By Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation
Dubbed by some as the most "disciplined" group of protesters, the less than a thousand members of Santi Asoke Sect's "Dharma Army" camped out in front of the Government House could pass off as participants in a religious gathering - with the exception of their ultra-nationalistic ethos.
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".
7 comments:
Noppamas has never been to that area but she only heard what people said , how can she be so sure about it if she has never been there ? Her words can be useless if they don't fit the fact .
Thai, you cause lot of problem with Cambodia, and you us remove the sign. You are grazy, we won't remove it. Moun choav chai mai?
What King Sihanouk had said franch, they got one hero in every 100 years and he said, Khmer got one hero in 800 hundred years, Hun sen is a hero indeed.The king was right, Wasn't he?.
If you stile think your boss is the real khmer compatriot, thinks it again, to me he is just a chinese vendor who try to make aliving by the name of Khmer compatriot, looke at bunch of SRP are they capable to do anythings? they worth nothing wasn't it right? if he Sam rainsy was a real Khmer compatriot he should call on to UN or USA or European union or he arouse Khmer unity against pol pot during darknes time, it is not now for him to stand up for Khmer intrest, when we already having peace and progressing. Now you clearly see Sam rainsy family from father to son are cheated Khmer for their own wealthy rich,Now you know that don't you? Now we are in peace and being establish our country in every feild and in every sectors to catch up with our neighboring countries I think you sould use your wisdom to help and to contribute in rebuilding cambodia and stope your blind believe in serving individaul and thos selfishnes who looking to grab power by acttacking your own nation. If you continue to writ the article base on your own benificial or interest in your own group you will never show the truth to the truth of the real issue. Mike
Only 1.8 rai will cost about a few hudred thai and Cambodian life along the border.I think people were living along the border have to rethiking again.
What is going on with the Thai's "In-Sect" mentality? Are the group using the Buddhist Dharma to revolt with Abbhisit's gov't? Is this the right Eightfold path of Buddha that the Thai Sect practice, or is it a group created by a Thai gov't to use a political mean to against its neighboring country, Cambodia? Whether the answer is sure enough, the Abbhisit's gov't and a majority of Thais always use a shrew political stratagem to dismay the world that Thailand is ready to use military force someday to attack Cambodia in order to regain the regions of what "Nothing" lost territories to Thailand. The war between the two countries, Cambodia-Thailand, would unavoidably happen and millions of lives could be perished if Thailand is still created chaotic situations whether at Bangkok or along the Cambodia-Thailand border. Furthermore, it is immoral for the Thai Sect to practice a Buddhist "Dharma" by turning themselves camped on the streets. To my perspective, not only a Thai group defames of Buddha's religion in Thailand, but internationally to a whole world as well. It's too ashamed to Abbhisit's gov't as well as some group of Thais who are reluctant to commit themselves into Buddhist devotees as once they had claimed. This is a reason why Thailand is still facing with a political debacle in her country.
Fucken Santi Asoka buddhism is nothing but a PAD Thai organization to create trouble along Thai Khmer border. Budhha do not condone Santi Asoke monks to get involoved with politics. These monks should mind their own business inside a pagoda.
Santi Asoke buddhism is a creation of the perverted Thai Chinese PAD leader Santi Limthongkul. This Chinese Limthongkul will be cursed by Lord Buddha for deviating from Buddhist principles.
it's all siem thugs' politics, you know! all in plain site, too, just note the demand for their gov't to step down. if that's not siem thugs' politics, then what is it? go figure! cambodia is not stupid, you know!
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