http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/223134/bhodirak-rally-on-democracy-border
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Santi Asoke is a very controversial sect of Thai Buddhism. It is considered as a far-right and ultra-conservative group.It is also called " the "Dharma Army." The sect was founded by Phothirak (Bodhirak), a former Thai rock star. The Thai Supreme Council of the Sangha decided, during the Chatichai administration, to defrock him however he dodged the defrocking by changing from yellow saffron robes to white robes and no longer called himself a “monk”. PAD Chamlong Srimmuang follows this sect.
Chamlong Srimuang
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Major General Chamlong Srimuang (Thai: จำลอง ศรีเมือง, Traditional Chinese: 盧金河 Simplified Chinese: 卢金河, Lu Jinhe, born 5 July 1935) is a controversial Thai activist and former politician. A former general, he was a leader of the "Young Turks" military clique, founded and led the Phalang Dharma party, served for six years as governor of Bangkok, led the anti-military uprising of May 1992, and is a prominent member of the Neo-fascist[1] People's Alliance for Democracy, a group strongly opposed to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Chamlong had supported the military junta that overthrew Thaksin in a coup. A devout Buddhist and follower of the controversial Santi Asoke sect, he is now celibate, a vegetarian, and claims to have no worldly possessions.
The group, which is also known as the Thai Patriots Network, is defending 1.8 rai of "Thai soil", demanding that the seven Thais arrested "in Thailand" by Cambodian soldiers be rescued as well as pressuring the government to step down.
"What if someone comes as a guest to our house and then tries to take it over? Would you allow it?" asked Noppamas Khew-on, a 22-year-old member of the breakaway Buddhist sect, led by 76-year-old Samana Bhodhirak, who was manning a desk seeking signatures against the alleged annexation of Thai soil.
When asked how sure she was about Thailand losing its land, Noppamas - dressed in the indigo colours of Santi Asoke, replied: "I'm certain that the area [where the seven Thais were arrested] belongs to Thailand. The villagers have land titles, but I heard the ministry denying that. Yet the locals insist they pay land taxes every year, so how can it not belong to Thais? I'm not sure if there's something wrong with the [Thai] government, which is why they are not doing anything about it."
In case Noppamas and her fellow protesters were not sure about this claim, the voice on the stage continues reminding them that the seven were indeed "arrested on Thai soil". Period!
Though there was no way trying to convince Noppamas to change her beliefs, she was more than eager to engage and enlighten The Nation on how her group differed from the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) or the red shirts.
In this protest, no alcoholic beverages, smoking or abusive language on or off the stage is allowed. Protesters have to listen to dharma talks twice a day and dine on the organic vegetarian food available.
Trash is separated and recycled, while one stall dispenses vegetable juice and another offers free haircuts.
There's even an ad-hoc day-care centre available, though the large cloth banner behind the centre reads a slightly impolite message in English: "Hell Cambodia. You Betray Us"
Nearby, there is a sign clearly stating the donations received. As of noon yesterday, Bt470,194 had come in and Bt406,025 spent.
As people start queuing up for their free meal, they are told that they will have to wash their plates themselves. The white plates come with two mottoes: "do not commit sin" and "we are all brothers". Then there's a sign instructing diners to "not stand and eat" because it's not polite.
Noppamas, a Chiang Mai native who is a sophomore student at the Ubon Ratchathani University majoring in Sufficiency Economy, a joint programme between the university and the influential sect, said she would have to leave the rally soon to get back to her studies. However, she believes her fellow sect members, numbering around 6,000 nationwide and for whom the leader is a "venerable father", will be around to see things through.
Her fellow protesters say the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration has failed to defend Thailand's integrity and are calling for it to step down.
"I don't hate the government, but they say one thing and do something else," Noppamas said.
Meanwhile, a red-shirt member said the Santi Asoke Sect was so well disciplined that the protest could last a whole decade if they wanted.
"But they don't stand for democracy," the government official, who wished to remain anonymous, said.
When Santi Asoke joined the PAD back in 2006 to protest against the then-Thaksin Shinawatra government, it eventually led to a military coup, which it has never publicly opposed, the source lamented.
Noppamas, however, refused to accept this.
"I don't understand if [the source] understands the concept of democracy," Noppamas said. "We see people who cannot use their land [along the Cambodian border] and we're just trying to help them."
As I left, I picked up a leaflet on the "protest strategy", which also reminded members that they were fighting for democracy, which was defined as "the hearts that have dharma".
From -- The Nation 2011-01-23
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