PHNOM PENH (AFP) — Cambodian monks have persuaded authorities to ban the country's first rock opera, which features actors dressed as clergy who break into song and dance, saying it insults Buddhism.
In a letter sent to the ministry of cults and religion, as well as to the media, the Supreme Sangha Council of Buddhist Monks also demanded an apology from the show's director, writer and actors.
"Where Elephants Weep", a modern take on a traditional Cambodian love story that merges pop and rock music with more traditional and historical Cambodian tunes, played in Phnom Penh from late November through early December.
It tells the story a Cambodian-American man who returns after the demise of the 1970s Khmer Rouge regime to reconnect with his roots. While he is a monk, he falls into a doomed love affair with a pop singer.
The last straw came when the show was aired by a local television station last week, prompting the monks' council to write to complain.
Cambodia is predominantly Buddhist and monks are expected to be austere and eschew worldly pleasures such as entertainment.
"Some scenes in the story insult Buddhism," the letter said in asking the ministry to "ban the performance and airing of the opera."
The council objected to many scenes, including one in which the actor "left the monkhood and slept with a woman, but a moment later (he) put the robe back on to be a monk again..." said the letter, dated December 30.
The show "oppresses Cambodian Buddhist monks, causes more than 50,000 monks to loss their honour, value and to express frustration," it added.
Religions minister Min Khin duly stepped in and the television station was ordered not to go ahead with a second broadcast planned for New Year's Day.
The show had a successful US preview last year and, after its run ends in Cambodia, it is expected to tour South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan before returning to the United States.
Organisers behind the opera were not immediately available for comment.
In a letter sent to the ministry of cults and religion, as well as to the media, the Supreme Sangha Council of Buddhist Monks also demanded an apology from the show's director, writer and actors.
"Where Elephants Weep", a modern take on a traditional Cambodian love story that merges pop and rock music with more traditional and historical Cambodian tunes, played in Phnom Penh from late November through early December.
It tells the story a Cambodian-American man who returns after the demise of the 1970s Khmer Rouge regime to reconnect with his roots. While he is a monk, he falls into a doomed love affair with a pop singer.
The last straw came when the show was aired by a local television station last week, prompting the monks' council to write to complain.
Cambodia is predominantly Buddhist and monks are expected to be austere and eschew worldly pleasures such as entertainment.
"Some scenes in the story insult Buddhism," the letter said in asking the ministry to "ban the performance and airing of the opera."
The council objected to many scenes, including one in which the actor "left the monkhood and slept with a woman, but a moment later (he) put the robe back on to be a monk again..." said the letter, dated December 30.
The show "oppresses Cambodian Buddhist monks, causes more than 50,000 monks to loss their honour, value and to express frustration," it added.
Religions minister Min Khin duly stepped in and the television station was ordered not to go ahead with a second broadcast planned for New Year's Day.
The show had a successful US preview last year and, after its run ends in Cambodia, it is expected to tour South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan before returning to the United States.
Organisers behind the opera were not immediately available for comment.
14 comments:
The monks have no business to view any tv show. However, if the allegation is to be true as the monks had complaint. The show should be banned entirely in Cambodia, since the Cambodia is a Buddhis country.
The show director need to show some responsibility, integrity, and above all the best interest of Cambodia. Not just benefit its own pocket. Freedom of speech and expression shall not be prohibit entirely but the Gov. should sensor and put stiff penalty to those who grossly violate Cambodia national interest.
It is so hypocritical for the monk council to take such a negative stance.
The show is creative and well produced. The musical composition could not be better for the Khmer music. Cambodians should be proud of the production that may perhaps match those in Broadway and West End.
One could only hope one day soon Cambodian actors can take up the main roles.
Kuoy Pichet
Open your mind,pls do not block it with the ignorant of negative though.
Cambodia & its people should be proud of "Where Elephants Weep", a modern opera that lead into world stage.
The Opera shouldn't go to show at the Darknest society where is ruling by the Evillly Tyrants & Ignorant Supreme Sangha who are uneducated.
And again I would like to applaud the whole Show & the Director whose try so hard to having this unique style Opera.
Wish you all the best and successful everywhere your play go.
Happy New Year 2009.Bravo !!!
Again, Ah tomato pickers brought evil and destruction into our holly soil. Everything must be banned to protect the Khmer culture.
You can't allow an individual produce any production to show Khmer culture or religious negatively just to promote their own interest. It must be condemed by the government and the religious group. I don't have a chance to see the production at this time; therefore, I don't have much to support the production. I just heard the allegation on the article.
Los Angeles, California, USA
To 2:05 PM,
Khmer of today had lost their own culture, instead a Vietnamised culture is spreading among khmer young generation.
A khmer oversea.
What? you must be on crack, 3:40. No one here hardly speak Vietnamese or wearing Vietnamese clothing. Most people speak English, and wear Westerner clothing... .
Ignorant Supreme Sangha who are uneducatedពាក្យខាងលើនេះដូចជាមើលងាយព្រះសង្ឃជ្រុលពេកហើយ។ រៀនឫមិនរៀននោះវាមិនសំខាន់ឡើយ
តែសូមមើលស្នាដៃព្រះសង្ឃក្នុងសង្គមខ្មែរពីមុនមកទល់សព្វថ្ងៃនេះតើវាមានអ្វីខ្លះ? វាផ្ទុយពីអ្នកដែលអួតថាជាអ្នករៀនមួយចំនួន បានតែរៀន
តែនិយាយឲ្យគេស្ដាប់ក៌មិនកើត សរសេរសៀវភៅឲ្យគេអានក៌មិនបានផង។
ឯរឿងទុំទាវគ្មានអ្វីប៉ះពាល់រហូតដល់ហាមនោះឡើយ
បើគ្រាន់តែលេងតាមអ្វីដែលគេសរសេរនោះ ពីព្រោះវាជា
រឿងដែលព្រះសង្ឃនិពន្ធឡើង ដោ្យមានសាច់រឿងយ៉ាង
សមរម្យ។
គិតទៅពួកអាសង្ឃកុំមុយនិស្ត ទេព វង្ស អគតិមែន។ ពួកអាសង្ឃទាំងនេះហើយ ដែលបន្ថោកសាសនានោះ រឿងអភិវឌ្ឍសិល្បះខ្មែរទំនើប ទៅសកលលោក, ពួកវាហាម ប៉ុន្តែពួកវា ចាប់សង្ឃខ្មែរឈ្មោះ ទឹម សាខន ប្រគល់អោយយួនដាក់គុក នៅប្រទេសយួន, តើពួកសង្ឃកុំមុយនិស្តទេព វង្សមិនបន្ថោកពុទ្ធសាសនាខ្មែរ នៅចំពោះមុខបរទេស ទេ ឬ?
Ah tomato picker's butt licker!
9:27pm, your ignorance comment reveal your low level of education; therefore, don't speak for all Khmer..you low life Viet Cong slave. Open your rotten mind of what little you have, you idiot!
Khmer Oversea
They must respect Khmer religion and culture. Both sides must win...
i hope monks don't push the envelope too far because not everything shows are bad show. if something is bad for the young people or country, then monks have the right to voice their opposition to that, however, it shouldn't be ban totally. don't forget the reasonable forms of freedom of expressions, too. i think it is alright to add new aspect to certain tradition. that doesn't mean destroying tradition either. story like "tum teav" should leave be because it shows and educates younger generation of khmer people to understand and appreciate our rich cultural heritage, although, "tum teav" is too extreme, in my opinion. it is the khmer's version of romeo and juliet and should not try to alter that. the thing i really liked about the "tum teav literature and live performance is the beautiful, rich khmer traditional costumes and music. it is purely, uncorrupted khmer form of artistic performance that shows how khmer society back then act, behave, etc... thus, it is one of truly khmer rich legacy that is truly unique to khmer race only; and that should be preserved forever and ever in cambodia.
Dear producers !!! I did not see the Opera but I heart complaint from Buddhist monk. Yes I agreed with some of the comments above in the fact that, the monks should not watch nor turn TV on, they should follow Buddhist rites at all the time. However Opera producers should not vindictive with a shenanigans corupted Monk to the showe as real Buddhist monk who followe of the serenity, you should understan that Buddhist is not for commercialize nor intertaiment show. You should meticulously not affect the Buddhism before you show to the public. Yes the Monk made a complaint is right the Cambodian GV'T must take action. We do know there are many bad monks in Buddhism or the fakes Monks, you must specify as respective.
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