Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Khmer Krom Monks prevented from commemorating a “Bang Skol”

Wednesday, April 18, 2007
By Ung Chansophea
Cambodge Soir

Unofficial translation from French by Luc Sâr

Click here to read Cambodge Soir’s original article in French

In the province of Kandal, a group of Khmer Krom monks was not authorized to organize a ceremony for one of their brethren who was found dead in his room on February 28, under unclear conditions.

Yesterday, a group of Khmer Krom monks could not organize a religious ceremony, “Bang Skol,” in the Tronum Chroeung pagoda, Boeng Thom commune, Kandal province, in order to “free” the spirit of their brethren, Ieng Sokthoeun, who was found dead in his room on February 28. The police then concluded that is was a suicide due to drug, a conclusion which is questioned by the Khmer Krom compatriots of the deceased monk.

The refusal by the provincial authority to the request of the religious commemoration is an act of non-respect to religion, Yoeun Sin, President of the Khmer Krom Monks Association, stormed about. “This is the second time that we try to pay a tribute to him. The first time, the authorities blamed us of not making an official request. But this time, we sent an official request to all the authorities involved, they all rejected it by pointing to another group as being responsible for making the decision. It is unbelievable! We just want to organize a small ceremony, it’s not much, why they prevent us?” he stormed about, while deploring at the same time that the legal investigation on the death of Monk Ieng Sokthoeun did not progress at all.

As soon as the government officials will return to work, the untiring President of the Khmer Krom Monks will send in another request to the Phnom Penh municipality, but this time, it is for a demonstration. According to him, “all the Khmer Krom associations want to gather this Friday to denounce the tortures and all kinds of repressions perpetrated by the Vietnamese authorities against the Khmer Krom monks.” He added that this demonstration will be echoed all around the world, wherever Khmer Krom people are living.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ah Youn Shakey Vietname has its slave do it dirty work to our relogion in our country!

Anonymous said...

The Vietcong is more interested in promoting more of their dog eating culture!!!!

The Khmer Krom people should have the fucken right to practice their religion including a religious ceremony, “Bang Skol,” to free the spirit of the death!!!!

No peace to the Vietcong!!!!!