Monday, November 17, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The body of 4-gold-star general Hok Lundy, the national police commissioner, was taken in a funeral procession out of Phnom Penh toward Svay Rieng province in the morning of Saturday 15 November 2008. His body was buried at his birthplace at 3:05 PM on the same day. Local newspapers reported that Hok Lundy’s body was buried at his villa located in Bavet village, Bavet commune, Chantrea district, Svay Rieng province. Among the guests of honor were Sar Kheng, the minister of Interior; 4-gold-star general Mrs. Men Sam An, the vice-prime minister; Yim Chhay Ly, another vice-prime minister; 52 monks and 102 Buddhist religious nuns and followers, as well as government officials from the ministry and from the province government, about 3,000 of them altogether. The report indicated that along the road to Svay Rieng, several onlookers came out of their home to stand along the road to see the funeral procession. What was surprising was when Hok Lundy’s body was lowered into the ground, an unexpected torrential rain poured in and it took everybody by surprise.
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KI-Media note: The Cambodia Daily, in its 17 November edition, reported about 2,000 mourners assisted at Hok Lundy’s burial. Keo Samoeun, director of the the Svay Rieng provincial information department, indicated that a number of high-level Vietnamese officials also attended Hok Lundy’s funeral. The Cambodia Daily quoted 28-year-old Chan Sophea who came to mourn Hok Lundy as saying: “I want to see the celebration and procession conducted by senior officials to compare the difference between senior and ordinary people.” During the travel from Phnom Penh to Svay Rieng, one of the SUV in the funeral motorcade hit and injured three villagers along National Road 1. Kong Lim, the undertaker for the chief’s funeral, said that the funeral ceremony was derived from Chinese tradition. A torrential downpour took place during the burial ceremony sending all mourners running for shelter, except for Hok Lundy’s immediate family who remained on the spot while organizers tried to shield them from the rain. Following the burial, Sar Kheng and other high-ranking officials had to walk in ankle-deep water in Hok Lundy’s villa muddy lawn to lay flowers while funeral organizers burn paper offerings for Hok Lundy’s soul. The Cambodia Daily also indicated that Dy Rotha, Hok Lundy’s 19-year-old son, expressed concern for the safety of Cambodian people now that his father is six feet under.
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KI-Media note: The Cambodia Daily, in its 17 November edition, reported about 2,000 mourners assisted at Hok Lundy’s burial. Keo Samoeun, director of the the Svay Rieng provincial information department, indicated that a number of high-level Vietnamese officials also attended Hok Lundy’s funeral. The Cambodia Daily quoted 28-year-old Chan Sophea who came to mourn Hok Lundy as saying: “I want to see the celebration and procession conducted by senior officials to compare the difference between senior and ordinary people.” During the travel from Phnom Penh to Svay Rieng, one of the SUV in the funeral motorcade hit and injured three villagers along National Road 1. Kong Lim, the undertaker for the chief’s funeral, said that the funeral ceremony was derived from Chinese tradition. A torrential downpour took place during the burial ceremony sending all mourners running for shelter, except for Hok Lundy’s immediate family who remained on the spot while organizers tried to shield them from the rain. Following the burial, Sar Kheng and other high-ranking officials had to walk in ankle-deep water in Hok Lundy’s villa muddy lawn to lay flowers while funeral organizers burn paper offerings for Hok Lundy’s soul. The Cambodia Daily also indicated that Dy Rotha, Hok Lundy’s 19-year-old son, expressed concern for the safety of Cambodian people now that his father is six feet under.
