Temple protest over Premsak
More than 100 Nonthaburi residents gathered outside Wat Suan Kaew yesterday to demand former Thai Rak Thai Party-list MP Premsak Phiayura be expelled from the temple, where he was recently ordained.
Premsak entered the monkhood on Saturday, saying he wanted to get out of the April 2 election. Angry protesters shouted for him to leave the temple and warned their number would swell if he stayed. Protesters said they had been told Premsak received Bt15 million to resign from Thai Rak Thai. "We will not allow a person who tears up the Constitution to stay in our city. He is saving himself, but our country is ruined. We have to protest against him," Siriporn Watchara-wannee said. Abbot Phra Phayom Kallayano promised the protesters he would forbid Premsak from giving interviews to journalists or engaging in political dialogue. He also said he would transfer Premsak to another branch of the temple. Premsak's secretary Yodhin Wararatsami, however, said the former MP would continue to live in Wat Suan Kaew. Yodhin said the Thai Rak Thai Party was behind the protest.
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