Dhammakaya Temple siege and search continues

[webfact]

Dhammakaya Temple siege and search continues

 

 

BANGKOK, 28 February 2017 (NNT) – Army personnel and explosives ordinance officers were called to investigate a suspicious item at Khlong Luang Central Market yesterday, the gathering place of Dhammakaya Temple followers, but reported no such item found. 

The contingent was accompanied by Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officers, who are spearheading the seizure of the temple to apprehend its former abbot. The investigation was sparked after reports of a suspicious man wearing a hat and holding a bag who ran away from authorities when approached for questioning. 

However, a thorough inspection of the market’s grounds, including its waste receptacles and toilets, did not yield any suspicious items or possible explosives. Regardless, officials have asked that those gathered at the market be vigilant and report any misgivings. 

Police Region 1 have let on that they plan to call in 30-40 Dhammakaya Temple leaders for inciting protests while affirming they will not release a former Ayuthaya police officer apprehended on February 26 for approaching the temple with a bullet proof vest and knives. The ex-policeman has since been found to have once been a monk at Dhammakaya Temple. 

On allegations of concerns being voiced by the international community at the 78th World Buddhist Conference taking place in South Korea, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assured that Thai officials attending the meeting have confirmed that the international community sees the Dhammakaya Temple issue as a domestic matter and will continue to respect the government’s actions.

 

-- nnt 2017-02-28

[AGareth2]

"The investigation was sparked after reports of a suspicious man wearing a hat and holding a bag who ran away from authorities when approached for questioning."

The Saffron Pimpernel?

[trogers]

A suspicious man wearing a hat...

 

 

[webfact]

Defiant monks told to stop obstructing DSI to search the temple

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The National Office of Buddhism this morning puts up sign boards on roads around  the  Dhammakaya temple prohibiting monks to assemble and obstruct authorities to perform their duties.

 

Written in three languages, Thai, English and Chinese, the office warned that any illegal assembly to obstruct the work of authorities is against the law.

 

The sign boards were erected on road along Klong L canal and in front of temple’s west gate.

 

Meanwhile border patrol police also manned Klong Luang market, and set up checkpoint to screen people and monks before allowing them to pass through.

 

This morning monks and followers continued to defy the order of the National Office of Buddhism and gathered to pray and demand the lifting of Section 44.

 

Hundreds of police and soldiers are still confronting the defiant monks and followers in front of the temple at Gate 7.

 

Officials of the Department of Special Investigation and police are still unable to enter the temple to search Zone B where they suspected that the stubborn Phra Dhammachayo is still hiding as mobile signal of his private cellular phone number was intercepted.

 

Earlier yesterday a former close aide to the stubborn monk Dr Mano Laohavanich who defected from the Dhammakaya temple claimed Phra Dhammachayo is still inside the temple.

 

He said he learned from a source at the temple who disclosed that a very close aide of Phra Dhammachayo has contacted a doctor at Rama 9 hospital, indicating that he is still in hiding inside the temple.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/defiant-monks-told-stop-obstructing-dsi-search-temple/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-02-28

[AGareth2]

gathering for prayer by monks is a tricky one!

[ezflip]

WOW! They must have good money, their signs are correctly translated for once. A rarity in Thailand. LOL

[Reigntax]

And tonight on the comedy channel watched by millions of viewers around the world the RTP and military pretend everything is under control, again, while the monks are making them look like fools. A task requiring very little, if any effort!

 

 

[chuang]

The monks should perform self-immolation....like the vietnamese monks during the war.... 

[CantSpell]

N.O.B putting signs against the followers of that temple...

 

Things must be heating up...  

 

[thesetat2013]

How can they call this a domestic matter? It is a cult visibly dettering a police force from entering. A standoff which would in any other country be entered forcibly after such a long time. 

 

[renaissanc]

6 hours ago, chuang said:

The monks should perform self-immolation....like the vietnamese monks during the war.... 

The abbot has sent children out to help him. If that doesn't work, then perhaps he'll look for someone to perform self-immolation. It's quite feasible. After all this does seem to be a corrupt, immoral, and law-breaking sect, so such actions are feasible. Or maybe a bomb explosion, which will be blamed on the DSI / Police. The abbot is 72 years old. If he is convicted, he'll be in prison until he dies, so I'm sure he will pull out all the stops to avoid going to jail, and sacrifice whoever is necessary.

[HaleySabai]

7 hours ago, chuang said:

The monks should perform self-immolation....like the vietnamese monks during the war.... 

This is Thai-Buddhism.....cannot.

[ddavidovsky]

8 hours ago, chuang said:

The monks should perform self-immolation....like the vietnamese monks during the war.... 

You're suggesting that a large number of people whom you've never met should kill themselves? Are you really that threatened, that insecure - that evil?

[sweatalot]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Defiant monks told to stop obstructing DSI to search the temple

...  monks and followers continued to defy the order of the National Office of Buddhism and gathered to pray and demand the lifting of Section 44.

...

water guns would be an option - wouldn't they?

 

 

[tracker1]

The monk in the front right seems to be having trouble containing his laughter ! Along with many others no doubt !!!!!

[annabel]

On 2/28/2017 at 10:38 AM, ezflip said:

WOW! They must have good money, their signs are correctly translated for once. A rarity in Thailand. LOL

Another TIT... and result will be the same as we are seeing for Tiger Temple which will have new tigers and a zoo permit in 9 months .... F...ing <deleted> all of these characters and corruptible politicians ... no respect for any life of any kind.. human or nature ... Greedy bastards all of them ... Buddhism is such BS as much as is the Thai Government...