PM warns monks they face arrest if staging a protest

[webfact]

PM warns monks they face arrest if staging a protest



BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha on Tuesday hit back at a senior monk who threatened to lead a mass protest of monks if the former does not submit the nomination of Somdet Chuang as the new supreme patriarch to His Majesty the King for endorsement within seven days.

Apparently disturbed by a question of a reporter about the threat made by Phra Methithammajarn, secretary-general of Buddhism Protection Centre of Thailand, the prime minister snubbed saying: “Are there law? What does the NCPO order say? Can more than five people assembly? If (they) want to protest, so be it. If they cannot be arrested today, then make the arrest the following day – whoever they are.”

The prime minister said that he should have been the one who issued the threat, not a monk.

Phra Methithammajarn issued the threat after the Council of State ruled that the Sangha Supreme Council’s nomination of Somdet Chuang, abbot of Wat Paknam Phasicharoen, as the supreme patriarch, was not illegal.

The prime minister also brushed aside a move by former member of the National Reform Council Paiboon Nititawan to protest against Somdet Chuang’s nomination, asking what else he should do, noting that the matter regarding the scandal implicating Somdet Chuang is under investigation.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-warns-monks-face-arrest-staging-protest/


-- Thai PBS 2016-07-13

[Thechook]

Shouldn't it be up to the religious bodies to select and appoint thier head. The military shouldn't have any say in religion, the military has a specific role and it doesn't include politics or running religion. Imagine if the Chief of the Defence Force in Australia tried to dictate who will be the grand mufti, senior cardinal or any other religious head.

Who on gods earth does Prayuth think he is. People like Robert Mugabe, Idi Amin Dada, Saddam Hussain and a cluster of other like minded individuals have gained a title, is he trying to join this elite group?

[NongKhaiKid]

It is ok however to actively obstruct the arrest of a senior monk wanted for serious charges as the PM has already indicated he won't get involved and will leave to law ' enforcement ' agencies.

However this threatened protest names the PM personally and instantly he's all riled up.

Says so much.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Shouldn't it be up to the religious bodies to select and appoint thier head. The military shouldn't have any say in religion, the military has a specific role and it doesn't include politics or running religion. Imagine if the Chief of the Defence Force in Australia tried to dictate who will be the grand mufti, senior cardinal or any other religious head.

Who on gods earth does Prayuth think he is. People like Robert Mugabe, Idi Amin Dada, Saddam Hussain and a cluster of other like minded individuals have gained a title, is he trying to join this elite group?

He joined this group 2014

[MaxLee]

"If they cannot be arrested today, then make the arrest the following day – whoever they are.”

Now the Sangka will quiver in fear

[colinneil]

PM interfering again.He appointed himself .

He should concern himself with the job he stole, and leave matters about Buddism the monks.

He threatens monks with arrest

He has failed miserably on that already.

[Reigntax]

Watch out PM, they may cast a black magic spell on you or send around some ghosts in the middle of the night. That will have you shaking in your slippers.

[aussieinthailand]

So is the law regarding more than five people assemble for political protest and to stop people from expressing their opinion? Or is it there for the junta to exploit as they see fit? Why should the leader of a junta be the one to select heads of a religion? Shouldn't that be up to themselves?

Oh wait silly me,,, Destroy democracy, check,

Gaol opponent's and all that criticize the junta, check,

Criminalize freedom of expression, check.

Threaten reporters, check.

and control religion, check.

Sounds a lot like China in Nepal and the Dalai lama...

Don't they know who I am?

Don't they know who is my father?

Don't they know I have super powers?

Don't they know I can have people taken out and shot?

I want my mummy

What a pelican.

[dbrenn]

Shouldn't it be up to the religious bodies to select and appoint thier head. The military shouldn't have any say in religion, the military has a specific role and it doesn't include politics or running religion. Imagine if the Chief of the Defence Force in Australia tried to dictate who will be the grand mufti, senior cardinal or any other religious head.

Who on gods earth does Prayuth think he is. People like Robert Mugabe, Idi Amin Dada, Saddam Hussain and a cluster of other like minded individuals have gained a title, is he trying to join this elite group?

I'd say that Prayuth's role model is Alexander Lukashenko.

[The stuttering parrot]

I'm sure they are Sh..ting themselves.

He can't even have a warrant served at the the flying saucer temple!

[yellowboat]

Sadly, the leadership bar around the world is so low today that his comments will go unnoticed. His fear of gatherings speaks volumes as to where Thailand is going.

Didn't the monk lead protests help change Myanmar ? He might be taking a huge risk upsetting the clergy.

Edited July 13, 2016 by yellowboat

[Alive]

He should prosecute Phra Buddha Issara on the new land encroahment charges he has.

[hdkane]

This guy is such a coward...he cannot tolerate even the slightest threat to his ego...Thainess embodied...

don't worry so much about the monks who talk, spend more time on the pedos, rapists, thieves, and murderers in your midst...that is the threat to Thailand.

[tuanku]

Shouldn't it be up to the religious bodies to select and appoint thier head. The military shouldn't have any say in religion, the military has a specific role and it doesn't include politics or running religion. Imagine if the Chief of the Defence Force in Australia tried to dictate who will be the grand mufti, senior cardinal or any other religious head.

Who on gods earth does Prayuth think he is. People like Robert Mugabe, Idi Amin Dada, Saddam Hussain and a cluster of other like minded individuals have gained a title, is he trying to join this elite group?

Better suited to this elite group

;

[Eric Loh]

He brought this upon himself when he played politics instead of being striving for reconciliation. Political rifts has now fully infiltrated into the religious realm. No secret that Somdet Chuang relationship with the Dhammakaya sect who is seen to be close to the red followers may be the reason for his reluctance to submit for royal endorsement. He has surrounded himself and allowed to be influenced by the yellow faction. The Sangha council is accountable to no one and is a centralized governing power and abusing its power just like the junta government. They are following a very poor role model and the junta is reaping what they sow. They make the bed and now have to deal with this crisis.

[Redline]

But, the monks that have committed more serious crimes are still free.

[GAZZPA]

So is the law regarding more than five people assemble for political protest and to stop people from expressing their opinion? Or is it there for the junta to exploit as they see fit? Why should the leader of a junta be the one to select heads of a religion? Shouldn't that be up to themselves?

Oh wait silly me,,, Destroy democracy, check,

Gaol opponent's and all that criticize the junta, check,

Criminalize freedom of expression, check.

Threaten reporters, check.

and control religion, check.

Sounds a lot like China in Nepal and the Dalai lama...

Don't they know who I am?

Don't they know who is my father?

Don't they know I have super powers?

Don't they know I can have people taken out and shot?

I want my mummy

What a pelican.

It's all in the name of preserving peace and avoiding public disorder.

Goodness me, what a blatant abuse of power.

"you threaten me! you dare to threaten me! I will do the threatening! Got it!"

Goodbye democracy,,,,

[GAZZPA]

This guy is such a coward...he cannot tolerate even the slightest threat to his ego...Thainess embodied...

don't worry so much about the monks who talk, spend more time on the pedos, rapists, thieves, and murderers in your midst...that is the threat to Thailand.

Just let him carry on. One day soon the country will lift its head up and see it is last place in the Asean race and the current PM will no longer be able to label himself as a hero.

It's coming, it's coming very soon. Others are watching and running to seize the opportunity whilst Thailand is economically, politically and Internationally weakening.

[KMartinHandyman]

Watch out PM, they may cast a black magic spell on you or send around some ghosts in the middle of the night. That will have you shaking in your slippers.

A few years ago I read a certain little man blamed his enemies for a soar throat he was having at the time.

[beautifulthailand99]

If the good General has any sense he will leave Dhammkaya well alone - they have a million upwards followers who beleive their Abbott is a God and has through their considerable donations intervened in heaven to ensure that their families and themselves will live forever in some twisted Buddhist heaven. They would martyr themselves in their thousands to defend the cult if the army / police ever got nasty and images like that would flash around the world and the Junta would go from being a minor irritant in international relations to a pariah state. Let them be and they will pose no threat to the established order. Otherwise it's like poking your arm in a wasp's nest. Maybe he could get a job lot of those magic scarves that his auditor general has procured to protect his staff from corruption and use them to keep the evil aliens at bay - that makes a lot more sesne !

Edited July 13, 2016 by beautifulthailand99

[Dancin Dna 11]

If the good General has any sense he will leave Dhammkaya well alone - they have a million upwards followers who beleive their Abbott is a God and has through their considerable donations intervened in heaven to ensure that their families and themselves will live forever in some twisted Buddhist heaven. !

Isn't this kind of approach the root of all the problems surrounding this temple at the moment?

[beautifulthailand99]

If the good General has any sense he will leave Dhammkaya well alone - they have a million upwards followers who beleive their Abbott is a God and has through their considerable donations intervened in heaven to ensure that their families and themselves will live forever in some twisted Buddhist heaven. !

Isn't this kind of approach the root of all the problems surrounding this temple at the moment?

Yes but they are no worse than many other cults such as Scientology that are left alone in much of the world and have charitable status whilst expounding even crazier views than DMK. My worries are if they try to attack the temple in any meaningful way to arrest the abbott or try to shut it down then the state better be prepared for huge,dramatic protests that they won't be able to control / will spin out of control. A wise General knows to keep his powder dry and only attack from a position of strength. Against the considerable forces of the Dhammakaya movement he simply doesn't have this as recent events have made crystal clear. The rights and wrongs simply don't come into it.

[sujoop]

He brought this upon himself when he played politics instead of being striving for reconciliation. Political rifts has now fully infiltrated into the religious realm. No secret that Somdet Chuang relationship with the Dhammakaya sect who is seen to be close to the red followers may be the reason for his reluctance to submit for royal endorsement. He has surrounded himself and allowed to be influenced by the yellow faction. The Sangha council is accountable to no one and is a centralized governing power and abusing its power just like the junta government. They are following a very poor role model and the junta is reaping what they sow. They make the bed and now have to deal with this crisis.

'They are following a very poor role model'

indeed:

'Thaksin sought to align the Supreme Sangha Council with the Dhammakaya during his time in office. In return, the sect's head monk extolled Thaksin as an ideal Buddhist whose billions could be explained by the merit he accumulated in past lives'

https://www.stratfor.com/sample/analysis/thailand-buddhist-feud-threatens-fragile-peace

'Since Somdej Chuang is close to Phra Dhammachayo, who is closely linked to a certain political party, Thai Buddhism will likely become more and more politicised under his leadership. Hence, Somdej Chuangs ascension to the post of Supreme Patriarch would likely do much to upset the countrys religious and political equilibrium'

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Next-Supreme-Patriarch-must-be-free-of-scandal-pol-30277321.html

The political turmoil has completely changed the nature of politics and the religious landscape of Thailand for good. 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

For Thaksin:

http://2bangkok.com/for-thaksin.html

Thaksins Temple: Dhammakaya

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

[bangon04]

How can the police / army arrest a large number of protesting monks unless the large number of protesting monks are first defrocked?

Who will agree to defrock a large number of his monks?

[tifino]

Has he done his own Monk duty yet?

[beautifulthailand99]

Thailand is largely forgotten in the world news and for the Junta this is for the best. Dramatic pictures of security services grappling with thousands of saffron robed monks and 10s of thousands white clad devotees bodily blocking the forces would make great news pictures and story and make the regime look like fools. One thing DMK are not slouches at is sophisticated state of the art marketing and controlling the global media message. To those unfamiliar with thai politics/culture it would have echoes of Burma military vs the monks.

Tifno you make a good point since we haven't seen any pics which I'm sure we would have we must assume no for the moment. That said he'd look good in a magic scarf as a monk lite accesory. If only we still had Mor Yang he could have foretold what to do. Never mind we are where we are.

[Srikcir]

Shouldn't it be up to the religious bodies to select and appoint thier head. The military shouldn't have any say in religion, the military has a specific role and it doesn't include politics or running religion. Imagine if the Chief of the Defence Force in Australia tried to dictate who will be the grand mufti, senior cardinal or any other religious head.

Who on gods earth does Prayuth think he is. People like Robert Mugabe, Idi Amin Dada, Saddam Hussain and a cluster of other like minded individuals have gained a title, is he trying to join this elite group?

Better suited to this elite group

;

If only Prayut was but an actor.

[sujoop]

Dramatic pictures of security services grappling with thousands of saffron robed monks and 10s of thousands white clad devotees bodily blocking the forces would make great news pictures and story and make the regime look like fools. One thing DMK are not slouches at is sophisticated state of the art marketing and controlling the global media message.

Now who would want that?

'Thaksin sought to align the Supreme Sangha Council with the Dhammakaya during his time in office. In return, the sect's head monk extolled Thaksin as an ideal Buddhist whose billions could be explained by the merit he accumulated in past lives'

https://www.stratfor.com/sample/analysis/thailand-buddhist-feud-threatens-fragile-peace

'Since Somdej Chuang is close to Phra Dhammachayo, who is closely linked to a certain political party, Thai Buddhism will likely become more and more politicised under his leadership. Hence, Somdej Chuangs ascension to the post of Supreme Patriarch would likely do much to upset the countrys religious and political equilibrium'

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Next-Supreme-Patriarch-must-be-free-of-scandal-pol-30277321.html

The political turmoil has completely changed the nature of politics and the religious landscape of Thailand for good. 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

For Thaksin:

http://2bangkok.com/for-thaksin.html

Thaksins Temple: Dhammakaya

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

[tuanku]

Shouldn't it be up to the religious bodies to select and appoint thier head. The military shouldn't have any say in religion, the military has a specific role and it doesn't include politics or running religion. Imagine if the Chief of the Defence Force in Australia tried to dictate who will be the grand mufti, senior cardinal or any other religious head.

Who on gods earth does Prayuth think he is. People like Robert Mugabe, Idi Amin Dada, Saddam Hussain and a cluster of other like minded individuals have gained a title, is he trying to join this elite group?

Better suited to this elite group

;

If only Prayut was but an actor.

Yes, on second thoughts maybe this glove puppet is closer to the mark

[Eric Loh]

He brought this upon himself when he played politics instead of being striving for reconciliation. Political rifts has now fully infiltrated into the religious realm. No secret that Somdet Chuang relationship with the Dhammakaya sect who is seen to be close to the red followers may be the reason for his reluctance to submit for royal endorsement. He has surrounded himself and allowed to be influenced by the yellow faction. The Sangha council is accountable to no one and is a centralized governing power and abusing its power just like the junta government. They are following a very poor role model and the junta is reaping what they sow. They make the bed and now have to deal with this crisis.

'They are following a very poor role model'

indeed:

'Thaksin sought to align the Supreme Sangha Council with the Dhammakaya during his time in office. In return, the sect's head monk extolled Thaksin as an ideal Buddhist whose billions could be explained by the merit he accumulated in past lives'

https://www.stratfor.com/sample/analysis/thailand-buddhist-feud-threatens-fragile-peace

'Since Somdej Chuang is close to Phra Dhammachayo, who is closely linked to a certain political party, Thai Buddhism will likely become more and more politicised under his leadership. Hence, Somdej Chuangs ascension to the post of Supreme Patriarch would likely do much to upset the countrys religious and political equilibrium'

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Next-Supreme-Patriarch-must-be-free-of-scandal-pol-30277321.html

The political turmoil has completely changed the nature of politics and the religious landscape of Thailand for good. 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

For Thaksin:

http://2bangkok.com/for-thaksin.html

Thaksins Temple: Dhammakaya

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

Perhaps you can educate me on how Thaksin close relationship with Somdet Chuang and Phra Dhammakaya can cause political turmoil. I believe all Buddhist goes to temple and Thaksin is no exception. He is a wealthy man and made donations to temple that he like and he got mentioned favorably by the abbot. Noting unusual about that too. He is not planning something sinister like a revolution with the temple and the temple has been passive in their political preference. They didn't take to the street to demonstrate like Santi Asoki with the PAD and Buddha Issara recently. Was this political religious turmoil created as a screen to benefit one side of the color divide. Your thoughts.