By Seng Ratana, VOA Khmer
Original report from Takeo
09 November 2007
"The authorities threatened us not to mention politics, but I want to ask what politics are about" - Mam SonandoPhnom Penh security forces broke up a religious fund-raising ceremony Friday, following calls from those gathered for the release of Tim Sakhorn, a defrocked monk in jail in Vietnam.
Tim Sakhorn, who has been sentenced to one year in a Vietnam jail, has become a rallying point for advocates of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom ethnic group. Tensions over the treatment of the group have spilled over into violence in past demonstrations, and police say they broke up the fundraiser to ensure public safety.
Friday's gathering was meant as a fund-raiser, organizers said, and turned unruly after some people began calling for the release of Tim Sakhorn. Plainclothes police argued with some of those gathered, witnesses said.
Officials in Phnom Penh's Phnom Den district warned people ahead of the rally not to use the gathering to demand Tim Sakhorn's freedom, organizers said.
"All their forces were deployed, and they kept an eye on the ceremony," Chhim Savuth, an investigator for the Cambodian Human Rights Organization, told VOA Khmer.
"The authorities threatened us not to mention politics, but I want to ask what politics are about," said Mam Sonando, director of the Beehive Radio station.
7 comments:
If Khmer Krom can come in in 2008 and vote, I think Cambodians would have enough votes to boot out the current government. Let's united.
This is painful for Cambodian people that their government is working as a lackey of Vietnam that for the sake of their Vietnam-Cambodia friendship, Cambodian government is employing their gangsters to abuse such religious praying.
The relationship of Cambodia-Vietnam is not different from the relationship of a spouse who lives in a poor civilized country, where men are the dominants. The wife has to scarify a lot and do whatever the husband commands her.
Nope, everyone has to sacrifice something for the good off the country and the future of our children. We are not like the selfish Westerners or Westerners trained fools who only think of themselves.
And why can't i demand the freedom of my fellow citizen! And why can't i deserve to use politic! Am not a citizen of a political state!
I am not living under a political system! Maybe Cambodia is anarchy! There is no such thing as politic and those men should not be listen to and no police needed! But if Cambodia is legit government and a political system then I as a system have the rights to express my opinion on the matter of the state, this is what politic is!
What else is politic if it is not our freedom!!!! Our economics!!!! and our livelihoods!!!!
What sacrifice do you speak of you crack head fool! The sacrifice of silence is the sacrifice of freedom.
Khmer people, keep up our voice and speak do not be silent in face of injustice and foreign control of OUR POLITICS!
What is POLITIC again???
I think if you didn't understood before. You would know now, just as Mr. Mam Sonando and other human beings already knows
** i as a citizens** for "system"
get it!
Nope, politic is not Khmer, 9:04. So stop dreaming. Only those westerners trained evils practicing politic Cambodia, and they have cause millions and millions Khmer to die in between. Thus, I call on all Khmer people to avoid the coming election and let PM Hun Sen continue to rule forever.
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