Thousands of followers of Thailand’s largest Buddhist temple have defied police orders to evacuate the 1,000 acre facility, hindering the search for the monastery’s former head monk who is wanted for allegedly accepting $40m of embezzled money and money-laundering.

Followers of the Dhammakaya Temple, north of the capital Bangkok, held posters on Sunday calling for police to retaliate and appealed for international attention and assistance.

“We have cooperated with the government every step of the way but this is one step too far,” Phra Pasura Dantamano, a temple spokesman and senior monk, told Reuters News Agency.

“We’re asking authorities to suspend the emergency law and lift their siege. Our supplies are low and we have been without power or water for three days.”

Police said on Sunday that non-residents of the temple must evacuate the premises to accelerate the search as temple activities were standing in the way of police forces, while resident monks were ordered to convene at an exit point. Tiếp tục đọc “Thousands of Thais obstruct search for wanted monk” →