Original report from Phnom Penh
08 August 2007
A local research organization has written King Norodom Sihamoni warning him that monks and politics don't mix.
The Cambodian National Research Organization said allowing monks to vote would encourage laymen to choose their temples along party lines, countering the spirit of Buddhism.
If monks have the right to vote, they have the right to hold office, said Heang Rithy, head of the research organization, which cold lead to the politicization of the faith.
"In general, monks cannot participate in the elections," he said. "If you allow monks to vote, that means you allow them to run for office as well. This is against the principles of Buddhism. This amounts to making fun of the religion."
Kuol Panha, executive director of the independent Committee for Free and Fair Elections, disagrees. Monks do have the right to vote but they don't have the legal right to run for office, he said.
"Monks can elect political candidates whom they think will serve Buddhism, but they themselves can't run for office," he said.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said monks are capable of objective voting, but they should not participate in political campaigns.
"I personally think that monks have rights like everyone else, to exercise their rights at the polling stations," he said.
Monks have been voting since 1993, and no law forbids it, said Cheam Yeap, a lawmaker for the ruling Cambodian People's Party.
"Monks should be considered as independent voters," Cheam Yeap said. "They can vote. It would be against the Cambodian constitution if you forbid monks from voting."
The constitution allows all men and women of legal age to vote.
The Cambodian National Research Organization said allowing monks to vote would encourage laymen to choose their temples along party lines, countering the spirit of Buddhism.
If monks have the right to vote, they have the right to hold office, said Heang Rithy, head of the research organization, which cold lead to the politicization of the faith.
"In general, monks cannot participate in the elections," he said. "If you allow monks to vote, that means you allow them to run for office as well. This is against the principles of Buddhism. This amounts to making fun of the religion."
Kuol Panha, executive director of the independent Committee for Free and Fair Elections, disagrees. Monks do have the right to vote but they don't have the legal right to run for office, he said.
"Monks can elect political candidates whom they think will serve Buddhism, but they themselves can't run for office," he said.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said monks are capable of objective voting, but they should not participate in political campaigns.
"I personally think that monks have rights like everyone else, to exercise their rights at the polling stations," he said.
Monks have been voting since 1993, and no law forbids it, said Cheam Yeap, a lawmaker for the ruling Cambodian People's Party.
"Monks should be considered as independent voters," Cheam Yeap said. "They can vote. It would be against the Cambodian constitution if you forbid monks from voting."
The constitution allows all men and women of legal age to vote.
4 comments:
If all the monks can't vote so they must stop eating or receiving offering from their people. All monks have a right to vote for anyone who they think they like. But if Hun Sen, who can live up to 200 years, will be voted in again and again as vampire PM, because many of Yuon/Yavana help vote him in.
Next election, one-eye Hun Sen will be a PM again for 100% sure.
Keep your eyes on my words!
Khmer sralanh/love Khmer!
Monks is human as well who living in one country and have a full right to choose their leader as long as their leader allow to have religion related to them. But Monks shall not be allowed to join the political campaign which could led to against the rule of Buddhism as the politic mean with many alternative/ways.
Pel knhom nau protes khmer knhom chod! Mian niak klas tha ke chia kru ap! Kru Thmup! Aich thvo oi knhom chu ru slab ban! Bunte bo nus chia ka pit, mech kor a Sen Huynh del kampong luoch tok khmer kmian kru munakom na thvo oi slab tov? hahaha.
ពេលខ្ញុំ នៅស្រុខខ្មែរមាននាក់ក្លាស់ គេអួតថាខ្លួនជាគ្រួរមហនគម័ ប៉ន្តែបរេនៈពឺតមែនមេច ករលោកហូនសែនមន្តន់ស្លាប់?
prohel kmian kru na proke chiang monakum hun sen te deng? hahah
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