Wat Dhammakaya order winds down

The order to make embattled Wat Phra Dhammakaya a controlled area to make way for a manhunt this month is likely to be lifted soon, according to Justice Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana.

The Justice Ministry, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and Provincial Police Region 1 met on Tuesday to discuss the matter and decided the order, issued under Section 44 of the interim charter, should be cancelled, Mr Suwaphan said yesterday.

The order, which also applies to 10 surrounding communities in Khlong Luang district of Pathum Thani, was put into effect on Feb 16 to enable searches of the temple to locate former abbot Phra Dhammajayo, who is charged with money laundering and other offences.

The DSI called off the search on March 10, saying the 73-year-old monk could not be found there.

Mr Suwaphan said the order will be phased out given the improved security situation but that this would not stop policing of the area. He said he has instructed DSI chief Pol Col Paisit Wongmuang to assess security around the temple as the agency has not yet accomplished its task of capturing the former abbot.

Three weeks ago, the temple faced a fifth arrest warrant for disobeying the regime’s orders.

Phra Dhammajayo was already wanted under four other warrants — one for money-laundering and receiving stolen property in connection with the multimillion-baht Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative, and three others for alleged forest encroachment in Loei, Nakhon Ratchasima and Phangnga provinces.

The Immigration Police Bureau is also monitoring all checkpoints and has launched a screening system to reduce the chances of the monk eluding immigration officials, unless he has already fled the country illegally, sources said. The temple has been cooperating with the authorities lately and none of its disciples have been spreading “distorted information” of sensitive news via social media, Pol Col Paisit Wongmuang said.

Temple faithful were worried the searches would lead to the DSI seizing temple property.

Police conducted a three-week siege of the temple this month in a search that was initially frustrated by monks and devotees in one of the biggest challenges to the regime since the 2014 coup.

Meanwhile, efforts to reform Buddhist groups are taking shape after the Supreme Sangha Council decided to set up seven committees to work toward this end, Mr Suwaphan said, without providing further details.

Putting the reforms into practice now rests on the shoulders of the National Office of Buddhism and other agencies, he said.