Dhammakaya temple eases security measures

[webfact]

Dhammakaya temple eases security measures



BANGKOK: -- Security measures at Dhammakaya temple have been eased after some barricades the abbot's followers have deployed were removed.

But overall security was still tight as they asserted that there would be no barricade to block the entrance of the temple to prevent the authorities from the Department of Special Investigation to raid and arrest their abbot Phra Dhammachayo.

Temple staff still searched the people who entered the temple at Gate 5 and 6 from road along the Klong 3 canal.

Meanwhile, at Gate 1 in front of the temple, backhoe trucks that were deployed to block the entrance were removed.

The temple yesterday issued a statement thanking the prime minister for his softened stance toward the temple and assurance that there would be no use of violence against Phra Dhammachayo.

The statement also denied it was involved with politics or was trying to mobilize thousands of followers to protect their abbot as reported in media.

It also clarified the floating of surveillance balloons over the temple, reasoning that it was only normal signal to inform the followers of the position and there was no any survellance cameras.

Spokesman for the Dhammakaya Temple Ongart Thammanita denied having deployed narbed wire fence or barricades at all entrances to prevent attempted arrest of the abbot.

He called on the media to report fairly to avoid damaging the temple’s reputation or else legal action could be taken.

Meanwhile Department of Special Investigation (DSI) director general Pol Col Paisit Wongmuang said the Sangha Council of Thailand was considering on how to deal with the matter.

DSI has proposed that if Phra Dhamnmachayo is sick, the physicians from state hospital should be allowed to check his health at the presence of the abbot’s personal doctors to observe.

However if it was found that Phra Dhammachayo was seriously ill as claimed, DSI was ready to inform the charges against him at the place where he is receiving treatment.

The DSI chief saud it was depended on the abbot whether he would agree for the health inspection.

He said further that the DSI would not only aim to bring Phra Dhammachayo to the legal procedure but would expand to cover other 6-7 groups of monk who were involved with the donation cheques from the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative.

Yesterday the DSI has sought arrest warrant from the court to arrest Ms Sasithorn Chokprasit, one of the suspects involved with the money laundering and receiving stolen property.

But he said she was reportedly fled the country.

Miss Sasithorn was found to have endorsed a 100 million cheque to the temple.

But the temple lawyers have denied receiving the cheque.

However the DSI chief said it was found that the money has finally transferred to the temple’s bank account.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/165740

-- Thai PBS 2016-06-02

[thesetat2013]

So let's see! Who is lying? The lawyer who says they never got that 100 million check, or the bank that claims the money was transferred already and the signer who has fled the country? Duh!!

[rkidlad]

Comical. A so called big powerful man negotiating with a criminal monk.

Anyone saying anything bad about the temple may be sued? Ha ha! Thailand proving yet again that you can have your cake and eat it.

Pathetic.

[seajae]

it would appear that all these temples and abbots think they are above the law and can do as they please, why the so called Sangha council is not de frocking these frauds is beyond most people. All temples/abbots should be made to submit copies of all financial transactions every year, the way it stands at the moment no one has any idea of exactly where all the money is going and how much is involved. They should also be made to follow the real buddhist ways and not the thai version of making themselves wealthy, way past time this religion was pulled into line and made to obey the laws like everyone else and have no special treatment, they are supposed to be there for the people, not themselves. There should be bulk arrests made of all those that are stopping the DSI from doing their job, that includes the lying lawyers/doctors as well as the followers and other monks, an example is needed to be set to stop all this crap from continually happening

[Strangebrew]

More monkey business as usual. So there saying they didn't block the temple now? and they obey the law? What's narbed wire?

[Somtamnication]

Like a John Cleese comedy sketch.

[colinneil]

Like a John Cleese comedy sketch.

This farce is even better than any fawlty towers episode.

Temples are supposed to be for worship/for the people.

Not barricades to keep people out disgusting absolutely disgusting.

If what all the high profile cases going on at the moment are about Buddism well i am glad i am not Buddist.

[tukkytuktuk]

New Dhammakaya temple music video is a hit on the viral media hit parade.

[tukkytuktuk]

Just seen this on the nation website:- http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Prayut-orders-security-tightened-around-Dhammakaya-30287227.html

Prayut orders security tightened around Dhammakaya

The Nation June 2, 2016 2:59 pm

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said Thursday that he had ordered security agencies to tighten security around the Dhammakaya Temple.

Prayut said the tightened security would prevent people with malicious intention from sneaking in to create untoward incidents and blame them on the government.

[silent]

Like a John Cleese comedy sketch.

This farce is even better than any fawlty towers episode.

Temples are supposed to be for worship/for the people.

Not barricades to keep people out disgusting absolutely disgusting.

If what all the high profile cases going on at the moment are about Buddism well i am glad i am not Buddist.

I bet they'll be shattered to learn that

[Sunderland]

Hi-de-hi holiday camp was run much more professionally than the circus pulling the strings here. Dear oh dear. Kids with toys and no idea how to play with them.

[biplanebluey]

So let's see! Who is lying? The lawyer who says they never got that 100 million check, or the bank that claims the money was transferred already and the signer who has fled the country? Duh!!

HaHa woudn't mind betting she's not the only one to have fled the country----------- especially with that diversionary tactic of opening the front gate----------- How about they did it and drove the Monk out at the same time cos couldn't get him out with that Back-Hoe in the way----- anything is possible --------ya gotta luv em!!!!!---------

[connda]

Extremely wealthy buddhist abbots are obviously 'teflon' and untouchable. Surly the RTP will redirect their energies to bust and jail 'little people' for major crimes like chewing kratom. The wealthy, religious or secular, don't normally get tossed under the bus the way 'little people' do, regardless of the relative magnitude of their crime. It's not just Thailand, but Thailand does seem to disproportionately hold to that philosophy. Rich = 'teflon'. Everyone else = jail fodder.

[SABloke]

it would appear that all these temples and abbots think they are above the law and can do as they please, why the so called Sangha council is not de frocking these frauds is beyond most people. All temples/abbots should be made to submit copies of all financial transactions every year, the way it stands at the moment no one has any idea of exactly where all the money is going and how much is involved. They should also be made to follow the real buddhist ways and not the thai version of making themselves wealthy, way past time this religion was pulled into line and made to obey the laws like everyone else and have no special treatment, they are supposed to be there for the people, not themselves. There should be bulk arrests made of all those that are stopping the DSI from doing their job, that includes the lying lawyers/doctors as well as the followers and other monks, an example is needed to be set to stop all this crap from continually happening

'' why the so called Sangha council is not de frocking these frauds is beyond most people.''

I suspect they're all cut from the same (saffron stained) cloth. Stained being the operative word

[Wilsonandson]

Razor wire taken down.

[Sunderland]

Would make a lovely 5-star jail for all the hi-so criminals who have fled or paid their way out of time in jail.