Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Monks Demand Action on Stolen Buddha Relics


By Khoun Theara
VOA Khmer, Dec. 18, 2013

Hundreds of demonstrators and monks gathered near the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, demanding an investigation into the alleged theft of rare Buddha relics last week.

Authorities say a golden urn containing Buddha’s hair, teeth and bones was taken from the former city of Udong, in Kandal province, on Dec. 9.

Five suspects have so far been arrested in connection to the relics’ disappearance, but the demonstrators said Tuesday authorities have been slow to act in prosecuting the case or finding the missing urn.

The demonstration ended at 11 am, after Buddhist officials promised to push the government to quicken its investigation.

The relics came to Cambodia from Sri Lanka in 1957. Their whereabouts remain unknown.

Demonstrators and monks marched through the rain, carrying banners with messages decrying corruption and the theft of the urn. “The loss of Buddha’s relics are a loss of Khmer national heritage,” read one sign.

Some monks shouted in front of Chaktumok Hall, where Buddhist leaders were meeting with government officials to push for further investigation.

Monk But Buntenh said that Cambodia’s monks were excommunicated or forced out of pagodas for being involved in “sensitive issues of national interest.” “But when the Buddha relics are stolen, why are no directives issued?” he said.

Sin Sopheasit, a demonstrating monk, said concrete action needed to be taken. “We demand that the relics be found and returned for our nation,” he said.

Tep Vong, Cambodia’s chief monk, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

monk stole it. who else? what action? Khmer believer scare to go hell. according to Buddha "who commit it, pay for it own act". your monk want the government to put monk thieves to jail? they don't dare. go to join the protest, don't waste time, try to @ least be active as civil society.

Anonymous said...

that is so unkhmer to steal the national treasury like this! khmer people don't steal their national treasure. who are the enabler, the one who is willing to pay for the stolen object of khmer people! god will punish the thieves!

Anonymous said...

The government cannot find the original golden urn because the government themselves who are the stealer, they stole for enhancement of their power.

The reason why the government are quieted and did not issue any statement about the loss? It is because the government has no ability to find it; they are police and thief.

The government will make new golden urn and put fake relics in then declare that the government found the golden urn, it is because no one knew the origin relics look like it is only king ta and top government official and patriarch monk.

Anonymous said...

The government cannot find the original golden urn because the government themselves who are the stealer, they stole for enhancement of their power.

The reason why the government are quieted and did not issue any statement about the loss? It is because the government has no ability to find it; they are police and thief.

The government will make new golden urn and put fake relics in then declare that the government found the golden urn, it is because no one knew the origin relics look like it is only king ta and top government official and patriarch monk knew the original relics.