PM clarified his use of Section 44 to declare Wat Dhammakaya a “restricted zone”

 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha clarified on Friday that his use of Section 44 to declare Wat Dhammakaya a “restricted zone” was meant to enable officials to perform their duty to search the temple and not meant for the arrest of Phra Dhammachayo, the former abbot of the temple.

 

He said he had no idea whether the monk is still in the temple or not. “If he (Dhammachayo) is still there, he will be found. If he is not there, he will not be found,” he added.

 

The prime minister also raised his question whether it is proper for some of the monks who were seen covering their faces with masks as they held talks with the officials.

 

About three companies of officials of the Department of Special Investigation and ten sniffer dogs searched the temple for the second day on Friday with eight spots in Zone B to be searched. Two companies of police were stationed outside the temple in front of Gate 7.

 

Full Story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-clarified-use-section-44-declare-wat-dhammakaya-restricted-zone/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-2-17

He said he had no idea whether the monk is still in the temple or not. “If he (Dhammachayo) is still there, he will be found. If he is not there, he will not be found,” he added.

Words of wisdom there from Mr Happy.

Master of deadpan...

If he is there he will be found, if he is not there he will not be found.brilliant comment, even a cranky old bugger like me knew that.

This man is in charge here, what a bloody joke. Time for him to pack up and p..s off.

This is like when a teenager so desperately wants something but then relalises he can't have it so retorts with "I didn't want it anyway!". 

 

Restricted zone, hey? And why? Ah, reasons, I guess. 

14 minutes ago, colinneil said:

If he is there he will be found, if he is not there he will not be found.brilliant comment, even a cranky old bugger like me knew that.

This man is in charge here, what a bloody joke. Time for him to pack up and p..s off.

 

My translation of his speech was different:

 

He can run but he cant hide. All his base are belong to us

And the saga and bullshit continues. They don't really want to arrest him, yet another smokescreen.

14 hours ago, onthesoi said:

Master of deadpan...

It helps when you are about to say something foolish.

 

We can't catch you, so please turn yourself in and prove your innocence in a military court .  Maybe we will find you maybe we won't .   It is just that bizarre, other Thai world that some Thais have fathoming. 

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

enable officials to perform their duty to search the temple

Prayut recognizes that such a search without an arrest warrant would be an abuse of the Interim Constitution and Organic Law. So Article 44 was a practical way to bypass the constitution and avoid issues of legality.

Situation normal (for the military).

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

If he is not there, he will not be found,” he added.

ever I added. 

I wonder what this executive order really says, or means?

 

I understand that he has absolute power, and that he can essentially write "orders", which may be technically "illegal", via Article 44, which magically then become "legal". (Amazing Thailand)

 

Section 44 empowers the NCPO leader to issue any order "for the sake of the reforms in any field, the promotion of love and harmony amongst the people in the nation, or the prevention, abatement or suppression of any act detrimental to national order or security, royal throne, national economy or public administration, whether the act occurs inside or outside the kingdom". The orders so issued are all deemed "lawful, constitutional and final".

 

 

But why did he need to use Article 44? And what is a "restricted zone", as it applies to Article 44?

 

One assume that the "authorities" could have used "traditional" "legal" methods to "legally" enter and search the temple premises?

 

Pretty soon they won't be able to relieve bodily functions without invoking Article 44.

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, oby said:

Yes, you really are a cranky old bugger.

I thought it an apt reply to a stupid question.

Likely if he is there we will find him- ergo-

If he is not there, we won't ,  ha ha

Lighten up old timer, time to go back to your garden :)

 

Took time off from my busy schedule just to read your post.