Man Gives Rice in Effort To Rebuild B'bang Pagoda
By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
The distribution of rice has become the latest tactic in a Cambodian-American's continuing attempt to knock down and rebuild a pagoda in Battambang province's Ek Phnom district local villagers said.
Oknha Phok Doul said Monday that he has distributed 49 tons of rice to 5,000 families in Prek Norint commune—where die pagoda is located—and neighboring Prek Luong commune.
He said the rice donation was his "habit" to give villagers assistance. He also took the opportunity to assuage fears concerning his plan to flatten the pagoda—particularly the claim that he was after gold thought to be buried in the temple's foundation.
"I swore that if I wanted the gold, I would die in a plane crash or a car crash," Phok Doul said by telephone. "I wanted to tell the truth to calm the people because they believed the rumor."
But villager representative Khut Savy said the rice distribution was just an attempt to purchase the consent of the locals.
"He is buying people's minds," Khut Savy said, adding that despite the rice, villagers remained committed to protecting the pagoda.
Hundreds of villagers flocked to Wat Sdei in Prek Norint commune last month to guard it from work crews they said had been sent to dismantle the temple after Phok Doul and the temple's chief monk, Vann Math, agreed to replace it with a new $140,000 structure.
Villagers claimed that Wat Sdei is a 100-year-old heritage site that must be preserved.
Oknha Phok Doul said Monday that he has distributed 49 tons of rice to 5,000 families in Prek Norint commune—where die pagoda is located—and neighboring Prek Luong commune.
He said the rice donation was his "habit" to give villagers assistance. He also took the opportunity to assuage fears concerning his plan to flatten the pagoda—particularly the claim that he was after gold thought to be buried in the temple's foundation.
"I swore that if I wanted the gold, I would die in a plane crash or a car crash," Phok Doul said by telephone. "I wanted to tell the truth to calm the people because they believed the rumor."
But villager representative Khut Savy said the rice distribution was just an attempt to purchase the consent of the locals.
"He is buying people's minds," Khut Savy said, adding that despite the rice, villagers remained committed to protecting the pagoda.
Hundreds of villagers flocked to Wat Sdei in Prek Norint commune last month to guard it from work crews they said had been sent to dismantle the temple after Phok Doul and the temple's chief monk, Vann Math, agreed to replace it with a new $140,000 structure.
Villagers claimed that Wat Sdei is a 100-year-old heritage site that must be preserved.
3 comments:
Ba***d, How could he swear to die in the plane crash? Why not dying of lightning so he would die alone?
where the money come from....and where is his work place...live on welfare or ssi....hope the usa gov do something to be sure that he use the fund appropriately....remember someone use donated fund in vain will go to hell for many lives..buddha said....
hmmm blissful ignorance...lovely. learn about his non-profit before you go running your mouth. thanks.
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