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A firebrand monk who helped stoke sectarian conflict in Myanmar has thrown his support behind the controversial Dhammakaya sect in Thailand, which has clashed with law enforcement over money laundering allegations.
Key points:
- Myanmar monk Wirathu has been called "Buddhism's bin Laden"
- He spent a Buddhist holiday at the Dhammakaya headquarters last year
- Thai police have been hunting for Dhammakaya's founder for over a week
Wirathu and his followers held a small rally in Mandalay in Myanmar on Thursday holding signs that read "Pray for Buddhism in Thailand".
He also took to Facebook to denounce Thailand's military Government, led by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-Cha.
"Religion Destroyer 'Prayut's Government' Get Out Immediately From Dhammakaya," wrote Wirathu, according to a translation in The Nation newspaper.
Extremist Buddhists in Myanmar have played a crucial role in the anti-Muslim movement in the country over the past years.
As the head of the hard-line Association for the Protection of Race and Religion [known locally as Ma Ba Tha], Wirathu has been described as "Buddhism's bin Laden" — in 2015 he called a visiting top UN official a "whore".
Last year, the monk spent the Buddhist holiday of Maha Bucha day at the Dhammakaya headquarters — which is now the centre of scandal and conflict — just outside Bangkok.
For more than a week now, monks and laypeople have protested against a police search of the sprawling grounds, hunting for fugitive founder Phra Dhammachayo.
An arrest warrant has been issued over allegations he accepted dirty money from the Klongchan Credit Union and that several meditation centres encroach on protected forest.
Dhammachayo, 72, has refused to speak to police and his whereabouts is unknown.
Several attempts to raid the temple complex last year failed after supporters acted as human shields, blocking access to police.
Last week General Prayut used a powerful legal instrument brought in after the coup, Article 44, to declare Dhammakaya's headquarters a "controlled area" and mobilising 3,600 police.
Searches have not found former abbot Dhammachayo and supporters of the sect have flocked to protest, with scuffles breaking out between police and monks wearing face masks.
'Search will continue no matter what'
On Thursday, 50 soldiers were called in to remove barricades from a gate around the temple, but monks and laypeople resisted with "pushing and shoving", according to the Bangkok Post.
Later, around 300 Dhamakaya supporters, including monks, marched towards the soldiers, forcing a retreat
"Authorities are trying to avoid violent confrontation ... but it is necessary to enforce the law," Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon said.
"The search will continue no matter how many more weeks or even if a year passes."
Six monks and 22 laymen were detained on Thursday but later released.
Dhammakaya is popular branch of Therevada Bhuddism, which teaches meditation but also encourages followers to build their wealth.
Temple faithfuls insist they do not solicit donations but critics say many people are brainwashed into handing over huge sums of money.
There are branches around the world, including in Australia.
Topics: buddhism, government-and-politics, law-crime-and-justice, thailand, burma, asia