Monks, police clash as temple standoff continues Monday (Updated)

Two policemen, three monks and an elderly woman were slightly injured in a scuffle at the mouth of to a road leading to Gates 5 and 6 of Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Khlong Luang district on Monday morning

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Morning update

11:00am

Monks, police clash, some injuries

Online reporters

PATHUM THANI – Two policemen, three monks and an elderly woman were slightly injured in a scuffle at the mouth of to a road leading to Gates 5 and 6 of Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Khlong Luang district on Monday morning, according to media reports.

The clash occurred about 8am when about 20 monks walked from Gates 5 and 6 along the road to the entrance, which was blocked by police standing in rows.

The monks used loud hailers to demand the temple's disciples waiting at the entrance be allowed inside.

The situation became tense and police and the monks tussled face-to-face.

The two sides pushed and shoved for nearly 20 minutes, during which a policeman fell down and injured his wrist on a tree branch.  An elderly woman who apparently tried to separate the two sides also fell to the ground.

Early morning story

Monks break through temple barricades

Pongpat Wongyala

Thousands of monks and followers broke through barricades to enter Wat Phra Dhammakaya Sunday, as temple devotees launched a campaign on social media to mobilise hundreds of thousands of supporters nationwide to pressure officials into ending the temple search.

The incident occurred before the 3pm deadline given by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for people and monks who are not residents to leave the Pathum Thani temple to enable searches as DSI officials and police have sealed off the temple to control movements in and out.

"We have cooperated with the government every step of the way but this is one step too far," senior monk Phra Pasura Dantamano told the Reuters news agency.

"We're asking authorities to suspend the emergency law and lift their siege. Our supplies are low and we have been without power or water for three days."

Meanwhile, Phra Ajarn Thammasak, who claimed to be a monk at Wat Phra Dhammakaya for 30 years, held a media briefing outside Gate 5, revealing that Phra Dhammajayo used a car to escape arrest on Feb 16 — the first day the raid began.

Phra Thammasak said the former abbot has fled but not gone far because he is sick. He also said he was ready to lead reporters to see the former abbot's escape route. He did not say where he had gone.

Phra Thammasak said he decided to come forward because he was not satisfied with the temple's management, who were aware the former abbot was not inside the temple, but still let the DSI search go on.

This could have led to clashes between followers and officials and the DSI would have been blamed for any losses, the monk said.

The Facebook page "Thai Monks" posted a message calling Dhammakaya supporters nationwide to gather at the temple within 48 hours to oppose an order issued under Section 44 of the interim constitution to enable the temple searches.

The Facebook page is meant to show that monks from all regions of the country are ready to support efforts to pressure officials if they use force against the temple. About 500,000 followers from the Central region are expected to turn up in support, according to the Facebook page.

The Facebook page also posted a message: "The government is broke! Want to disrobe all the Dhammakaya monks and take eight tonnes of golden [Buddha] statues."

Later Sunday afternoon, as monks and temple followers showed their signs to the media, the DSI posted this meme on its Facebook page:

About 1pm Sunday, followers and monks breached the barricades at Gates 5 and 6 on Bang Khan-Nong Sua Road in Khlong Luang district and managed to enter the temple's compound before boarding vehicles parked inside the temple to reach the inner areas through a special entrance.

During the breach, a follower threw a news agency camera belonging to a correspondent, worth about 300,000 baht, to the ground, breaking it.

About 10 minutes later, followers and temple monks emerged from inside the temple. Wearing face masks, they cut open Gate 5 and formed a human shield confronting police.

Pol Lt Gen Charnthep Sesavet, commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 1, tried to negotiate and calm the situation. Scuffles lasted for about 20 minutes before each side backed off.

At 3.30pm, temple followers and monks set up a tent near the Khlong L 2 canal outside Gate 5 and Gate 6 to welcome additional followers who were coming in to support the temple.

Standoffs between police and followers and monks continued into the evening.

Pol Lt Gen Charnthep said police needed reinforcements to control the situation and prevent any ill-intended parties from triggering an incident. He said officials had taken pictures of people who broke through their barricades and would later take legal action against them.

DSI deputy spokesman Woranan Srilam denied claims on social media that officials would seize temple assets including golden Buddha statues.

DSI director-general Paisit Wongmuang later issued a summons for 14 senior monks of the temple to report to him at the Region 1 Border Patrol Police Bureau in Khlong Luang district at 6pm.

They include its former abbot Phra Dhammajayo.

Since Thursday, DSI and police have searched the 2,300-rai temple compound for Phra Dhammajayo, 72, who is wanted for forest encroachment in connection with his meditation centres in several provinces, money laundering and receiving stolen assets in connection with the multi-billion-baht embezzlement at Klongchan Credit Union Co-operative.

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