammakaya Temple also began broadcasts on Dow Tham. Using a massive budget and having recruited qualified personnel - all inspired by the Doctrine of Dhammakaya - the satellite television channel produced a series of programmes, enriched with computerised images and attractive animations, thus capturing the eyes of the younger generation.

Never before in its history was the temple able to expand its powers so quickly. The temple was able to significantly build up its local, national and international networks after Thai Rak Thai came to power.

For Phra Dhammajayo, victory for the Thai Rak Thai was the equivalent of a victory of his own, and votes for that party were the same as votes for the security of his temple.

Followers of Phra Dhammakaya Temple and Thaksin believe that the alliance between the two serves their best interests.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/09/27/opinion/opinion_30014752.php

============

-Interestingly, Phra Dhammachayo’s capitalistic version of Buddhism meshes well with the rich and powerful, and others who think it is simply great to be able to buy a place in heaven.

At the height of the controversy in 1999, the late Supreme Patriarch issued an ordinance declaring that Phra Dhammachayo must be defrocked for distorting the Buddhist canon, dividing the Sangha, and for fraud and embezzlement.

It is no secret that the Pheu Thai-led government supports the Dhammakaya abbot. And it came as no surprise that the public prosecutors eventually dropped the charges against him in 2006.

http://2bangkok.com/thaksins-temple-dhammakaya.html

==============

-Controversial politician Jatuporn Promphan has warned of a big public protest if Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha does not put forward the name of Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn (aka Somdet Chuang) as a candidate for supreme patriarch.

Somdet Chuang was a mentor to Phra Dhammachayo of the Wat Dhammakaya sect. He is seen as a big supporter of Phra Dhammachayo in all his unorthodox and controversial behaviour.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Jatuporn-backing-wrong-candidate-30276699.html

===============

Conclusion:

Currently Red-shirt leader Jatuporn / pro-Thaksin side is promoting the allegedly aligned & corrupt Monk's mentor to become the new supreme patriarch of all Thai Buddhists... This could cause great division in society (and possibly spark worse if a showdown is forced or 'manufactured' by a 'third' hand) all around a time of pending uncertainty.

One side likely sees a win either way - if their allegedly aligned side gets appointed = Win. Global news stories of Junta backed forces and bloodied Monks = Win (and it would only take one 'third hand' to kick it off). Thus, this a highly dangerous situation which could be exploited so easily and absolutely must be handled with extreme care.

Yes,Jatupon and Waeng are voicing support for Thammachayo. Prayud is fully aware of their game,far better to besiege the temple and cut the electricity and water supply.

[Sunderland]

I used to read The Beano for laughs when I was 7 years old. Now I read the news forum and get the same laughs.

[trainman34014]

And what does all this make the DSI, Police and Army look like in Thailand ? Basically a bunch of inept, toothless tosspots unfit for purpose. Amazing Thailand !

[Khon Kaen Dave]

Starve em out! Siimples!

Cut off all their electric and gas,water and food.Dont even suck out the cess pit.

They gotta come out for air sometime.

[Artisi]

Wonder how the PM feels having such a major challenge to his authority and regime to deal with ?

Oh maybe he doesn't know much about what with his head being buried so deep in the sand.

are you sure it's in the sand?

[Artisi]

Reminiscent of Waco. Hope it doesn't end badly for the innocents involved.

What innocents, if you are still involved with this lot after all the media exposure over the past period, you aren't innocent?

[Artisi]

Just an idle thought, but with body armour and that sort of thing being illegal in Thailand (Hong Kong Journalist chappie), how did they manage to get hold of what looks like military spec razor wire?

Money talks I suppose...

Probably supplied, for a price of course, by the very same people the current PM previously work for.

[Artisi]

They should bring in the heavy brigade who have a track record of doing the hard yards after busting open that wicked and evil Pattaya Bridge Club.

One of the wittiest comments on TV for a long while.

[chowny77]

Round all the monks from this temple and send them south, this might make the southern Muslims shit a brick.

[Eric Loh]

Perfect excuse for the general to stay in power as he openly said today at the G77 forum. He want to see peace and order before he leave. What a brilliant set-up.

"Frankly speaking, I won't go anywhere as long as the country is not at peace and in order. I won't leave, despite how much you hate me," General Prayut told diplomats from a group of 134 developing countries at the G77 forum.

[Wilsonandson]

Perfect excuse for the general to stay in power as he openly said today at the G77 forum. He want to see peace and order before he leave. What a brilliant set-up.

"Frankly speaking, I won't go anywhere as long as the country is not at peace and in order. I won't leave, despite how much you hate me," General Prayut told diplomats from a group of 134 developing countries at the G77 forum.

You got all the guns general! What's the worse that could happen? Angry mobs armed with kitchen utensils?

[NeilSA1]

Sounds like a perfect set-up to lay siege to the temple, nothing in, nothing out, power, water, phones cut, I'm sure the prison dept will lend a mobile phone jammer to help the cause. Lets see how long before they change their tune.

Remember David Koresh, who led the Branch Davidians in a deadly 51-day stand-off against federal agents at the sect's Waco compound

[soalbundy]

Sounds like a perfect set-up to lay siege to the temple, nothing in, nothing out, power, water, phones cut, I'm sure the prison dept will lend a mobile phone jammer to help the cause. Lets see how long before they change their tune.

send in a few tigers

[Sawan Chan 7]

Is this Thai style Dhamma? Why does this so called Monk need such protection. This is certainly not the middle way.

You obviously don't know who the monk is related to.

[DrTuner]

Hmm, seems being a monk pays well and you can get a non-imm visa too..hmmmmmmmmmm

[billd766]

Perfect excuse for the general to stay in power as he openly said today at the G77 forum. He want to see peace and order before he leave. What a brilliant set-up.

"Frankly speaking, I won't go anywhere as long as the country is not at peace and in order. I won't leave, despite how much you hate me," General Prayut told diplomats from a group of 134 developing countries at the G77 forum.

You got all the guns general! What's the worse that could happen? Angry mobs armed with kitchen utensils?

What is the worst that could happen?

Quote Wilsonandson "You got all the guns general! What's the worse that could happen? Angry mobs armed with kitchen utensils?"

How can you be 100% certain that there are not weapons already there, stored ready for use? Would you be willing to go there unarmed and take that chance? Would you want to be the person in charge and then have the whole thing blow up (figuratively or literally) in your face?

Spend 8 minutes of your time watching this video.

There could be hundreds of dead and injured supporters, many police and army dead and injured, all on live TV, open to the world. The temple could be badly damaged or even destroyed and the fallout would go on for years. The damage to the country and Thai Buddhism would be enormous.

It isn't, and never will be a problem that you will have to face as you are only a keyboard warrior, and would seem quite happy to send people to their deaths and injuries, families from all sides, devastated and split by the loss of loved ones while you sit safely far away behind a computer and a keyboard.

[tomyummer]

Thailand's own Waco.

[Wilsonandson]

Perfect excuse for the general to stay in power as he openly said today at the G77 forum. He want to see peace and order before he leave. What a brilliant set-up.

"Frankly speaking, I won't go anywhere as long as the country is not at peace and in order. I won't leave, despite how much you hate me," General Prayut told diplomats from a group of 134 developing countries at the G77 forum.

You got all the guns general! What's the worse that could happen? Angry mobs armed with kitchen utensils?

What is the worst that could happen?

Quote Wilsonandson "You got all the guns general! What's the worse that could happen? Angry mobs armed with kitchen utensils?"

How can you be 100% certain that there are not weapons already there, stored ready for use? Would you be willing to go there unarmed and take that chance? Would you want to be the person in charge and then have the whole thing blow up (figuratively or literally) in your face?

Spend 8 minutes of your time watching this video.

There could be hundreds of dead and injured supporters, many police and army dead and injured, all on live TV, open to the world. The temple could be badly damaged or even destroyed and the fallout would go on for years. The damage to the country and Thai Buddhism would be enormous.

It isn't, and never will be a problem that you will have to face as you are only a keyboard warrior, and would seem quite happy to send people to their deaths and injuries, families from all sides, devastated and split by the loss of loved ones while you sit safely far away behind a computer and a keyboard.

Whatever.

[Wilsonandson]

Is this Thai style Dhamma? Why does this so called Monk need such protection. This is certainly not the middle way.

You obviously don't know who the monk is related to.

No, neither do I, pls enlighten one!

[Wilsonandson]

Well, look at you!

[Wilsonandson]

Youlike facebook is a buzz with this topical music video

A light hearted look at the news. In all these graphic videos a funny musical video to cheer up the folk.

[Bung]

Go in, arms blazing.

Don't you mean "alms" blazing?

[trogers]

Is this Thai style Dhamma? Why does this so called Monk need such protection. This is certainly not the middle way.

Nirvana or Hades?