10,000 swarm scandal-hit Thai monk’s
temple as officials seek his arrest
31 May 2016 The Star
BANGKOK:
More than 10,000 people entered Dhammakaya Temple on Sunday in a
show of support for its embattled abbot Phra Dhammachayo, as
authorities sought a way to arrest the high-profile
monk.
The
controversial monk is wanted on charges of money laundering and
accepting ill-gotten gains in relation to his alleged role in a
massive embezzlement case involving the Klongchan Credit Union
Cooperative.
The
cooperative’s former chief Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, who gave
hundreds of million of baht to Dhammachayo, has already been
sentenced to jail.
The arrest
warrant for Dhammachayo was issued on May 18 after the monk
repeatedly failed to answer summonses issued by the Department of
Special Investigation.
Authorities
have said they do not believe the claim that he is too ill to be
interviewed by DSI officials.
Last week,
Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya said the DSI had planned five
steps designed to lead to the abbot’s arrest, although the exact
date of the arrest would be determined by authorities in a bid to
prevent an escalation of tensions.
The
department will send a letter to the Sangha Council in an effort to
get senior monks involved in trying to resolve the
issue.
On
Saturday, the DSI used a drone and police helicopters to survey
routes in and around Dhammakaya Temple as part of the plan to
arrest the abbot.
Tambon
Klong Sam Administrative Organisation chairman Weerasak Hadda
yesterday led 150 villagers in organising a somtam (spicy papaya salad) party at
one of the temple’s gates.
“We are
here because we are grateful for the help the temple gave us during
the 2011 floods,” said villager Wassana Cheeva-osot.
She said
the temple had sent relief items to her village every day until all
the floodwater was gone.
“So, we
can’t stay idle now. From what we see in the media, we feel Phra
Dhammachayo and his temple are not receiving fair
treatment.”
Wassana and
locals from Tambon Klong Sam also brought banners declaring their
support for Dhammachayo.
The names
of their food items also reaffirmed their support. One somtam item
was called “Somtam of Gratitude” while a noodle item was named
“Noodle of Temple Love”.
Participants at the party received free food, snacks and
water.
Wassana
admitted that Dhammachayo supporters parked an excavator truck in
front of a gate to prevent unwanted persons from coming
in.