snoop1130 Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 Army plans to have soldiers ordained, posted to temples in troubled South: Army chief By Narong Nuansakul The Nation File photo : Army chief General Apirat Kongsompong The Army plans to have some of its soldiers ordained into the monkhood and assigned to posts in temples, Commander in Chief General Apirat Kongsompong said on Tuesday. Having soldiers as monks in temples will create confidence and ease concerns among the public and other monks over their safety. Apirat said soldiers will join the plan voluntarily. Apirat was speaking after visiting Rattananuparb Temple in Narathiwat’s Sungai Padi district, which was attacked by armed militants last week. The temple’s abbot and his deputy were killed instantly after being shot at close range, while many other monks were injured in the attack. This was the first time that a temple and its monks had become the targets of such an ambush. Apirat on Tuesday attended both monks’ funerals in the presence of senior provincial officials, including Narathiwat Governor Ekkarat Leesen, and Buddhist monks and Muslim leaders. The Army chief also talked to local residents, both Buddhists and Muslims, telling them that the attack had been an isolated case and carried out by individuals who were trying to drag the differences between religions into the ongoing conflict in the deep South, aiming to widen it. Therefore, no one should not fall into the trap laid by the culprits, he stressed, adding that he was pleased to see both Buddhists and Muslims attend the funerals of the monks. Apirat then left for Chulabhorn Army Camp in Narathiwat’s Mueang district to attend a meeting held to review measures and systems aimed at preventing a reoccurrence of Friday’s violent incident. Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30362720 — The Nation 2019-01-22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayduke Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 Brilliant idea general. What could possibly go wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enoon Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 "The Army chief also talked to local residents, both Buddhists and Muslims, telling them that the attack had been an isolated case and carried out by individuals who were trying to drag the differences between religions into the ongoing conflict in the deep South, aiming to widen it." The General seems to be saying that religious differences are not part of the conflict, but some people were trying to make them so. That's going to upset a few TVF members, who would rather swallow broken glass than think a millimetre outside their pre-packaged boxes and consider the other factors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanLaew Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 This was the same chap who less than a month after getting the top job last year, suggested that there could still be a military coup after the elections if things don't 'go to plan.' More recently, he has issued a warning to those protesting against changing the election date 'not to step over the line.' Now he's vaguely suggesting that arming monks will make things more peaceful? I thought this all a bit much until I learned who his father is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaiyen Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 So now we will see monks in camouflage robes carrying machine guns ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansnl Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 High time for some stupid comments. It is very sad that this idea even has to be considered. It might help, of it might not help, who knows? But as long as the world pussyfoots around the menace, it will go on and on these deeds by the deathlovers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyinNE Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Armed Monks???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connda Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Having armed monks is sort of the antithesis of Buddhism; however, it's also exactly why Islam will never take over Buddhist nations in SE Asia. Myanmar's Buddhist resistance to Islam is the quintessential example. This is unlike Christian European countries which are in the process of 'submitting' and will soon look like Spain circa the early 8th Century AD. Christians can accept Dhimmitude; however, Buddhist are considered pagans and for pagans there is only death by the sword. So for Buddhist nations with Muslim insurgencies, if you are a Buddhist then it's resist or die. It's a quandary, but I can understand the Thai military's rationale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tifino Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 trouble is, that to another ex military type; the concept of having a padre in each village, becomes not so strange! but I will wait a bit - until the Padres become non-denominational Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connda Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 18 hours ago, snoop1130 said: The Army plans to have some of its soldiers ordained into the monkhood and assigned to posts in temples, Commander in Chief General Apirat Kongsompong said on Tuesday. Well, look back at Shaolin monks and one will understand that there are historical examples of Buddhism militancy, the trick being to be willing to fight to preserve the Buddhist tradition but yet being able to do so without hate, actually feeling compassion for those attempting to kill you and destroy your way of life. It will be interesting to see if the future bring back the concept of 'warrior monks'. Perhaps the Generals should first send their troops for Shaolin training. Mahayana Shaolin trained 'special forces monks' protecting their peaceful Theravadan brethren back at home. Hummm. ???? Sounds like the stuff of future dystopian-based fiction. Or perhaps prescient non-fiction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VocalNeal Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 So how will potential insurgents know which new monks are soldiers and which are not which temples have armed monks and which do not? Might be more clever than it sounds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srikcir Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 18 hours ago, snoop1130 said: the attack had been an isolated case and carried out by individuals who were trying to drag the differences between religions into the ongoing conflict in the deep South, aiming to widen it. Doesn't embedding armed Thai military soldiers as ordained Buddhist monks at temples further the insurgency as a religious conflict? Superstitiously planting soldiers at Buddhist temples (the means is irrelevant as the motivation supports a military objectcive) still makes them combatants. That may have the effect to increase insurgent attacks at-large against Buddhist temple personnel once insurgents become aware that the Thai military has in effect militarized Buddhist temples - making Buddhist temples military objectives. Might that have the effect of a war crime? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramr Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 This made me laugh, but I agree with connda. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tifino Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 sub-interred around that 'temple' an Armed Thai Pillbox overlooks the Kymer Frontier not all what you see are as it seems... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seahorse Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Warrior monks, not a new idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roo860 Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Bullet Proof Monk.Sent from my SM-G920F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
300sd Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 I've heard it all now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tifino Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 1 minute ago, 300sd said: I've heard it all now. pray not... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stocky Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 4 hours ago, connda said: Islam will never take over Buddhist nations in SE Asia The conflict in the south has its roots in Phibunsongkhram's 1930s policy of Thaification and forced assimilation. The Patanni States have been Muslim since the 13th century. They want recognition of their language and culture. The conflict has remained largely within the south, it hasn't escalated into the rest of Thailand, even in those provinces such as Songkhla, Satun, Trang and Phuket all of which have sizeable Muslim populations. Militarising Buddhist temples seems to be exactly the sort of thing Prayut has been saying they won't do; escalate the conflict further. Though the killing of three Imams just before Christmas is no doubt the reason the temple and monks were targeted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chama Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Yes, they plan to infiltrate society at every level. Much easier to control everybody if you are imbedded in religion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Dude Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Another bad idea in a long list of bad ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
from the home of CC Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 be better to have eyes and ears in those mosques.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.