19 March 2006
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by KI-Media
High ranking Buddhist clergy had prevented the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) from organizing a public opinion meeting to be held inside a pagoda located in Kravanh district, Pursat province.
This is the first such attempt since the latest change of policy adopted since the beginning of the year by prime minister Hun Sen towards civil and human rights organizations.
Mr. Chun Yung, an officer with CCHR, declared that the Sunday CCHR meeting will be held in front rather than inside the Ha Soveary pagoda, in O-Roheng village, Samrong commune, Kravanh district, Pursat province. The change was made because the district religious department received the order from high ranking clergy members.
Mr. Chun Yung said: “We asked the pagoda abbot, he told us to send a letter to the district to inform them, which we did since 13 [March]. However, yesterday, they prevented us, there was even a police officer who came. When we asked to meet them [the district religious department], they allowed us to meet them at noon. When we arrived at noon, they did not want to meet us, they avoided us, they shut their phone, and they made me wait until 1:00 PM before they met me. I asked them why they did not tell me in advance before taking this action, they simply replied that it was an order from the monk. I told them the monk [the abbot] allowed us already, why are they [the district religious department] mingling with this issue. They said that they don’t know what to say, the monk ordered it and they are just following orders.”
Kem Sokha, CCHR president, will seek for intervention on this problem by issuing a public message addressed to the patriarch, Samdech Tep Vong, who in the past issued the order preventing any public meeting held within the perimeter of the pagoda.
Kem Sokha said: “I will send a public message asking the government, as well as Samdech Tep Vong to consider so that he changes his mind and he does not stick with this old and rusty idea like that. We cannot rebuild the country [otherwise].”
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by KI-Media
High ranking Buddhist clergy had prevented the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) from organizing a public opinion meeting to be held inside a pagoda located in Kravanh district, Pursat province.
This is the first such attempt since the latest change of policy adopted since the beginning of the year by prime minister Hun Sen towards civil and human rights organizations.
Mr. Chun Yung, an officer with CCHR, declared that the Sunday CCHR meeting will be held in front rather than inside the Ha Soveary pagoda, in O-Roheng village, Samrong commune, Kravanh district, Pursat province. The change was made because the district religious department received the order from high ranking clergy members.
Mr. Chun Yung said: “We asked the pagoda abbot, he told us to send a letter to the district to inform them, which we did since 13 [March]. However, yesterday, they prevented us, there was even a police officer who came. When we asked to meet them [the district religious department], they allowed us to meet them at noon. When we arrived at noon, they did not want to meet us, they avoided us, they shut their phone, and they made me wait until 1:00 PM before they met me. I asked them why they did not tell me in advance before taking this action, they simply replied that it was an order from the monk. I told them the monk [the abbot] allowed us already, why are they [the district religious department] mingling with this issue. They said that they don’t know what to say, the monk ordered it and they are just following orders.”
Kem Sokha, CCHR president, will seek for intervention on this problem by issuing a public message addressed to the patriarch, Samdech Tep Vong, who in the past issued the order preventing any public meeting held within the perimeter of the pagoda.
Kem Sokha said: “I will send a public message asking the government, as well as Samdech Tep Vong to consider so that he changes his mind and he does not stick with this old and rusty idea like that. We cannot rebuild the country [otherwise].”
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