By Moeung Tum
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
CCHR Ou Virak said that: “We see that the initiation of Tim Sakhorn’s problem is similar to those occurring under the communist regime (PRK regime installed by Vietnam), people were arrested and they disappeared because they were deported to Vietnam to be jailed there. They were prevented from having relative visitation rights. This action is a human rights violation in Cambodia, because Monk Tim Sakhorn is a citizen with his rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Therefore, the Cambodian government’s action reminds us of the period when Vietnam ruled over Cambodia.”
Ou Virak added: “… this is a problem that we should avoid because we consider our country as a democratic currently, and we are currently strengthening the rule of law. This problem shows that our country did not move forward, but we are going backward in the strengthening of the judicial system and in the application of the law. The fact that the Cambodian government can arrest a Cambodian citizen and deport him to another country in secret without court appearance, and without following the letter of the law, is a case of human rights violation.”
CCHR observes that the link between religion and the current Cambodian regime is such that the government is allowed to nominate to the religious hierarchy, monk officials who help spread out the regime’s propaganda. The Cambodian Monk-King Tep Vong is one of such monk officials because the role played by this Monk-King clearly reveals the travesty in the defrocking of Monk Tim Sakhorn who used to be also the vice-president of the People’s Republic of Kampuchea (installed by Vietnam) Assembly in 1981, and the Monk-King also maintains a close relationship with the CPP party.
CCHR calls for a change in such method used for the nomination of monk officials, and it calls for a national level discussion on the link between the government and the religion in Cambodia, so that Buddhism structure in Cambodia can fulfill its role independently.
Ou Virak added: “… this is a problem that we should avoid because we consider our country as a democratic currently, and we are currently strengthening the rule of law. This problem shows that our country did not move forward, but we are going backward in the strengthening of the judicial system and in the application of the law. The fact that the Cambodian government can arrest a Cambodian citizen and deport him to another country in secret without court appearance, and without following the letter of the law, is a case of human rights violation.”
CCHR observes that the link between religion and the current Cambodian regime is such that the government is allowed to nominate to the religious hierarchy, monk officials who help spread out the regime’s propaganda. The Cambodian Monk-King Tep Vong is one of such monk officials because the role played by this Monk-King clearly reveals the travesty in the defrocking of Monk Tim Sakhorn who used to be also the vice-president of the People’s Republic of Kampuchea (installed by Vietnam) Assembly in 1981, and the Monk-King also maintains a close relationship with the CPP party.
CCHR calls for a change in such method used for the nomination of monk officials, and it calls for a national level discussion on the link between the government and the religion in Cambodia, so that Buddhism structure in Cambodia can fulfill its role independently.
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