CCHR-CHRAC Secretariat–CLEC-LICADHO
Media Statement, December 17, 2007
Khmer Kampuchea Monks Chased and Assaulted by Police in Phnom Penh
Media Statement, December 17, 2007
Khmer Kampuchea Monks Chased and Assaulted by Police in Phnom Penh
We, representatives of civil society, strongly condemn the excessive use of violence by the authorities against a group of Khmer Kampuchea Krom monks who gathered peacefully in front of the Vietnamese Embassy on the morning of 17 December 2007.
A group of 48 Khmer Kampuchea Krom monks, ethnic Khmer originally from Southern Vietnam, had convened peacefully in front of the Vietnamese Embassy to submit a petition calling for the release of Kampuchea Krom Buddhist monk Tim Sakhorn and five other monks imprisoned in Vietnam, the resolution of land issues, and respect for minority rights. The Ministry of Interior responded swiftly by deploying a large contingent of police and anti-riot forces who arrived armed with shields, electric batons and guns.
After the monks request for a meeting with an Embassy representative was officially rejected, they sat down at the site to conduct a traditional Buddhist ceremony. At the end of an hour-long of standoff, the monks decided to walk towards the gate of the embassy, where they were met with heavy resistance by the anti-riot police, who used their batons and shields to hit and force back the monks. Some of the monks then threw plastic bottles at the police. The anti-riot unit responded instantly, brutally charging against the monks with their shields and electric batons. The monks then scattered and tried to run away to avoid further injury.
The police continued to violently attack the monks even after they dispersed. They chased the monks four blocks down various side-streets in the area around the Vietnamese Embassy, hitting and beating the monks. Surprised passers-by were told by the police “those who we are beating are not real monks.” (In khmer: “yung wai mun men dejekhun.”)
Two monks were seriously injured after being shocked by electric batons on the backs of their heads; causing one to temporarily lose conscious. Four other monks suffered minor injuries after being assaulted by the police.
Like all citizens, monks have the right to express their opinions and gather peacefully. We appeal to the authorities to refrain from any further use of violence against monks and to ensure that the monks who gathered today will not face any recriminations from religious or state authorities. Furthermore, we request that the relevant authorities investigate and take action against officials that were responsible for assaulting the monks.
For more information, please contact,
Mr. Suon Sareth, CHRAC Executive Secretary at 092 344 357
Mr. Ou Virak, President of CCHR at 012 404 051
Ms. Naly Pilorge, Director of LICADHO at 012 803 650
A group of 48 Khmer Kampuchea Krom monks, ethnic Khmer originally from Southern Vietnam, had convened peacefully in front of the Vietnamese Embassy to submit a petition calling for the release of Kampuchea Krom Buddhist monk Tim Sakhorn and five other monks imprisoned in Vietnam, the resolution of land issues, and respect for minority rights. The Ministry of Interior responded swiftly by deploying a large contingent of police and anti-riot forces who arrived armed with shields, electric batons and guns.
After the monks request for a meeting with an Embassy representative was officially rejected, they sat down at the site to conduct a traditional Buddhist ceremony. At the end of an hour-long of standoff, the monks decided to walk towards the gate of the embassy, where they were met with heavy resistance by the anti-riot police, who used their batons and shields to hit and force back the monks. Some of the monks then threw plastic bottles at the police. The anti-riot unit responded instantly, brutally charging against the monks with their shields and electric batons. The monks then scattered and tried to run away to avoid further injury.
The police continued to violently attack the monks even after they dispersed. They chased the monks four blocks down various side-streets in the area around the Vietnamese Embassy, hitting and beating the monks. Surprised passers-by were told by the police “those who we are beating are not real monks.” (In khmer: “yung wai mun men dejekhun.”)
Two monks were seriously injured after being shocked by electric batons on the backs of their heads; causing one to temporarily lose conscious. Four other monks suffered minor injuries after being assaulted by the police.
Like all citizens, monks have the right to express their opinions and gather peacefully. We appeal to the authorities to refrain from any further use of violence against monks and to ensure that the monks who gathered today will not face any recriminations from religious or state authorities. Furthermore, we request that the relevant authorities investigate and take action against officials that were responsible for assaulting the monks.
For more information, please contact,
Mr. Suon Sareth, CHRAC Executive Secretary at 092 344 357
Mr. Ou Virak, President of CCHR at 012 404 051
Ms. Naly Pilorge, Director of LICADHO at 012 803 650
11 comments:
Hey look at thmil?
The killing started with chasing of the peoples. Here it goes again. Sen and his team must be overthrown by the peoples. I wish all my best the New Year resolution is to throw the Sen,s team out of the country
I cannot believe that I will see these pictures from Cambodia. I thought only Burma that produce these pictures.
UN, UN, UN ..
Ah norok Police!Ah Tmil! Cambodia at precent show little or no respect for the monk, because of you! and also it's truely a reflection of the current goevrnment and The Communist. Bad bad bad!!!!!!
Bad leaders always try to stay in power and seek more power by building up their own forces of armed, uneducated, blind-minded men who are nothing more than dogs used to proect their interests. And this has been clearly seen in Cambodia!!!
pouk Ah dogs tmil hun sen show no respect to the monks.
Go to Hell Ah Sen Thmil for assaulting your own monks, you have no religious at all Ah Noruok.
Where is TEP VONG?. He supposed to come out there and defrogged all these monks and sent them to Vietnam.
Before A vietcong Hunsen goes to hell, I hope the UN can judge and take him to jail for life.
Ah Tmil Hun Sen!
Ah Choh Noruok!
It is very shock to see these tragic pictures, showing police chasing our venerable monks who have nothing to protect themselves from the danger of police brutality. Why dosen't Hun Sen allow these monks to peacefully handle a petition to the Vietnamese embassy? Why are Khmers so cheap? We were born and live in our land, we deserve some respect in handling this petition to the foreign embassy, instead Hun Sen uses his police force to beat up and chase our respectful monks like animals. Cambodia the land of endless suffering, we are born and live to see this suffering for whole life.
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