Some 3,500 troops, police surround Dhammakaya Temple

[webfact]

Some 3,500 troops, police surround Dhammakaya Temple
By The Nation

 

BANGKOK: -- Some 3,500 troops and police were dispatched to surround the controversial the controversial Dhammakaya Temple in Pathum Thani early Thursday.

 

At around 6 am, police, troops and officials from the Department of Special Investigation guarded all the gates of the temple and closed traffic around the area.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/breakingnews/30306457

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-02-16

[webfact]

Prayut declares Dhammakaya Temple controlled area, inaccessible to followers
By The Nation

 

Guards watch a main gate of Dhammakaya Temple on Wednesday following speculation that the officials are preparing to raid its compound.

 

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha issued an order to declare Wat Dhammakaya and surrounding areas as an area under control by the authorities in apparent preparation for a raid to arrest the controversial abbot.

 

The order which was signed by the premier Wednesday in his capacity as the chief of the National Council for Peace and Order. It was published in Royal Gazette at 1 am Thursday.

 

The order will pave the way for authorities to take action against the temple and people involved in alleged wrongdoing. 

 

Military, police, and officials of Department of Special Investigation will be authorised to enforce the law, according to the order. The order allows the authorities to raid and arrest those who commit wrongdoing.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/breakingnews/30306456

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-02-16

[webfact]

Thai forces besiege temple in standoff over monk

By Aukkarapon Niyomyat

REUTERS

 

Thai army personnel stand outside Dhammakaya temple in Pathum Thani province, north of Thailand February 16, 2017.REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai forces surrounded the country's biggest Buddhist temple on Thursday and the junta leader declared he was imposing control after it failed to hand over an influential monk wanted for money laundering.

 

With political parties and many activists silenced since a coup in 2014, the Dhammakaya Temple is a rare institution in defying the junta, which has so far trodden warily in confronting a religious group that claims millions of followers.

 

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Article 44 of the constitution - a security measure dubbed "the dictator's law" by critics - was being used to impose control on the monastery because it had resisted law enforcement efforts.

 

Published in the Royal Gazette in the early hours on Thursday, the order allows forces to enter the area at will, control entry or exit, summon anyone inside, carry out arrests, searches or demolitions, or do anything else they see fit.

 

Phra Dhammachayo, 72, faces charges of conspiracy to launder money and receive stolen goods, as well as taking over land unlawfully to build meditation centres. The former abbot's aides dismiss the accusations as politically motivated.

 

Thousands of black-clad police and personnel in combat uniform deployed before dawn around the temple compound, which at 1,000 acres (400 hectares) is nearly 10 times the size of the Vatican City. Motorists were told to avoid the area.

 

"Blockades are now enforcing prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving," the temple said on its Twitter feed.

 

Security forces did not say whether there would be an attempt to storm the temple or if they were preparing to wait it out. The junta's order allows water and other services to be cut off.

 

Police have tried several times over the past year to question the abbot and get into the temple, without success. Each time, thousands of monks and devotees rushed to the temple to barricade the entrances.

 

GRAVELY ILL

 

The temple's head of public relations said on Wednesday the abbot had not been seen since May and had not gone to the police because he was gravely ill.

 

The controversy in part reflects more than a decade of divisive politics inThailand, which have penetrated all aspects of life - including the religion followed by some 95 percent of Thais.

 

The Dhammakaya Temple differs from traditional temples not only in its size and its flying-saucer shaped golden stupa.

 

A brash approach to winning followers - it has its own television station - jars on conservatives. They say it exploits its followers and uses religion to make money. It says it is as committed to Buddhist values as they are.

 

Although the temple has no overt political affiliation, the abbot is widely believed to have had links with populist former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was overthrown in 2006. A government led by his sister was toppled in 2014.

 

The new move against the temple comes days after the appointment of a new supreme patriarch to head Thailand's 300,000 monks.

 

Somdet Phra Maha Muniwong, from the most austere of two Thai Buddhist fraternities, was chosen by the king after a change in the law allowed him to ignore the choice of a religious council, which had recommended a monk with links to Dhammakaya.

 

(Aditional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Editing by Matthew Tostevin and Paul Tait)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters

[PatOngo]

Deja Vu!

[Thaiwrath]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

The Dhammakaya Temple differs from traditional temples

It is obviously above the law.

[webfact]

Wat Dhammakaya under siege by police and DSI officials

 

 

BANGKOK: -- About 2,000 officials of the Department of Special Investigation and police are laying siege to Wat Dhammakaya before dawn on Thursday, barring unauthorized outsiders from entering the temple ground and insiders from getting out.

 

The siege followed an executive order issued late Wednesday night by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, invoking his special powers vested upon him by Section 44 of the interim constitution. By virtue of the order, the temple is now a restricted zone and placed under government’s control.

 

All the main gates to the temple remain closed while officials and police are positioned outside the temple to block cars and temple’s followers from entering the temple ground to provide alms to monks who were made to receive alms outside the temple.

 

DSI officials and police have not raided the temple yet in their bid to look for Phra Dhammachayo, the former abbot of the temple, who is facing several charges, including embezzlement, money laundering and forest encroachment.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/wat-dhammakaya-siege-police-dsi-officials/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-02-16

[webfact]

Provincial Police Bureau 1 chief says police to avoid using violence in raiding Dhammakaya temple
By The Nation

 

BANGKOK: -- Provincial Police Bureau 1 chief Pol Lt Gen Charnthep Sesawej said police would first try to negotiate with the Dhammakaya Temple to allow the authorities to search the temple to locate its former abbot, Phra Dhammachayo.

 

He told a press conference that the authorities would try to avoid the use of force.

 

He said if the followers of the monk did not oppose the operation, the search would be completed today.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/breakingnews/30306459

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-02-16

[PatOngo]

Let he without sin cast the first stone!

[webfact]

All gates of Dhammakaya Temple sealed, monks prohibited from leaving
By The Nation

 

BANGKOK: -- By 6:30 am Thursday, troops and police sealed all gates of the Dhammakaya Temple, preventing monks from leaving to collect alms and preventing followers from entering inside.

 

Some followers tried to lead the monks through Gate 5 of the temple to collect alms but they were told to go back inside, leading to some verbal disputes.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/breakingnews/30306460

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-02-16

[whatawonderfulday]

Now let me guess,  they found him not there as he must have climbed over the wall just before they all got there ? Bet they don't disclose if they find the stash of millions of baht and drugs though !

[worgeordie]

That's the element of surprize negated ,surround the Temple,wonder

if the plan F, goes any further than that.or are they going to try the

medieval tactic of starving them out.

 

regards worgeordie

[BigBadGeordie]

 

“It’s not a good thing to speculate without any clear evidence to back it up. We need to wait for clearer evidence before reaching a conclusion,” Prawit said. 

[webfact]

Police, troops outside Dhammakaya Temple not in crowd control gear: Nation TV
By The Nation

 

BANGKOK: -- Nation TV (22) reported that all troops and police deployed to besiege the Dhammakaya Temple in Pathum Thani are not dressed in crowd-control gear.

 

The station noted that all official do not carry baton and shield so they are not prepared for a clash with supporters of Phra Dhammachayo inside the temple.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/breakingnews/30306461

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-02-16

[webfact]

After junta declared it 'controlled zone' police surround Dhammakaya Temple

By Teeranai Charuvastra, Staff Reporter

 

Police officers on Thursday prevent a monk and worshipers from entering Dhammakaya Temple in Pathum Thani province.

 

PATHUM THANI — Police were barricading entrances to the headquarters of the controversial Dhammakaya Temple on Thursday in their latest apparent effort to apprehend its fugitive abbot.

 

Although similar operations have failed in the past, police have been granted junta approval for the first time, after junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha invoked his emergency power last night and declared the entire area around Dhammakaya a “controlled zone” in which security officers can search and make arrest without legal repercussion.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2017/02/16/junta-declared-controlled-zone-police-surround-dhammakaya-temple/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2017-02-16

[leeneeds]

A lot of incense going to be burnt, 

 incensed emotions, need calming.

[webfact]

Negotiation between Dhammakaya Temple, DSI deputy chief still going on
By The Nation

 

BANGKOK: -- A talk between Dhammakaya Temple spokesman Phra Sanitwong Wutthiwangso and Department of Special Investigation deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Suriya Singphakamol has not concluded yet at press time.

 

The talk started at 7:40 am and was conducted behind Gate 7 of the temple.

 

At 9 am, two more DSI officials were allowed to join the talk.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/breakingnews/30306463

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-02-16

 

 

[colinneil]

Negotiations my a..e get in there get the job done NOW.

[geriatrickid]

This is going to be interesting. 

[MaxLee]

So the WANNABE temple C****P aka *certain-military-action-which-must-not-directly-be-named* has begun 

[chainarong]

42 minutes ago, BigBadGeordie said:

 

“It’s not a good thing to speculate without any clear evidence to back it up. We need to wait for clearer evidence before reaching a conclusion,” Prawit said. 

Pawtwit again.......................

[chainarong]

Any room for a couple of Chinese tanks and a sub or two.........................

[Thaiwrath]

I think the solution could be achieved if they apply for another search warrant 

[AGareth2]

heard about this on BBC World News

should be interesting how this develops

in the world press

[Briggsy]

I wonder if the government is going to unleash the Village Scouts and the Red Gaur.

[webfact]

Dhammakaya raided by combined force

 

 

BANGKOK: -- A combined force of 3,000 officials from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), local administration officials, anti-riot police and soldiers conducted simultaneous predawn raids at the Dhammakaya temple in the last effort to arrest it's former abbot, Phra Dhammachayo.

 

The raid came after the DSI proposed the prime minister to invoke Section 44 of the interim Constitution to enter, search and arrest Dhammachayo after the normal legal procedures could not be enforced to force the stubborn monk to surrender to face charges.

 

Under the order under Section 44, the temple area and it’s vicinity in Klong Luang district of Pathum Thani are put under control and any entry and exit will be restricted.

 

Troops sealed off the Klong 3 canal road where the temple Gate 4 is located at 3.00 am.

 

Army patrol vehicles with lights flashing entered Gate 4 blocked and set up checkpoint to prevent any vehicles to leave or enter the temple.

 

But nearby Gate 5, and 6, several hundreds of disciples and supporters continued to arrive and gather peacefully to pray.

 

Meanwhile authorities used loudspeakers to persuade them to leave the temple with warning that any attempt to resist or obstruct authorities in performing their duties will face legal action.

 

DSI officials are negotiating with the temple officials for permission to search suspected target where Phra Dhammachayo was believed to be staying.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/dhammakaya-raided-combined-force/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-02-16

[webfact]

Dhammakaya temple spokesman turns in to police

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The spokesman of the Dhammakaya temple, Mr Ong-art Thamnita, has turned himself in to the police last night.

 

His surrender to the police at Klong Luang police station has ended earlier speculation that he had fled the country and was seeking asylum in France.

 

He gave up after the military junta has agreed with the Department of Special Investigation’s call for the junta leader to invoke Section 44 of the interim constitution to search the temple and arrest it’s former abbot Phra Dhammachayo for embezzlement, money laundering and receiving ill-gotten properties charged by the Office of Attorney-General.

 

He was later granted temporary release on bail with condition that he must not leave the country, and must not engage himself in any provocative activities.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/dhammakaya-temple-spokesman-turns-police/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-02-16

[MaxLee]

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

Dhammakaya temple spokesman turns in to police

Just a small sacrifice, .... 'cause someone had to play the sacrificial lamb 

[localczar]

"The Great Wat Military Assault"

 

What next?

 

Where were these troops when the airport was besieged for 7 days? (not that it would have done any good)

[meatboy]

all my bags are packed and off i go,

i hate to wake you all up to say goodbye,

the taxi's waiting and blowing his toot,

so kiss your arse and smile for me.

i'm leaving on a jet plane,

dont know when i'll be back again.

WHO'S SINGING NOW.

[scorecard]

21 minutes ago, MaxLee said:

Just a small sacrifice, .... 'cause someone had to play the sacrificial lamb 

 

Or maybe he's realized that he, and others who have protected the mafia monk may well be the next search targest so better to turn yourself in, maybe get some small  brownie points.