Prayut urges Phra Dhammachayo to surrender
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha Saturday urged the controversial abbot of Dhammakaya Temple to surrender to the authority as to end problems. He said the course of justice had steps and the disciples’ claim they would wait for the country to have democra
Prayut also said that an arrest of Phra Dhammachayo “will happen when it happens”, but if people are still surrounding the temple, the authorities were better not do it yet as it could result to a clash.
Following his arrival to Thailand from the trip to India, the premier provided the comment regarding the Department of Special Investigation’s failed operation last Thursday to arrest the controversial monk. Officials were blocked from entering the Pathum Thani temple by disciples who attended mass prayers at the temple entrances, resulting to the abort of warranted search operation.
“[Officials were] unable to arrest [the monk] because people acted as human shields. Is this proper? If [the person] doesn’t do anything wrong and is innocent, he should surrender, that’s the end of it,” Prayut said adding the law stated that a prosecution of offenders must be done in steps so there was no need to wait for democracy.