Five Million Baht: Politics versus Religion
Thai Wife is involved with the local Temple, Wat Mongkolratanaram of Florida. Supposedly, today was the day for a Marathon to be aired to the whole world. It had to be cancelled due to the recent governmental occurrences within Thailand. Wat Mongkolratanaram has been appropriating funds for over ten years to build a chapel and a Kuti for the Monks. Within the last year, one of the big supporters for this expansion was Thaksin's brother, Chaiyasit Chinawatra. He was the former chief and commander of the military. In fact, he visited last year for the laying of the cornerstone of the new chapel.
Today, Thai Wife had planned to 'man' the phones for calls from all over the world to take donations. Due to the upheaval in Thailand this last week, the Marathon was cancelled. At least ten celebrities from Thailand were to be here today, to launch this undertaking. This Marathon was scheduled to be telecast on Thai TGN and Channel 5.
There has been no word from Chaiyasit Chinawatra, or his entourage. The question is: Was the Five Million Baht a donation for the purpose of forwarding religion, or only for a political position?
