By Yun Samean and John Maloy
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Ek Phnom district, Battambang province - Wat Sdei is certainty not the most picturesque of pagodas, but there are many people who love it.
Hundreds, in fact, have flocked to the aging temple in Prek Norint commune's Sdei village since Tuesday to prevent it from being torn down.
Villagers say that Wat Sdei is around 100 years old and are furious over a deal made by the temple's chief monk and a Khmer American to replace it with a brand new $140,000 building.
"We want to preserve this temple as a heritage site for the young people," villager Kann Chamroeun said Wednesday.
But the man in question, Oknha Phok Doul said that having already raised the money to build the new pagoda, he is determined to see the plan through, which means the demolition of the old temple.
Villagers and other monks at the pagoda said that chief monk Vann Math did not consult with anyone prior to making the agreement with Phok Doul—who claims to have secured $4 million of financing for 10 pagodas across Cambodia.
"The head monk is not educated and doesn’t understand the value of old things," said villager Chhun Cham, 38.
On Wednesday, Vann Math, 64, lay at ease in his hammock as the pagoda compound swirled with indignant worshippers. Despite the objections of villagers and monks, he said he would not renege on the agreement with Phok Doul. The district needs a new a pagoda, he explained.
"I just want to stick with the plan," the head monk said, sparking an angry chorus of condemnation from nearby onlookers who shouted, "Why do you say that? It’s not right!"
Villagers suspect that the chief monk and Phok Doul hope to dig for the valuable artifacts believed to be buried in the temple's foundation, an allegation that both men firmly deny.
"When people in the old days built the pagoda they sacrificed their valuables and their possessions to the pagoda and had them placed in the foundation," Kann Chamroeun said.
Despite an idyllic location, the pagoda is simple in appearance. Ripples of red dust stain the upper reaches of the temple's white walls, while the roof badly needs a tile replacement.
But Wednesday, there were at least 300 people of all ages gathered around ready to spring to action if work crews came to dismantle it.
Villager Sovann Khat, 60, said that about 400 villagers had thwarted an attempt by construction workers to partially dismantle the temple Tuesday.
Socheat Chamroeun said that following an alleged attempt to dismantle Wat Sdei's roof, the villagers became more serious about protecting the building.
"About 300 people divided into shifts and guarded the temple all night long," he said, adding that work crews had been systematically damaging the temple since mid-October.
Chhun Cham and Sovann Kath pointed out gouges in the 15-meter tall, golden Buddha statue that dominates the interior of Wat Sdei.
"[Work crews] damage these things so donors in the US will believe that the temple needs to be replaced," Sovann Kath claimed. Phok Doul denied any knowledge of or involvement in such alleged vandalism.
"All of the merit that Oknha has acquired building pagodas will be erased by the sin of destroying this one," Kann Chamroeun warned.
But Phok Doul, who says he works with charities in the US but declined to name them, maintains that he wants to build the pagoda because villagers asked him to.
"In the commune they are eager to have a new pagoda," he said. "That’s why I went to the US and collected the money."
Phok Doul was previously reported to hail from New Orleans, but said Thursday that he in fact comes from California.
Villagers said they'd be happy to have a new pagoda, so long as it is built in the field behind the current structure. But Phok Doul said that would not be aesthetically pleasing and is out of the question.
Phok Doul claimed that the throng of villagers protecting Wat Sdei from the wrecking ball came from other districts, adding that 98 percent of people in Ek Phnom actually support the plan. And he warned that popular opposition to his project would ultimately prove futile.
"I will work with the authorities to remove the villagers to make way for the new pagoda," he said.
Hundreds, in fact, have flocked to the aging temple in Prek Norint commune's Sdei village since Tuesday to prevent it from being torn down.
Villagers say that Wat Sdei is around 100 years old and are furious over a deal made by the temple's chief monk and a Khmer American to replace it with a brand new $140,000 building.
"We want to preserve this temple as a heritage site for the young people," villager Kann Chamroeun said Wednesday.
But the man in question, Oknha Phok Doul said that having already raised the money to build the new pagoda, he is determined to see the plan through, which means the demolition of the old temple.
Villagers and other monks at the pagoda said that chief monk Vann Math did not consult with anyone prior to making the agreement with Phok Doul—who claims to have secured $4 million of financing for 10 pagodas across Cambodia.
"The head monk is not educated and doesn’t understand the value of old things," said villager Chhun Cham, 38.
On Wednesday, Vann Math, 64, lay at ease in his hammock as the pagoda compound swirled with indignant worshippers. Despite the objections of villagers and monks, he said he would not renege on the agreement with Phok Doul. The district needs a new a pagoda, he explained.
"I just want to stick with the plan," the head monk said, sparking an angry chorus of condemnation from nearby onlookers who shouted, "Why do you say that? It’s not right!"
Villagers suspect that the chief monk and Phok Doul hope to dig for the valuable artifacts believed to be buried in the temple's foundation, an allegation that both men firmly deny.
"When people in the old days built the pagoda they sacrificed their valuables and their possessions to the pagoda and had them placed in the foundation," Kann Chamroeun said.
Despite an idyllic location, the pagoda is simple in appearance. Ripples of red dust stain the upper reaches of the temple's white walls, while the roof badly needs a tile replacement.
But Wednesday, there were at least 300 people of all ages gathered around ready to spring to action if work crews came to dismantle it.
Villager Sovann Khat, 60, said that about 400 villagers had thwarted an attempt by construction workers to partially dismantle the temple Tuesday.
Socheat Chamroeun said that following an alleged attempt to dismantle Wat Sdei's roof, the villagers became more serious about protecting the building.
"About 300 people divided into shifts and guarded the temple all night long," he said, adding that work crews had been systematically damaging the temple since mid-October.
Chhun Cham and Sovann Kath pointed out gouges in the 15-meter tall, golden Buddha statue that dominates the interior of Wat Sdei.
"[Work crews] damage these things so donors in the US will believe that the temple needs to be replaced," Sovann Kath claimed. Phok Doul denied any knowledge of or involvement in such alleged vandalism.
"All of the merit that Oknha has acquired building pagodas will be erased by the sin of destroying this one," Kann Chamroeun warned.
But Phok Doul, who says he works with charities in the US but declined to name them, maintains that he wants to build the pagoda because villagers asked him to.
"In the commune they are eager to have a new pagoda," he said. "That’s why I went to the US and collected the money."
Phok Doul was previously reported to hail from New Orleans, but said Thursday that he in fact comes from California.
Villagers said they'd be happy to have a new pagoda, so long as it is built in the field behind the current structure. But Phok Doul said that would not be aesthetically pleasing and is out of the question.
Phok Doul claimed that the throng of villagers protecting Wat Sdei from the wrecking ball came from other districts, adding that 98 percent of people in Ek Phnom actually support the plan. And he warned that popular opposition to his project would ultimately prove futile.
"I will work with the authorities to remove the villagers to make way for the new pagoda," he said.
8 comments:
Does anyone in the U.S know the history of Phok Doul?
Phok Doul you been living in the state can you know the value of history presevation or you just a verry stupid ass never learn any thing from life!
Buy a land close to the temple and buid your new building for your stupid ego!
Preserve Cambodia pass that lucky enought to escape Pol Pot destruction!
Are you possese by Pol Pot gosh or just plain stupid??????????
Phok Doul, you're so stupid and wacky. Why do you want to demolish the old temple? Can you build it in other place or nearby? When he comes back to the US, we will report him to the immigration and welfare department about his illigal involvement. We will find where he lives and demolish his home, family, and cars too.
That cruel 12:40 Am!
But this guy Phue Duk may deserve it for his stupidity!
Is he exkhmerRouge or Viet?
Whact out he may want to demolish Ankor watt and build a new want in Hue style!
Do mai aH Saker $!
I lived in Wat Sdei during the Khmer Rouge and Wat Sdei gave me hope at that time. I remember I ate monk's left over to survive and when they stopped religous things in 1976 it was still the place I feeled so peacefull when I passed by the empty pagoda. I even noticed the k. rouge soldiers found peace when they lived there. Great souvenirs. I hope there will not be the stupid demilition. I you have a lot of money, build schools because we need it rush.
Leo
The temple is after all belong to the villager and This Phok Doul should respect that.
This problem is also a wake up call to reform the administration of our Cambodian temple, where is should belong to the villager who provide services to their temple. The gorvernment or the buddhist council should introduce a standart administration and procedure to those temple, such as creating a trust where it is eleclect from villagers and by the villager in order to control the operation and administration of their temple and to assist for the interst of its village.
It is about time to make change before it is too late.
Damn you Phok Doul, you bloody wanker. I hope he gets a huge tumor on his goolies.
Here is the solution!
Why not keep half of the old temple and the other half just modernize it!
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