Buddha Isara fights lese majeste allegation

Buddha Isara fights lese majeste allegation

In this June 27, 2016 file photo, Luang Pu Buddha Isara shows documents in which he accused a spokesman of Wat Dhammakaya of defaming him at the Khlong LKuang police station in Pathum Thani province. (Bangkok Post file photo)
In this June 27, 2016 file photo, Luang Pu Buddha Isara shows documents in which he accused a spokesman of Wat Dhammakaya of defaming him at the Khlong LKuang police station in Pathum Thani province. (Bangkok Post file photo)

Luang Pu Buddha Isara has fended off an accusation he had committed lese majeste when he used his blood in consecrating a set of amulets bearing the initials of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The activist monk came to meet crime suppression police at their head office in Bangkok on Tuesday to give statements.

On Monday, a Buddhist network called on the police to launch a probe into the activist monk.

The abbot of Wat Or Noi in Nakhon Pathom province brought with him documents involving the request for a royal permission to use the initials on the back of the amulets for the police to take into consideration.

The activist monk insisted he before he consecrated the lot, he had submitted a letter seeking the royal permission and asked Keokhwan Vajarodaya, a former Lord Chamberlain, verbally.

Keokhwan died in January this year.

The former co-leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee admitted to using his blood in the consecration and thought there was nothing wrong with it, saying it was part of the ancient ceremonies dated back to the Ayutthaya era in creating sacred objects.

He said he believed the case brought against him was an attempt to smear him by people close to Wat Phra Dhammakaya.

"I came here today to show I had nothing to hide, to let officials know I'm ready to enter the legal procedures. I'm ready to fight the case in court," he said.

Apart from giving statements to police, the monk said he would file a complaint against the group who accused him. He said it claimed to have registered itself as a political party when in fact it did not.

"A check with the Election Commission found the group was not registered [as a political party]. What it did is presenting lies to His Majesty the King, a lese majeste offence and a breach of the political parties laws, he said.

Police said they were gathering evidence and had yet to decide how to proceed.

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