Buddhism subversion by the CPP

Buddhism and politics in Cambodia

05 August 2007
By Kim Pov Sottan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by KI-Media

"We point out only those who persecute others, violating the (Buddhist) rule, how can you come and question us about whether he violated the rule or not? Are you laymen who come to give us a hard time? Monks’ rules are different from laymen rules, how can you come and give us a hard time? Some even curse the supreme patriarch (Tep Vong) from overseas, it’s because of their cursing that they have to flee the country, aren’t they ashamed of themselves? … Human rights (organizations)? There are shootings in Iraq, why don’t human rights (organizations) go to work there?" - Non Nget, Buddhist patriarch who signed the order to defrock Abbot Tim Sakhorn

In a statement issued the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) last Thursday, CCHR stated that politics interfere in Cambodian Buddhism.

Ou Virak, CCHR President, claimed that the past of Tep Vong, the supreme Buddhist patriarch, was cited because of his important involvement with the CPP. Later in his life, Tep Vong’s various activities were also reported when he ordered monks not to vote and not to participate in Dhammayietra peaceful march. Tep Vong is also known for ordering the distribution of CPP political propaganda in pagodas. Tep Vong’s actions are testimonials to the influence of politics on religion.

Ou Virak said: “The venerable (supreme patriarch Tep Vong) always supports the CPP, and in this issue, at one point he allowed monks to vote, at another time, he banned them from voting. At one point, he allowed the organization of a Dhammayietra walk, but later he issued a directive banning monks from participating in Dhammayietra walks. Monks who are opposed to the government are being defrocked everywhere. Another problem is the forcing of the use of pagodas to broadcast propaganda of (the CPP) political party, this is a point showing that Buddhism is currently being subverted by a political party.”

Ou Virak insisted that all these questions must be asked to supreme patriarch Tep Vong, and a discussion must be hold at the national level regarding the relationship between religion and politics.

The official accusation (made against Tep Vong) took place following the hasty defrocking of former Abbot Tim Sakhorn of Phnom Den North pagoda. The defrocking was a big surprise to the national and international communities.

SRP MP Yim Sovann, chairman of Committee No. 4 of the National Assembly who is in charge of investigation, cleanup, and Interior, added that the actions taken by the supreme patriarch clearly shows the influence of politics on religion.

Yim Sovann said: “Just because he (Monk Tim Sakhorn) provided shelters to Khmer Krom monks who fled to Cambodia for humanitarian reason, and when he saw Khmer (Krom) people who are our brothers/sisters were being victimized and endured hardship, his help was normal. There is no reason to accuse Monk Tim Sakhorn of involvements in politics, or undermining the relationship between Cambodia and Vietnam. The hardship imposed on Monk Tim Sakhorn is a severe violation of human rights. In the case of Monk Tep Vong who is the supreme patriarch and supreme monk leader in Cambodia, the display of his deep involvement in political affairs causes Cambodian people to gradually stop believing in religion, because the faithful and the religious leaders are involved in such injustice.”

Yim Sovann plans to ask the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to invite Tep Vong for questioning in the case of involvement of Buddhism in Cambodia in political affairs.

Former Abbot Tim Sakhorn of Phnom Den North pagoda, was defrocked by the Cambodian authority on 30 June, he then disappeared for about one month. The MoI claimed that he wanted to return back to live in Kampuchea Krom, his native land in South Vietnam.

When he was first defrocked, Monk Tim Sakhorn was accused of undermining the friendship between Cambodia and Vietnam, but later on he was accused of violating the religious rule for having an affair with women.

Monk Yoeung Sin, President of the Khmer Krom Monks Associaiton, commented that the method used to defrock Monk Tim Sakhorn was improper, and did not follow Buddhist rules, because the defrocking was hastily done without holding a monk meeting (to decide the case).

Monk Yoeung Sin said: “Because there was no monk meeting, he (Monk Tim Sakhorn) was not properly questioned, and there was no discussion held to find out the truth, or what he committed wrong, what rule he violated, what is the cause of his sentence. Monk Tim Sakhorn was called in for meeting, but he was immediately defrocked right there…”

Partriarch Non Nget, the monk who signed the order to defrock Monk Tim Sakhorn, said: “It was not like that, there are Khmer Krom monks everywhere. We defrock him because he violated the (Buddhist) rule, how could you question monks (like us)? This is not a right thing to do against monks who are taking this action, RFA is talking about this to create dispute among us. According to the (violation of Buddhist) rules reported by the provincial monk chief or his deputy to us, we (who order the defrocking) are only following the rules … look, there are plenty of Khmer Krom monks in Cambodia, nobody is persecuting them. … We point out only those who persecute others, violating the (Buddhist) rule, how can you come and question us about whether he violated the rule or not? Are you laymen who come to give us a hard time? Monks’ rules are different from laymen rules, how can you come and give us a hard time? Some even curse the supreme patriarch (Tep Vong) from overseas, it’s because of their cursing that they have to flee the country, aren’t they ashamed of themselves? … Human rights (organizations)? There are shootings in Iraq, why don’t human rights (organizations) go to work there?”

Sao Chanthol, the (CPP) deputy monk chief for the city of Phnom Penh, who was accused to traveling to Takeo to defrock Monk Tim Sakhorn, denied his involvement in this case: “I don’t know. My territory is in Phnom Penh city, therefore, I cannot know what is happening in another province, I don’t know anything.”

An official from the ministry of cult and religion also denied the ministry’s involvement in the defrocking of Monk Tim Sakhorn saying that the responsibility rests on Tep Vong only: “When it comes to rules, the ministry is not involved with them, it is the duty of the supreme patriarch who is ruling these cases. It’s only when it comes to governance issues that the ministry is involved with.”

Tep Vong cannot be reached to provide clarification today. Thach Setha, executive director of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community, called this defrocking an agreement pact between the Cambodian and Vietnamese authorities in order to discourage Khmer Krom people, he said that his claim is based on his observation of the synchronized actions taken by the two authorities leading to the jailing of Monk Tim Sakhorn.

Until now, the Vietnamese radio station broadcasted that former Abbot Tim Sakhorn is still alive and he is currently jailed by the border police.