Buddhist battle comes to an end
01/12/2010
Angela Woodall
Oakland Tribune (California, USA)
OAKLAND — Buddhists are perceived as being above church politics.
But a bitter five-year battle over an Oakland temple pitted two Cambodian Buddhist organizations against each other and gave rise to restraining orders, threats and allegations of stealing.
The struggle ended Monday afternoon in a nondescript chamber of the California Superior Court on Oak Street with a simple decision that boiled down to one thing: the Oakland Cambodian Buddhist Temple nonprofit has a right to its East 10th Street center and temple.
The center had been taken over in 2005 by the Massachusetts-based International Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Center.
"We had to endure a lot of pain and suffering to achieve this," said Christina Sam, the daughter-in-law of the center's founder, Sam Son.
"I didn't expect it would take this long," said Christina Sam after she, her husband, Paul Sam, and scores of members gathered in front of an 8-foot gold-hued Buddha statue for the first time since the dispute started.
"I'm very happy. I'm very elated, very ecstatic," said 79-year-old Caray Suy, an original member. Christina Sam interpreted for her.
"We finally got our temple back," Suy added, as other members began removing signs of the Khmer Buddhist Center outside the center.
The feud began in late 2004, when members of the Oakland Cambodian Buddhist Society board of directors decided to transfer ownership of the temple to the International Community of Khmer Buddhist monks. (The Khmer monks have no relationship to the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979.)
The board's decision set off intense opposition among members of the Oakland group, which called the board's decision illegal, and a legal battle ensued between the two groups over the modest, yellow and burgundy three-bedroom bungalow in East Oakland. Each side accused the other of wrongdoing and bully tactics.
Sunthay Sunly boiled down the issues to access and local control of one of the first community-owned Theraveda Buddhist temples in Oakland. "We are not fighting against a person, but for a place for the community to come together," he said. "They lost a lot already."
Son, a refugee who fled the Khmer Rouge, founded the Oakland Buddhist society in 1983. After he was evicted in 2005, Son and three monks moved across the street from the original location, at 5212 E. 10th St., and started the Oakland Cambodian Buddhist Temple. Many of their supporters followed and the battle continued.
Finally, on Tuesday, about 100 people gathered in front of the center, eager to visit the shrine for the first time in years. "Today is the day for us," said Theany Nov.
Not everyone agreed. "We had no choice," William Ley said. He was an original member of the Oakland society but continued on with numerous others from the original location after the Khmer Monks Center took over.
There are still details to be ironed out during the second phase of the trial about damages, after which the Khmer Monks Center would then decide whether to file an appeal, according to its lawyer, G. Robert Woodfin.
David Sternfeld, the Oakland Temple's lawyer, ruled out mediation as a possibility. In the meantime, the dozen or so International Community of Khmer Buddhist monks have to find a new home.
But a bitter five-year battle over an Oakland temple pitted two Cambodian Buddhist organizations against each other and gave rise to restraining orders, threats and allegations of stealing.
The struggle ended Monday afternoon in a nondescript chamber of the California Superior Court on Oak Street with a simple decision that boiled down to one thing: the Oakland Cambodian Buddhist Temple nonprofit has a right to its East 10th Street center and temple.
The center had been taken over in 2005 by the Massachusetts-based International Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Center.
"We had to endure a lot of pain and suffering to achieve this," said Christina Sam, the daughter-in-law of the center's founder, Sam Son.
"I didn't expect it would take this long," said Christina Sam after she, her husband, Paul Sam, and scores of members gathered in front of an 8-foot gold-hued Buddha statue for the first time since the dispute started.
"I'm very happy. I'm very elated, very ecstatic," said 79-year-old Caray Suy, an original member. Christina Sam interpreted for her.
"We finally got our temple back," Suy added, as other members began removing signs of the Khmer Buddhist Center outside the center.
The feud began in late 2004, when members of the Oakland Cambodian Buddhist Society board of directors decided to transfer ownership of the temple to the International Community of Khmer Buddhist monks. (The Khmer monks have no relationship to the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979.)
The board's decision set off intense opposition among members of the Oakland group, which called the board's decision illegal, and a legal battle ensued between the two groups over the modest, yellow and burgundy three-bedroom bungalow in East Oakland. Each side accused the other of wrongdoing and bully tactics.
Sunthay Sunly boiled down the issues to access and local control of one of the first community-owned Theraveda Buddhist temples in Oakland. "We are not fighting against a person, but for a place for the community to come together," he said. "They lost a lot already."
Son, a refugee who fled the Khmer Rouge, founded the Oakland Buddhist society in 1983. After he was evicted in 2005, Son and three monks moved across the street from the original location, at 5212 E. 10th St., and started the Oakland Cambodian Buddhist Temple. Many of their supporters followed and the battle continued.
Finally, on Tuesday, about 100 people gathered in front of the center, eager to visit the shrine for the first time in years. "Today is the day for us," said Theany Nov.
Not everyone agreed. "We had no choice," William Ley said. He was an original member of the Oakland society but continued on with numerous others from the original location after the Khmer Monks Center took over.
There are still details to be ironed out during the second phase of the trial about damages, after which the Khmer Monks Center would then decide whether to file an appeal, according to its lawyer, G. Robert Woodfin.
David Sternfeld, the Oakland Temple's lawyer, ruled out mediation as a possibility. In the meantime, the dozen or so International Community of Khmer Buddhist monks have to find a new home.
30 comments:
claim damages as much as you can so the perpetrators learn the lesson well
^ statement, how's this fu#@ng statement be any buddhist?
I don´t care about the " Wat". Ther are too many Wats in Cambodia and abroad. A waste of money!
I agree with you, Buddist wats, Mosques, Churches.... ther are too many in our Country.
We must respect the beliefs of our people....But What is unacceptable is the wearing of burqua or veil by women muslims. We must eliminate the Burqaua and the veil from our Country. For those who resit, Please leave Cambodia, and live in the Arab Countries.
The International Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Center are a group of corrupt monks from Cambodia who were sent to the United States to monopolize Cambodian Buddhist temples. When they took over the Oakland temple they purposely tried to smear the reputation of the original monks to justify their taking over of the temple. They are shameful monks and they need to go back to Cambodia back into Tep Vongs ass.
I say fuck to all the Christians, and fuck your god, because we do not know who the fuck is your fucking jesus.
Will your Wat allow Tep Vong monk stay there?
Wat means nothing if let Yourn controle our land. Don't waste time too much about heaven. Make sure use your wat to help khmer poor too.
Why can't all the monks just stay together?
Chief monk Sao Khon is crooked monk in lowell, Massachusetts, he robbed and cheated Oakland temple deeds...
2:05pm your comments showed how immature and shallow you are.I really dont want to insult your educational background. However, your myopic view of people of different race, nationality, and religion is making me sick.
How can you be so racial and religious insensitive. They have the rights to be anywhere they want to be and wearing anything they wish. It's call freedom!!
Your comments has accentuate your lack of human decency.
By the way I'm a full blooded khmer
Majority of Buddhist monks are greedy and retarted people who are lazy to work and selfish duds.
Bon nher songkhom.
Gathering moneys from the Buddha's
followers from that temple is making good moneys, but the people in Oakland should not build the
temple bigger and bigger,it 's
useless I think,should keep that moneys to build the small house for the poors in our country Cambodia is Better.
Good job Oakland Cambodian Buddhist Temple Community, you all deserve respect and congradulation for standing up for your rights and the community; in this case, justice prevailed. Now it is time to make sure no such issue ever rise again..watch out other communities do not think that you will not effect International Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks are working hard to to take over your temples. In Lowell, we are 11 years in Court and still not result..closer and the result will be the same as Oakland and it is all the result of one monk from Lowell who wants to rule the world. Go after International Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Center of every penny they owned without mercy you deserve it.
I don't know what, why but I feel that ther are too many Cambodians, you need Vietnamese supervisor to be functional.
For those who insulted the God of the Bible, if you live in America; know this that America was founded on the principals of Scriptures.
You are here because of that truth.
This whole world belongs to the God of Israel, we owe every thing to him.
I found the true and living God living here in America. I never gave Buddhism a second thought. Because Jesus gave me joy in my heart when I received him as my personal savior.
Poor idiot,
normal Americans do not belive,
religion is used to calm down poor Americans, give them some hope to survive and forget other things allowing rich people to live with peace.
ALL God are good no matter American,Youn ,Chen,Khmer or Arab but human is the one should be blame.
Wat Triratanaram in Lowell, Massachusetts was original build and founded by khmer refugee and monk of non-communist during 80's.
After khmer monk in the united states start to sponsored monk from cambodia to stay and study
"Chak Chuon" after all known as yuon spy chak chuon, now one star General in Cambodia. Stop sponsor monk from Cambodia, they are the root of Chaos in the U.S.A and else where.
Wat Triratanaram in Lowell, Massachusetts was sued by group of addicted communist doctrine or The Godless name Houth Sambath, Phayso, Sar Thel and Buddhist's Blood Hul Narong (self-proclaimed).
The world continued to see the battle 0f "The Good vs Evil" ...
The same group called thelselves International Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks are same the defendants in Lowell Case as well. Go figure..the evil ones is the one who just got thrown out of Oakland Cambodian Buddhist temple Community..
Please watch for Hanoi's secret agents who are living in your communities and your Temples.
Former Monk Chak Chuon and it clans
Houth Sambath, Benjamin Phayso, Sar Thel, Hul Narong, Phan Man, Tep Chanchamroeun, Lam ly, are Hanoi's secrte agents to collect all info from Khmers in U.S.A and pass them to their masters, Hun Sen and Hanoi.
If there is a GOD, please deliver the sudden death by any means to group of Temples thief and ah Tmil ot Sasna, so we can unite and help to rebuild our Temples.
All Temples in the United States,
Stop Sponsor monk from Cambodia.
Call INS. to verify monks at every Temple, whom is not permanance resident in Temple INS should be deported back to their Home Country in order to serve peace in the United States of America.
The Monks from Cambodia are "The Temple Grabber", just like their Cambodian Government Grabbed people land and sold to Vietcong.
Hochimonks have occupied every Temple in the United States.
The purpose, Cambodian Government sent Hochimonks to foreign country is to brainwashed and to espionage,
and most importantly to break khmer people who were devoted to the real Bhuddism.
Chief Monk "Sao Khon" in Lowell, Massachusetts, took all the money from donors around the States nations wide and kept for himself, he've never help paid electricity bills, gas bills, telephone, Sat.dish networks, this crooked bastard even steal $100,000.00 cheated on Temple's deed from Temple in Oakland, CA
You guys are right! Monks are lazy to work and ripped off people's trusts...
To Khmer Around the World,
Please watch for Hanoi's secret agents who are living in your communities and your Temples.
Former Monk Chak Chuon, now one star General in Cambodia and it clans Houth Sambath, Benjamin Phayso, Sar Thel, Hul Narong, Phan Man, Tep Chanchamroeun, Lam ly, are trying to Rob Wat Triratanaram in Lowell, Massachusetts to be their own biz. Shame on you!
The Judge will look so hard in this case. Sar Thel maybe in a position of crime against the monks with Wat Triratanaram in Lowell, Massachusetts by using his power from court interreter to harm people and force people to believe in him.
He also swared, if he could not ouste Chief Monk Sao Khon at Wat Trairatanaram in Lowell, Massachusetts, he'll cut he arm to have the dog eaten. Sar Thel told many people at his meeting.
Thel Sar was moved from VA. to MA. with a jobless sicked and homeless and lonely family.
Chief Monk Sao Khon help and signed him a ref. for a job at the courthouse.
Shame on you Sar Thel! you have no regreat as human being at all, you are the hugry dog from some where in VA.
Govt should make these monks paid TAX..like other!
So many crooked and corrupted monks thesed days, they took advantaged on believers throughout the world, Monks in cambodia are rich and powerful, specially those who close to Ek Odumbass and High drunken officials, it'seems like No truth and honest anymore! it's all about money fame and powers...
Well, only monk can paid high price for SEX! because money easy coming in...
Small lie turns into a big lie ..not everyone stupid enough to believe everything you said. Action speak louder than words. Learn to tell the true and maybe people start calling you by name rather than curse every time your name mentioned.
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