Dhammachayo should prove his innocence, says PM Prayut

[webfact]

Dhammachayo should prove his innocence, says PM

BANGKOK, 20 June 2016 (NNT) – Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha has commented that Phra Dhammachayo, abbot of Dhammakaya Temple should present himself to police to prove his innocence amidst allegations of his involvement in fraud.

Gen Prayut said followers of Phra Dhammachayo shouldn't meddle in political and legal affairs by claiming the abbot of Dhammakaya Temple would give himself up to authorities only when the country returns to democratic rule.

Phra Dhammachayo is accused of receiving large sums of money stolen from a Thai credit union. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) last week deployed authorities to Dhammakaya Temple to search for the influential monk. The attempt failed as armies of Dhammakaya Temple supporters blocked the entrances.

The scandal-plagued monk has been blacklisted by the Immigration Bureau in a move to prevent him from leaving the country. Gen Prayut said the public should take an active role in solving the problem of corrupt monks.


-- NNT 2016-06-20

[Thechook]

Actually it is up to the authorities to prove guilt and not the accused to prove innocence. He should have the courage to be interviewed tho if he is seen as Luang Por. A good father sets examples for his children.

[ezzra]

What do you expect from a person in his position who's possibly risking the lives of his followers

by putting children and youngsters as hi human shilled as seen on TV?

there're very few people in this country that are rightfully untouchable, but he's not one of them,

let him submit to the due process of the law, for better or worse, and I'm sure the DSI will treat

him with the outmost care and respect........

[colinneil]

Followers of Dhanmmachayo should not meddle in political and legal affairs.

Prayut and his pals did exactly the same, seizing power from a democratically elected government.

[NongKhaiKid]

I've been waiting for the PM to comment on the situation and he comes up with this ?

[The stuttering parrot]

So the mad monk Buddha Izzara is allowed to run amok meddling in politics untouched and with a seemingly green light and yet the captain of the flying saucer temple isn't afforded the same voice.

Both should be defrocked and both brought in to explain their actions and their participation in all this unsavoury money handling and meddling in politics.

Edited June 20, 2016 by The stuttering parrot

[aussieinthailand]

Actually it is up to the authorities to prove guilt and not the accused to prove innocence. He should have the courage to be interviewed tho if he is seen as Luang Por. A good father sets examples for his children.

The burden of proof should be upon the prosecution, not the accused, but is that how it really works in LOS???

Cut the power and water let no one in or out, this will be over in a week.

Monk or no he should be under the laws of the land like everyone (except the first family) else in the country, Ooop's not quite true the PM has set himself and his cohorts above the law but the junta fan boys refuse to renounce that little chestnut.

If the monk knowingly took donations that were corrupt then he should go too gaol, go directly too gaol do not collect 200 baht.

[Strangebrew]

And all along I always thought it was the courts who bore the burden of proving guilt and handing down justice. There is more Buck passing here than people in China.

[thesetat2013]

Actually it is up to the authorities to prove guilt and not the accused to prove innocence. He should have the courage to be interviewed tho if he is seen as Luang Por. A good father sets examples for his children.

Hehehe and what country do you live in because your comment certainly doesn't represent what happens in Thailand. Just look at the Kho Tao incident.

In this case though I do believe the DSI has sufficient evidence and testimony to prove the monk's guilt. This is probably the reason the monk wants to use democracy to delay being questioned. I don't think anyone is willing to accept a bribe from him with this administration and given past history with other admins, he could pay his way out of this problem. He certainly has enough money to do it should a democratic gov be in office like all of the others.

[silent]

Followers of Dhanmmachayo should not meddle in political and legal affairs.

Prayut and his pals did exactly the same, seizing power from a democratically elected government.

Shh !

[silent]

What do you expect from a person in his position who's possibly risking the lives of his followers

by putting children and youngsters as hi human shilled as seen on TV?

there're very few people in this country that are rightfully untouchable, but he's not one of them,

let him submit to the due process of the law, for better or worse, and I'm sure the DSI will treat

him with the outmost care and respect........

Are you commenting on the Abbot here or the PM'?

Edited June 20, 2016 by silent

[metisdead]

An off topic deflection post has been removed as well as some other posts:

Please use discretion in your references to the government. Phrases which can be considered as anti-coup will be removed. Referring to Thailand or the government as a dictatorship, military dictatorship or other such terms will be removed.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878797-updated-notice-to-members-posting-in-thailand-news/

[williamgeorgeallen]

good point cutting the power and water. maybe stopping any food going in as well. all a waste of time however. if he is still there and they arrest him he will just post bail and stall any court proceedings until his crimes are past the statute of limitations. same old story with a slight variation for flavor.

[Smarter Than You]

What do you expect from a person in his position who's possibly risking the lives of his followers

by putting children and youngsters as hi human shilled as seen on TV?

there're very few people in this country that are rightfully untouchable, but he's not one of them,

let him submit to the due process of the law, for better or worse, and I'm sure the DSI will treat

him with the outmost care and respect........

Oh come on, this guy is just following Suthep's example..... to the letter.

The military have only themselves to blame.

Had they done their job and not enabled Suthep there would be no precedent for this guy to copy now.

I am still yet to see Suthep being subject to any sort of "due process".

[Eric Loh]

Bold words from a man who has the power to write his own amnesty.

[SOTIRIOS]

...going 'round in circles here....

...supposedly enough to arrest him already....

[mtls2005]

Two legs: Guilty until proven innocent.

Four legs: It's OK, don't do it again.

I guess this qualifies as Judicial Reform?

[LannaGuy]

actually as time goes on we might reflect that this may be more political than first thought

[Doc46]

Actually it is up to the authorities to prove guilt and not the accused to prove innocence. He should have the courage to be interviewed tho if he is seen as Luang Por. A good father sets examples for his children.

Where the Hell did you come from? No matter where you are in the world,

You Are Guilty Until you can prove that you are Innocent,,,,,

People get arrested ,put in Jail and you have to Prove in Court

that you are Innocent...So what you are saying is Bullshit,,,,,,

[dominique355]

The General can always apply Sec. 44 and declare him guilty. No appeal, case closed. Now that's swift "justice". And totally legal.

[american12bthai]

he cant prove it. it all implicates him and the select few followers. so the best thing to do is say nothing and have the followers fight and kill for him. Wait till the hacked evidence comes out publicly. then youll see a real thai Buddhist.

[DTRACKER300]

Corrupt leaders allow corrupt police to roll on in the circus productions. The PM Is advising a criminal to hand himself in. When in fact he should be dragged in

[Srikcir]

And all along I always thought it was the courts who bore the burden of proving guilt and handing down justice. There is more Buck passing here than people in China.

It is typically the prosecution who bears the burden of proving guilt, usually beyond a shadow of doubt.

Judges judge, not prosecute.

[connda]

I'm not a Dhammachaya supporter or proponent, but in a balanced legal system it's really the government's prosecutors who should be proving the defendant's guilt - beyond a reasonable doubt. When the weight of a legal system is applied in such a way that the defendants must proved their innocence, ie they are assumed guilty until they are proved innocence, your justice system is on a truly slippery slope. That's sort of disturbing, but the entire global governance seems to be tilting in this draconian direction. It's not particularly unique to The Land of Smiles.

And if the abbot has been charged with a crime, it's also the government's duty to stop dancing around the issue and simply arrest the man, bring him to court, and proceed with a trail. The two-tiered, exclusionary justice system, which also seems be applied globally, is the hallmark of broken justice systems. Again, nothing unique to the LOS.

Edited June 20, 2016 by connda

[Krataiboy]

I reckon the boss could do with some platitude adjustment.

[mike324]

This monk was first spotlight back in early 2000s, his charges were deflected by Thaksin. Now his current move where his supporters are preventing his arrest is just another classic play from the red shirt manual. Are people even surprise? perhaps you are if you are not well aware of this monks history and political connections.

[scorecard]

I reckon the boss could do with some platitude adjustment.

No doubt you mean the boss that jumped bail and has been living abroad for quite a few years.

[scorecard]

I'm not a Dhammachaya supporter or proponent, but in a balanced legal system it's really the government's prosecutors who should be proving the defendant's guilt - beyond a reasonable doubt. When the weight of a legal system is applied in such a way that the defendants must proved their innocence, ie they are assumed guilty until they are proved innocence, your justice system is on a truly slippery slope. That's sort of disturbing, but the entire global governance seems to be tilting in this draconian direction. It's not particularly unique to The Land of Smiles.

And if the abbot has been charged with a crime, it's also the government's duty to stop dancing around the issue and simply arrest the man, bring him to court, and proceed with a trail. The two-tiered, exclusionary justice system, which also seems be applied globally, is the hallmark of broken justice systems. Again, nothing unique to the LOS.

Did anybody mention"... they are assumed guilty until they are proved innocence, ...." No.

'Two tiered justice system" Well yes it's wrong. But Is it an invention of general p?

[Eric Loh]

This monk was first spotlight back in early 2000s, his charges were deflected by Thaksin. Now his current move where his supporters are preventing his arrest is just another classic play from the red shirt manual. Are people even surprise? perhaps you are if you are not well aware of this monks history and political connections.

I see you are selective in your post. The Wat controversies started well before 2000s. In fact the first high tension dispute between followers and authority goes back in 1999 and who was the government - Dem and PM Chuan. The government subsequently didn't pursue the case and the Thailand Nation Office of Buddhism dropped all charges until this new charges surfaced in 2015. Tell the truth and don't distort the facts.

[mike324]

This monk was first spotlight back in early 2000s, his charges were deflected by Thaksin. Now his current move where his supporters are preventing his arrest is just another classic play from the red shirt manual. Are people even surprise? perhaps you are if you are not well aware of this monks history and political connections.

I see you are selective in your post. The Wat controversies started well before 2000s. In fact the first high tension dispute between followers and authority goes back in 1999 and who was the government - Dem and PM Chuan. The government subsequently didn't pursue the case and the Thailand Nation Office of Buddhism dropped all charges until this new charges surfaced in 2015. Tell the truth and don't distort the facts.

Yes it started before 2000s. He was ousted from the temple towards end of 1999 and arrest warrants were issued. As everybody know, high profile cases always drag on forever. The monk use the same lame excuse - fake doctor note, use his supporters to counter police, etc. Dem and PM Chuan let the authorities do their jobs properly - I don't see why I need to mention DEMs here.

The case was delayed and dragged until 2001 when Thaksin became PM, all of sudden his charges were dropped and newspaper even issued public apology. What I've stated previously was not selective at all. The fact that Thaksins rise to power was also due to Dhammachayo's support. And once Thaksin was in office, all of sudden charges are dropped even with mounting evidence.

Even during Thaksins was ouster by the army Dhammachayo played songs that supported Thaksin at his mega temple, even plaster pro -thaksin posters everywhere!

Did you not remember during the UDD rally, he sent monks to counter the police/army.

That is the truth, can you handle it?

Edited June 20, 2016 by mike324