Thread: Wat Dhammakaya denies all charges against Phra Dhammachayo

^ If I'm to believe the tone of the Bangkok press, they are already sitting in the Wat.

PM denies giving special order to arrest Dhammachayo

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha today assured that he would not revoke any special law to arrest the former abbot of Dhammakaya temple.
His assurance came as there was speculation that a special order would be imminent for the almost 1,000 police and Department of Special Investigation officials to break into the temple to carry out his arrest.

By noon today police and DSI officials are still encircling the temple awaiting a final instruction to storm into temple. They are engaged in an apparent stand-off with thousands of Phra Dhammachayo’s followers who were said to prepare for the formation of human barricades to protect the stubborn monk.

Asked by reporters if he would give any instruction to the police, Gen Prayut said he had no thought of giving any special order to arrest the former abbot.

Instead he said it was the authority of the police who would enforce the existing laws to make arrest.

PM denies giving special order to arrest Dhammachayo - Thai PBS English News

Thai police call off raid on scandal-hit Buddhist temple

Thai police on Tuesday called off a raid to arrest a prominent Buddhist monk wanted for suspected money laundering after devotees barricaded entrances to his sprawling temple complex in a Bangkok suburb.

The Wat Phra Dhammakaya Temple commands a huge following and is supported by influential politicians and business people, but critics say it exploits its followers and uses religion to make money.

Thailand's attorney general said in November it would charge the temple's abbot, Phra Dhammachayo, and four others with conspiracy to launder money and receive stolen goods.

Dhammachayo's aides have denied the accusations against him which they say are politically motivated.

Police have tried over the past few months to question the abbot and get into the temple, but without success.

On Tuesday, Reuters reporters saw hundreds of monks and devotees inside the temple, which is near the capital's Don Muang international airport.

Some people were barricading entrances, while others wore face masks and chanted Buddhist prayers.

Police removed part of a metal fence outside the complex but by early afternoon they had withdrawn from the site.

"We have cleared the fence from the area because it was illegally constructed," Khempak Photipak, the officer in charge of the police operation, told Reuters.

"We did not move into the temple today because there are too many people and we did not receive orders to do so," he said.

He gave no further details nor did he say when police might try to get into the temple again.

Temple officials said there were about 10,000 people in the complex.

The controversy over the abbot in part reflects more than a decade of divisive politics in Thailand, which has permeated all aspects of life, including Buddhism.

The abbot is widely perceived to have had links with populist former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was overthrown in a 2006 coup. Thaksin has lived in self-exile since 2008 but remains influential.

The military overthrew a government led by his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, in 2014.

Thai police call off raid on scandal-hit Buddhist temple | Reuters

So where is the abbot?...

^ From Bangkok Post


The embattled monk is still receiving medical treatment for an illness inside the temple, according to the temple's communications office.

more
:Police, DSI try to enter Dhammakaya temple | Bangkok Post: news.

^ Thanks, misskit...I guess he's inside, then...

Watsaul this then, the monkey business will continue so long as people believe in

Pie in the Sky

Police dismantle obstacles in Dhammakaya Temple siege

Authorities deny operation was a raid as pm urges cautious approach to avoid casualties or instability

ABOUT 500 POLICE yesterday removed obstacles placed on public land blocking access to the controversial Dhammakaya Temple in Pathum Thani’s Klong Luang district, while temple disciples continued to enter the temple via gates five and six.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and senior police said there would not be a raid on the temple during New Year celebrations.

more Police dismantle obstacles in Dhammakaya Temple siege

There will be no coup, as well, some said...

Officials to seize or search illegally-built buildings in Wat Dhammakaya

Pathum Thani provincial officials will have to seize or search illegally-built structures on the compound of Wat Dhammakaya as of January 27 after the end of a 30-day deadline given to the temple by authorities.

Pol Gen Srivara Rangsipromnakul, deputy commissioner-general of the Royal Thai Police, said Wednesday that officials had pasted up notices on the illegally-built structures giving the temple 30 days until January 27 to tear them down or officials will seize or search the structures or to force all people inside them to leave.

He maintained that it was the authority of the Pathum Thani governor to decide what action to be taken against the temple, taking into consideration the safety of people living in the illegally-built buildings.

Pol Gen Srivara also said police and officials of the Department of Special Investigation had recently found out that Dhammakaya had encroached on an 80-rai land plot in mangrove forest in Krabi in order to build a monastery. He added that officials would take back the land in question.

According to the police, there are altogether 308 cases pending against Dhammakaya, mostly concerning land encroachment and violations against building law.

Officials to seize or search illegally-built buildings in Wat Dhammakaya - Thai PBS English News

DSI ends search for Dhammachayo and plans to lift Section 44

The Department of Special Investigation on Friday announced an end to the search for Phra Dhammachayo after officials failed to locate the elusive former abbot of Wat Dhammakaya after 23 days of searches since February 16.
The DSI will also recommend through the justice minister the head of the National Council for Peace and Order to revoke the order issued by virtue of Section 44 declaring Wat Dhammakaya as a “controlled zone”.

DSI director-general Pol Col Paisit Wongmuang told a press conference at the auditorium of Klong Luang district police on Friday afternoon the DSI would now coordinate with immigration officials to tighten up all border points throughout the country to prevent Dhammachayo from leaving the country if he is still in Thailand.

He said that authorities concerned would still continue to look for the elusive monk in order to bring him for trial.

Although the order making Wat Dhammakaya a”controlled zone”, Pol Col Paisit said monks and lay followers who have been protesting at Klong Luang market could not feel free to return to the temple, but he asked them to remove all the barricades they set up in the temple to block officials from getting in.

However, he said most officials would be withdrawn from the temple, leaving behind some to ensure order and to prevent “third hand” elements from inciting unrest.

When the situation at the temple returns to normal, the remaining officials will be pulled out, he assured.

Regarding the DSI’s achievements during the 23-day siege, Pol Col Paisit said 316 followers were issued with summonses and 80 others face orders issued under Section 44.

As for Dhammachayo, he said the elusive monk is now regarded as a fugitive wanted for a host of charges, mainly money laundering and receiving stolen property.

DSI ends search for Dhammachayo and plans to lift Section 44 - Thai PBS English News

Originally Posted by misskit

after officials failed to locate the elusive former abbot of Wat Dhammakaya after 23 days of searches since February 16.

Yeah, because they searched piecemeal and each night the monk was moved to a previously searched area.
The authorities really don't want to catch him.

Originally Posted by misskit

the elusive former abbot of Wat Dhammakaya

They seek him here, they seek him there
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere
Is he in heaven or is he in hell?
That damned elusive Pimpernel

― Emmuska Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel

DSI: Fugitive monk may have escaped during period of Feb 16th – 18th

PATHUM THANI, 12th March 2017, (NNT) - The Department of Special Investigations (DSI) is speculating that the fugitive monk of Thammakaya Monastery might have escaped from the temple during the period of February 16th - 18th with some assistance.

The comment was made by DSI Director-General Pol.Col.Paisit Wongmuang, following the discovery of a portion of the wall inside Thammakaya Temple having being torn down. This leads the authorities to believe that Dhammachayo, the wanted monk implicated in multiple criminal offenses, may have escaped the monastery’s perimeter.

The Director-General went on to stress that government officials were not involved in any escape that may have occurred, adding that the imposed Article 44 of the interim constitution which declared the temple a controlled zone is still in effect.

Authorities are still stationed at strategic locations in the monastery, but screening measures for people entering and leaving the establishment have been lessened noticeably. The mobile signal within the temple has also been restored.

http://nwnt.prd.go.th/CenterWeb/News....cBqxQDO6.dpuf

Originally Posted by misskit

The Director-General went on to stress that government officials were not involved in any escape that may have occurred,

How can you be sure, and what prompted you to pre-emptively deny it?

Monks banned from discussing Dhammachayo’s legal cases in temple

Monks and lay followers in Wat Dhammakaya are allowed to perform activities as normal but banned from talking about the legal cases pending against Phra Dhammachayo and other monks.

The gag was ordered by Phra Theprattanasuthee, chief monk of Pathum Thani, following a meeting with Dhammakaya monks at the temple Monday afternoon.

Management of the temple now rests with the acting abbot who will have to report directly to Pathum Thani provincial chief monk.

Meanwhile, army deputy spokesperson Colonel Sirichan Ngathong said that army troops would remain posted around Wat Dhammakaya to create better understanding among people toward the government’s handling of Dhammachayo, to provide medical care to people at and around the temple and to support other government officials.

Monks banned from discussing Dhammachayo?s legal cases in temple - Thai PBS English News

DSI investigating reports on Dhammajayo’s flight to Europe

The Department of Special Investigation is investigating to verify reports that Phra Dhammajayo, the former abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani, has fled to Europe, DSI director-general Paisit Wongmuang said on Wednesday (Aug 2).

Pol Col Paisit said that, according to the reports from several agencies both inside the country and abroad, Phra Dhammajayo had fled from Thailand to a country in Europe.

The reports also said that the monk, with help from his disciples, slipped out of the country through a natural border crossing in an undisclosed border area.

However, checks with the Immigration Police Bureau revealed that the elusive monk was not found to have left the country through any of the country’s official checkpoints.

The DSI is trying to verify the reports, Pol Col Paisit said.

Phra Dhammajayo is wanted under a warrant for money-laundering and take stolen property in connection with the embezzlement scandal of the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative.

Asked whether or not the Thai authorities would be able to seek his extradition, Pol Col Paisit said the Office of the Attorney General would be able to do so only if it is clearly known to what country the monk has fled to.

He said currently the administration of Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani’s Khlong Luang district is being jointly supervised by the National Office of Buddhism, DSI, Wat Phra Dhammakaya and the monastic chief of Pathum Thani.

DSI investigating reports on Dhammajayo's flight to Europe - Thai PBS English News

Originally Posted by misskit

The reports also said that the monk, with help from his disciples, slipped out of the country through a natural border crossing in an undisclosed border area.

The act of an innocent man.

Originally Posted by Maanaam

Originally Posted by misskit

The reports also said that the monk, with help from his disciples, slipped out of the country through a natural border crossing in an undisclosed border area.

The act of an innocent man.

Innocent or not, I believe the much greater, and hypocritical, picture is being missed as such applies to general graft, corruption, and criminality among the standing military government and associations.


The old adage still stands true to testament:
Clean up one's own filthy backyard before trivially accusing others of the same.

Innocent or not, who in their right mind would voluntarily submit themselves to a politically motivated witch hunt, under a military dictatorship with absolutely no Rule of Law?

And what other civilised nation would ever deport him back to said dictatorship? Dhammakaya 2, Thailand 0. Refs in tight green, laughed out of the stadium.

Originally Posted by sabang

Innocent or not, who in their right mind would voluntarily submit themselves to a politically motivated witch hunt, under a military dictatorship with absolutely no Rule of Law?

And what other civilised nation would ever deport him back to said dictatorship? Dhammakaya 2, Thailand 0. Refs in tight green, laughed out of the stadium.

Nonetheless.
It's all about distractions and misdirection.

What they do well.

Nothing up their sleeves.

He's headed for Kamloops, BC, in the Republic of Western Canada...The center of the universe...