Brawl between rival monks provokes strong reaction from opposition, rights group
Cambodian Press Review
The opposition Sam Rainsy Party ( SRP) and rights groups have condemned a fistfight that erupted outside Phnom Penh’s Wat Ounalom on Friday between Khmer Krom monks demonstrating alleged rights infringement by the Vietnamese government and Cambodian monks aligned with Great Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong, reports newspapers.
Dozens of Khmer Krom monks and activists gathered in front of the Vietnamese Embassy at around 7.30 am on April 20 to demand the nation’s government halt rights violations on the indigenous minority and to urge for the reinstatement of 11 monks recently defrocked, reported Sralanh Khmer on April 21.
Forced to disperse from the area by riot police, the monks marched onto the Royal Palace, hoping to deliver a petition to King Norodom Sihamoni; however, they were again met by police bristling with electric batons, adds the newspaper.
Whilst at the palace, the monks were warned by Long Kim Leang, deputy chief monk for Daun Penh district to stop. “If they do not obey the Buddhist rules, they will be arrested. If they do not listen, we will take some action,” he told reporters, according to The Cambodia Daily in its weekend edition.
Prevented from submitting their petition, the monks left for the US Embassy at around 9.30am, when passing Wat Ounaloum, the home of Tep Vong, more than ten monks streamed out and started to scuffle with the Khmer Krom monks, during which four monks from the minority suffered cuts and grazes, reported Sralanh Khmer.
At 10.00am the monks managed to reach the US Embassy, and officials from the embassy agreed to accept the petition. Thach Setha, president of the Khmer Krom Association, which represents the indigenous ethnic Khmer minority living in southern Vietnam, expressed regret over the violence and likened the event to something that would occur during Pol Pot’s time, adds the Khmer-language newspaper.
The brawl has been condemned by the SRP and local civil rights organizations.
The SRP criticized the crackdown on what was a peaceful demonstration, reasoning it violates freedom of expression and religion, reports Cambodge Soir. SRP Secretary-General Mu Sohua said that it was no coincidence that the local monks were from Wat Ounalom, which she claimed has links to the ruling CPP, reports The Cambodia Daily.
Chan Sovet, an official from Adhoc, appealed to the government to take action to stop the violence and against those who mistreated Khmer Krom monks, report Cambodge Soir.
Ou Virak, newly elected president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), claimed in a statement yesterday that local monks were ordered to block the Khmer Krom monks from demonstrating, and that all monks who took part in the violence should be defrocked, reports The Cambodia Daily.
“I am sorry for the violence happening to even one Khmer Krom monk, I am sorry that the authorities allowed the issue to happen,” said Thach Setha, reports Cambodge Soir.
Interior Ministry spokesman Lieutenant General Khieu Sopheak said that hundreds of police were at the protest were there to “safeguard security,” writes The Cambodia Daily.
Cambodian Press Review
The opposition Sam Rainsy Party ( SRP) and rights groups have condemned a fistfight that erupted outside Phnom Penh’s Wat Ounalom on Friday between Khmer Krom monks demonstrating alleged rights infringement by the Vietnamese government and Cambodian monks aligned with Great Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong, reports newspapers.
Dozens of Khmer Krom monks and activists gathered in front of the Vietnamese Embassy at around 7.30 am on April 20 to demand the nation’s government halt rights violations on the indigenous minority and to urge for the reinstatement of 11 monks recently defrocked, reported Sralanh Khmer on April 21.
Forced to disperse from the area by riot police, the monks marched onto the Royal Palace, hoping to deliver a petition to King Norodom Sihamoni; however, they were again met by police bristling with electric batons, adds the newspaper.
Whilst at the palace, the monks were warned by Long Kim Leang, deputy chief monk for Daun Penh district to stop. “If they do not obey the Buddhist rules, they will be arrested. If they do not listen, we will take some action,” he told reporters, according to The Cambodia Daily in its weekend edition.
Prevented from submitting their petition, the monks left for the US Embassy at around 9.30am, when passing Wat Ounaloum, the home of Tep Vong, more than ten monks streamed out and started to scuffle with the Khmer Krom monks, during which four monks from the minority suffered cuts and grazes, reported Sralanh Khmer.
At 10.00am the monks managed to reach the US Embassy, and officials from the embassy agreed to accept the petition. Thach Setha, president of the Khmer Krom Association, which represents the indigenous ethnic Khmer minority living in southern Vietnam, expressed regret over the violence and likened the event to something that would occur during Pol Pot’s time, adds the Khmer-language newspaper.
The brawl has been condemned by the SRP and local civil rights organizations.
The SRP criticized the crackdown on what was a peaceful demonstration, reasoning it violates freedom of expression and religion, reports Cambodge Soir. SRP Secretary-General Mu Sohua said that it was no coincidence that the local monks were from Wat Ounalom, which she claimed has links to the ruling CPP, reports The Cambodia Daily.
Chan Sovet, an official from Adhoc, appealed to the government to take action to stop the violence and against those who mistreated Khmer Krom monks, report Cambodge Soir.
Ou Virak, newly elected president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), claimed in a statement yesterday that local monks were ordered to block the Khmer Krom monks from demonstrating, and that all monks who took part in the violence should be defrocked, reports The Cambodia Daily.
“I am sorry for the violence happening to even one Khmer Krom monk, I am sorry that the authorities allowed the issue to happen,” said Thach Setha, reports Cambodge Soir.
Interior Ministry spokesman Lieutenant General Khieu Sopheak said that hundreds of police were at the protest were there to “safeguard security,” writes The Cambodia Daily.
7 comments:
I'm a Khmer Kandal but I seem to hate Khmer Kandal because some of the Monks are support Youn & Ah Yorng Hun Sen, like Ah Sao Chan Thol ect....Comment PHK live in MASS USA.
Those who attacked kk monks are not really monks.They are HUN SEN'S mercinaries ready to be used in a moment notice...
2:17am are you realy from USA? used your brain! would you.
Ah Khmer-Yuon's monks aint no
monks. They are spies, CIA, and
politicians, just like the 60's,
70's.
3:22AM Is Pouk Ah Kbal Youn Kloun Khmer Na..That why he want to kick my ASS.Khmer Nong Chan Te Viey....
Such monks should learn more the teaching of Buddha. There is a book entitled The Teaching of Buddha published by the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Buddhism. A Khmer version of this book is entitled sekha bot preah puth. many copies of this book are available at the Buddhist Institute's library at Samdech Hun Park and a copy is available at Samdech Hun Sen Library on the campus of the Phnom Penh Royal University in Phnom Penh.
If our prime minister and other rulers like reading, I would recommend this book to put on their reading lists. There is a good section governance (section III:In Service).
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
Yep, I think all monks should read
that book also, but optional to
politicians.
Post a Comment