Authorities must tread carefully in complex Dhammakaya drama due to faith: academic

Prof Dr Chaiwat Satha-Anand, head of Thammasat University’s Peace Information Centre, said during an exclusive interview that the ongoing saga did not involve just a single conflict.
“I can’t tell how the saga will end. From what I can see, it’s by no means about just one conflict. This means even if you manage to settle one, another will materialise,” he said.
During the past two weeks, police and soldiers have surrounded the massive Dhammakaya Temple in Pathum Thani province for the operations to arrest its controversial honorary abbot Phra Dhammachayo.
Although his name is implicated in many scandals, Phra Dhammachayo is undeniably a charismatic monk. Even after an arrest warrant was issued for him over money-laundering charges, he has managed to maintain a huge following.
As a result, Dhammakaya Temple closed ranks to protect Phra Dhammachayo with thousands of Buddhists staying at the temple to show their unwavering support.
Chaiwat said many people must have believed that the problem would end easily if Phra Dhammchayo agreed to enter the judicial process.
“But in the eyes of some, the process is a tool that the authorities have used. It’s not easy to use such a tool regarding sensitive issues or ones involving the faith of people,” Chaiwat said.
He added that the government must tread carefully in such cases or else many people will feel offended.
“When the authorities plan the arrest, they must also think about how to ensure that it will not trigger another fresh conflict in society. Don’t forget that the Dhammakaya Temple issue is also related to many things. Think about reconciliation among Thai Buddhists,” he said.
Chaiwat added that the Dhammakaya Temple could be interpreted as a Buddhism revival movement.
“This movement has highlighted meditation,” he said. “Revival here refers to efforts to encourage people to come more frequently to temples and listen more to sermons.”