DSI enters Wat Dhammakaya (Updated)

16 กุมภาพันธ์ 2560

After negotiations, DSI officials have entered Wat Dhammakaya, meeting no major resistance. Earlier Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha took effective control of Wat Phra Dhammakaya with an overnight Section 44 decree.

After negotiations, DSI officials have entered Wat Dhammakaya, meeting no major resistance. Earlier Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha took effective control of Wat Phra Dhammakaya with an overnight Section 44 decree.

Please join us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning

18:30

Police enter temple, search for Phra Dhammajayo begins

Online reporters

PATHUM THANI – Police and Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officials entered the sprawling grounds of Wat Dhammakaya and began a search for the temple's wanted founder, Phra Dhammajayo, on Thursday afternoon.

They entered the temple grounds through the gate closest to the monk's residence.

Department of Special Investigation director-general Pol Col Paisit Wongmuang led officers through through Gate 1, meeting no resistance from monks or followers.

Gate 1 of the temple in Khlong Luang district in Pathum Thani leads directly to the place where Phra Dhammajayo stays. Monks at the temple refused to say whether he was still inside.

Reporters were not allowed to enter the compound.

Post Today reported that as of 4pm, 192 locations had been searched, but there was no sign of Phra Dhammajayo.

Post Today photo.

Noon update

After lengthy negotiations, DSI officials have begin entering Wat Dhammakaya through Gate 8, meeting no resistance.

11:00am

Hundreds of riot police mass at Dhammakaya gates

Online reporters

PATHUM THANI – Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officers entered the vast Wat Phra Dhammakaya compound in Khlong Luang district on Thursday morning to discuss arrangements for a search, as hundreds of unarmed riot police waited outside all the temple's gates.

About 7.10am Pol Capt Thas Laothawee, deputy operation commander of DSI, first talked to a temple representative whose face was covered. The deputy commander handed the rerpresentative a note through the closed main entry, Gate 7, containing names and phone numbers for use in coordinating the operation.

Pol Capt Thas said he would coordinate the search.

Later DSI deputy director-general Suriya Singhakamol, some subordinates and companies of riot police approached Gate 7 on Bang Khan-Nong Sua Road in tambon Khlong Song.

Phra Sanitwong Wuthiwangso led DSI officials into the temple grounds for a talk.

Disciples were trying to enter the temple in vain as police were blocking them. Monks approached gates from the inside to sit and pray with the waiting followers.

Phra Sanitwong told reporters the DSI planned to search the temple in the afternoon and that he had not seen Phra Dhammajayo for eight months.

9:00am

DSI officials seen outside the temple before beginning negotiations with temple officials inside. PATTANAPONG HIRANUND

As of 9am, a group of DSI officials were reportedly in negotiations with temple officials inside the temple grounds. Soldiers and police were still outside all entry ways to the compound and some temple disciples were meditating ouside the compound as well. The situation appeared to be calm, according to Channel 9 reporters stationed at various points outside the compound.

Unlike previous attempts to enter the temple, DSI officials have obtained a 10-day search warrant.

Soldiers and police closed the gates to the temple and turned away all arriving cars. KRIT PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN

Assault on Dhammakaya temple 'imminent'

King-oua Laohong

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha took effective control of Wat Phra Dhammakaya with an overnight Section 44 decree – opening the temple to immediate assault.

Just before dawn, Soldiers and police surrounded the temple compound in Pathum Thani province, in apparent preparation for a raid.

KRIT PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN

The three-page Section 44 order (text of key section below) signed by Gen Prayut authorises virtually any police or military action against Wat Phra Dhammakaya.

It said that Article 44 of the interim constitution was being used to impose control on the monastery because it had resisted law enforcement efforts.

"This calls for some measures to be put in place in order to control the area temporarily for effective law enforcement and peace in the country", said the document published in the Royal Gazette.

City officials stand outside the Door 6 entry to the temple early this morning as the media sets up their camera. PATTANAPONG HIRANUND

The founder of the Dhammakaya religious sect, who calls himself Phra Dhammajayo, is believed to be hiding inside the temple. He is wanted on several outstanding warrants for charges including embezzlement, money laundering and land encroachment by the temple and its other businesses in the provinces.

The order followed a meeting on Wednesday of Provincial Police Region 1 and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) held a closed-door meeting to plan a fresh raid on the temple as early as early Thursday, a police source says.

The raid may also involve military troops although the army initially said they had absolutely no idea such an operation was taking place.

That denial was despite a photograph of the army commander and the 1st Division commander in discussion late Wednesday.

Army commander Chalermchai Sittisart (left) was seen late Wednesday in deep discussions with 1st Army commander Lt Gen Apirat Kongsompong - who denied he knew anything about plans for an early raid on the temple. WASSANA NANUAM (Photo by Wassana Nanuam)

However, a military source said the raid could begin early Thursday, with soldiers helping to cordon off supporters who might try to block the operation.