Barbed wire fence removed from Wat Dhammakaya



BANGKOK: -- The Dhammakaya temple has removed all the barbed wire fence its supporters installed around the temple in the past couple of days to prevent officials from getting in to arrest their embattled abbot or to search the temple.

Phra Maha Nopporn Punyachaiyo, deputy director of communications of the temple, said Thursday that the removal of the barbed wire fence was meant to ease the tension.

He added that the temple had asked red-shirt followers who were reportedly seen on the temple ground to leave the temple.

He insisted that the temple was not involved in politics and pleaded with politically-affiliated elements not to interfere with temple’s affairs.

Meanwhile, a member of a Buddhist organization and supporter of Phra Dhammachayo today lodged a complaint with Klong Luang district police in Pathum Thani province against four individuals accusing them of distorting facts to defame the embattled abbot.

He identified the four individuals as Dr Mano Laowanich, a former close aide of Dhammachayo, Thai Post columnist Plew Seengern, former news anchorman Somkiat Onvimol and Anchalee Sasaki.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/165823


-- Thai PBS 2016-06-03

PM orders tightening of security at Wat Phra Dhammakaya

BANGKOK, 3 June 2016 (NNT) – The Prime Minister has instructed security officials to patrol areas around Wat Phra Dhammakaya more stringently while admitting it remains unknown whether Phra Dhammajayo has fled the country.

Following reports that some political activists have joined in the demonstration at Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has assigned related security units to find measures to screen people going in and out of the temple for weapons. He affirmed that the authorities are not trying to take control of the temple but the maintenance of security is necessary so as to deter any third party from stirring the situation.

As for the temple’s abbot, Phra Dhammajayo, who is escaping his fraud allegations, Gen Prayut said there has been no confirmation if the monk has left the country. The premier insisted that, regardless of how big or small the case is, the offender must be brought to justice without exception.

Meanwhile, core leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) Jatuporn Prompan responded to the news that a group of demonstrators seen wearing red shirts at Wat Phra Dhammakaya had connections with the UDD. He verified that two of them were indeed UDD members.


-- NNT 2016-06-03

so the temple has transformed from an armed military base back to a temple

there really is no hope for these people

I thought for a while that the current PM might just be able to improve this country and turn it around, now I don't think anyone can no matter who they are, it is impossible without a complete reset which would be ugly

The plot thickens. So what is the red shirt connection? Wasnt there some previous dealings between Taksin and the abbot?

It crosses my mind that a Buddhist temple would be a great front for a money laundering operation. Just a thought?

The plot thickens. So what is the red shirt connection? Wasnt there some previous dealings between Taksin and the abbot?

It crosses my mind that a Buddhist temple would be a great front for a money laundering operation. Just a thought?

Why not, no transparency, no accounts. And above the law.!

Gen Prayut said there has been no confirmation if the monk has left the country...

I assume that the monk's supporters have removed the barbed wire because it is no longer necessary - the monk has already gone to Singapore for medical treatment

Red shirts on the grounds asked to leave ?

No doubt there as devout Buddhists.

Red shirts on the temple grounds!

Okay there is your excuse for a policital gathering of more than 5 people so in you go boys arrest everyone and shut the joint down.

Oh hang on this is a tad more than a 77 year old giving flowers to a red shirt.

A simple solution to clearing everyone out of the Temple

Very large speakers set up outside playing Ackey Breaky Heart

The plot thickens. So what is the red shirt connection? Wasnt there some previous dealings between Taksin and the abbot?

It crosses my mind that a Buddhist temple would be a great front for a money laundering operation. Just a thought?

Buddhism and politics go hand in hand due to the sheer number of followers popular temples can command. Thaksin was never well liked by the Buddhist heads from the beginning of his career. He was able to find support from Wat Dhammakaya. Wat Dhammakaya was not well liked by many due to its unorthodox teachings, telling followers how merit can be accumulated through financial donations. (They even have brochures outlining if you donate X amount, you will reach X level)

Needless to say Thaksin showered this temple with a lot of cash. In return the head of the temple gave his support. Back when the temple corruption first surface in 2001, people said it was Thaksin who protected this abbot from criticism and from being investigated. During Thaksins outster, the temple has openly supported Thaksin. The temple mobilize its monks to counter against the army during UDDs protests back in the day. Played songs that supported Thaksin at the temple, as well as put up pro-thaksin posters around the city.

The Supreme Patriarch, most senior monk was going to disrobbed the head monk of Wat Dhammakaya - Phra , but sadly the Supreme Patriarch passed away in 2013 before the order could go through. So this corrupt monk held his position and the power among the top monks seems to have shifted in his favor.

This whole mess also ties with how the new Supreme Patriarch has not been elected yet, but leading candidate Somdet Chuang is a supporter of Wat Dhammakaya - Somdet Chuang ordained the corrupted monk. Many fear that the corrupt monk will be let off the hook for good if Somdet chuang is elected. Not only that, Somdet Chuang did not follow the deceased Supreme Patriarchs order of disrobing the corrupt monk.

The political tie is pretty obvious, as the temple has hundreds and thousands of followers, they can quickly mobilize its supporters for any cause. The General and army also want to dismantle this influence as it is the last remaining strong support that Thaksin has.

so the temple has transformed from an armed military base back to a temple

there really is no hope for these people

I thought for a while that the current PM might just be able to improve this country and turn it around, now I don't think anyone can no matter who they are, it is impossible without a complete reset which would be ugly

I've always wanted to know about this reset. A reset to what? History, the future, the sensible, the modern age? How? Don't you need consensus to make paradigm shifts?

good old red shirts, cant do their dirty work on the street so they do it in the temple grounds. These cretins are just looking for an excuse to start killing people again but the temple has realized how bad it could get and told them to bugger off. Really have to wonder if the abbott is even there now, if he isnt they need to take all the lawyers that have been lying to cover for him and lock them up as well as the doctors if it comes to light that he has been faking it all along, will be interesting to see just how the govt proceeds now.

The plot thickens. So what is the red shirt connection? Wasnt there some previous dealings between Taksin and the abbot?

It crosses my mind that a Buddhist temple would be a great front for a money laundering operation. Just a thought?

Buddhism and politics go hand in hand due to the sheer number of followers popular temples can command. Thaksin was never well liked by the Buddhist heads from the beginning of his career. He was able to find support from Wat Dhammakaya. Wat Dhammakaya was not well liked by many due to its unorthodox teachings, telling followers how merit can be accumulated through financial donations. (They even have brochures outlining if you donate X amount, you will reach X level)

Needless to say Thaksin showered this temple with a lot of cash. In return the head of the temple gave his support. Back when the temple corruption first surface in 2001, people said it was Thaksin who protected this abbot from criticism and from being investigated. During Thaksins outster, the temple has openly supported Thaksin. The temple mobilize its monks to counter against the army during UDDs protests back in the day. Played songs that supported Thaksin at the temple, as well as put up pro-thaksin posters around the city.

The Supreme Patriarch, most senior monk was going to disrobbed the head monk of Wat Dhammakaya - Phra , but sadly the Supreme Patriarch passed away in 2013 before the order could go through. So this corrupt monk held his position and the power among the top monks seems to have shifted in his favor.

This whole mess also ties with how the new Supreme Patriarch has not been elected yet, but leading candidate Somdet Chuang is a supporter of Wat Dhammakaya - Somdet Chuang ordained the corrupted monk. Many fear that the corrupt monk will be let off the hook for good if Somdet chuang is elected. Not only that, Somdet Chuang did not follow the deceased Supreme Patriarchs order of disrobing the corrupt monk.

The political tie is pretty obvious, as the temple has hundreds and thousands of followers, they can quickly mobilize its supporters for any cause. The General and army also want to dismantle this influence as it is the last remaining strong support that Thaksin has.

In other words, Buddhism Thai style. Or the greed mantra!