BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - A young Buddhist monk dressed in a saffron yellow robe and wielding an AK-47 took 30 people hostage in Thailand's parliament, but was tackled and arrested an hour later by police posing as reporters.
No one was injured in the standoff, during which the monk berated authorities by mobile phone, fired the assault rifle in the air once and demanded to speak with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The monk said he wanted to protest "unjust treatment" he suffered when arrested by police several years ago.
Speaking into a reporter's mobile phone, the monk said in a lengthy speech that was broadcast live on radio and television that he was arrested in 1996 for trespassing in a national park and was beaten and stripped by police. He said that authorities had not responded to his complaints.
The standoff began at about 8:30 a.m., just minutes before Thailand's 500-member lower house was set to debate a much-anticipated no-confidence motion against 15 Cabinet members in Thaksin's 14-month-old government.
A woman entering the Parliament building to listen to the debate said that the monk threatened to kill her and others.
"He stormed into the reception office where I was and said, 'Don't move or you'll get yourself killed,'" said Pratuang Mongkolsil, 53. "Then the monk went out and shot once and came back. I was so frightened."
The monk identified himself as Sayan Chitasuro from southeastern Chanthaburi province, bordering Cambodia. He told reporters he was in his 20s.
Before entering the Parliament building, he waited outside overnight with the assault rifle concealed in his robe, he said.
Police told The Associated Press that the suspect had been registered as a Buddhist monk at a temple in Chanthaburi province.
He faces charges of illegal weapons possession, breaking into a government office and illegal detention, which carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, police Col. Luechai Sutyod said.
That is too funny!!!!
Budda didn't teach this(I find this funny no offense meant)
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