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."
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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."
Please click here to read more...
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