His Excellency General Prayut Chan-O-Cha The Prime Minister of Thailand.

Middle East Meditation Center
P.O. Box 31292 Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority
Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

30 May 2016 An Open Letter to:

His Excellency General Prayut Chan-O-Cha The Prime Minister of Thailand.

Most Honorable Sir,

We, the Buddhist expatriates communities in the Middle East views with concern the unjust prosecution and arrest warrant brought against the Abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Phrathepyanmahamuni (Dhammachaiyo Bhikku) and the threat of using armed forces against a Terravada temple Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani, Thailand.

We wish to state our protest against the criminal charges brought forth by the DSI (Department of special Investigation) accusing the Most Venerable Dhammachiyo Bhikku, of "Receiving of Stolen Property" and "Money Laundering". We found the DSI accusation unjust, bias, full of malice and ill intention. We found it ridiculous to charge a monk for receiving Donations which was later found to be tainted. It was normal for monks to received donations without asking the donors as to the source of the money. As to the charges of Money Laundering, every cheque and cash which was donated by the general public can be accounted for by the temple administration which was used for the construction of various buildings in the temple premises. Currently, Phra Dhammachaiyo at an old age of 72 is seriously ill, suffering from chronic diabetes, very frail, continuous swellings in one leg which is double the size of the other, which made him bedridden and is in a life threatening condition. We deplore the attitude and high handedness of the Department of Special Investigation who keep pressuring Phra Djhammachaiyo to travel to the DSI premises although there are medical evidences certifying Phra Dhammachaiyo's critical ill health.

I have personally known Phra Dhammachaiyo and has been following His Holiness teachings for the past 12 years now, and find His Holiness to be a Role Model as a Buddhist monk, an awesome Master who practices diligently and strictly, never deviate or wavered from the Lord Buddha's Teachings as guided by the Pali Cannon or Tripitaka. Phra Dhammachaiyo is indeed a true Terravada Buddhist monk who excels in the Buddha Dhamma, and His Holiness teachings and his numerous humanitarian and Morality projects has indeed touched and changed the lives of millions of devotees for the better both locally and abroad.

Over the past 40 years, Wat Phra Dhammakaya has cultivated righteous monks to perpetuate Buddhism, instilled morality in people of every age and gender and extended some projects to different countries to help propagate Buddhism there. These undertakings has given people all across the World a chance to learn Buddhism and Meditations and at the same time, learning the true goal of life, that is, to accumulate merits and pursue perfections.

Wat Phra Dhammakaya has continuously involve in in humanitarian efforts both locally and abroad, by giving relief packages and supporting victims of natural disaster like the great flood of Thailand in 2011 and in Nepal, April 2015 where earthquake and landslides left countless people dead or homeless.

Therefore, we wish to appeal to you, Honorable Prime Minister as Head of the Thai Government to use your good office to resolve this issues and predicaments amicably, which is threatening Buddhism and creating a split in the Buddhist faith locally and abroad.

Thanking you in advance.

Ivir. Lye Net rong
Protem Committee President