Food banner hits raw nerve

A military regime spokesman has criticised Wat Phra Dhammakaya’s “We need food” banner, saying it is a distortion of the facts.

National Council for Peace and Order spokesman Piyapong Klinphan was referring to a cloth banner, written in English and tied to a tower at the temple, saying it was a gross distortion intended to give the false impression that authorities were preventing food from getting into the temple, and that the Section 44 order allowing a search was causing problems.

He said efforts are being made to incite public resistance against the authorities and spread false information on social media.

Department of Special Investigation (DSI) deputy spokesman Woranan Srilam also denied claims that authorities were preventing food from being sent into the temple, saying cooked food is allowed, but not raw food.

Anything going into the temple must be examined by officials first.

Justice Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana yesterday insisted there was no need to change the commander in charge of operations at Wat Phra Dhammakaya despite the search for the former abbot turning up nothing after 12 days.

The minister was referring to DSI chief, Pol Col Pasit Wongmuang, who was placed in charge under the Section 44 order invoked by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The order authorises the DSI chief to lead the search at the temple for its elusive former Phra Dhammajayo, who is wanted on arrest warrants in connection with embezzlement charges.

Mr Suwaphan said the DSI chief will call a meeting of agencies concerned to assess progress and possible adjustments to the search operation.