Note: the hidden water bottles as suggested by police chief Touch Naroth -sic!-
According to police chief Touch Naroth, the gentle cops didn't use violence against the monks -sic!-(All photos by Licadho)
Showing posts with label Khmer Krom monks clash. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Khmer Krom monks clash. Show all posts
Thursday, December 20, 2007
The violent Khmer Krom monks and the gentle Hun Sen's cops ... or is the opposite? You be the judge
Note: the hidden water bottles as suggested by police chief Touch Naroth -sic!-According to police chief Touch Naroth, the gentle cops didn't use violence against the monks -sic!-(All photos by Licadho)
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Hun Sen's regime cops didn't use violence against Khmer Krom Monks ... they used savagery and brutality
A group of 48 Khmer Kampuchea Krom monks, ethnic Khmer originally from southern Vietnam, had convened in front of the Vietnamese Embassy to submit a petition (Photo: Licadho)
The Ministry of Interior deployed a large contingent of police and anti-riot forces who arrived armed with shields, electric batons and guns (Photo: Licadho)
The anti-riot unit brutally charged the Khmer Krom monks with their shields and electric batons (Photo: Licadho)
The Khmer Krom monks scattered and tried to run away to avoid further injury (Photo: Licadho)
The police continued to violently attack the monks even after they dispersed (Photo: Licadho)
The police continued to violently attack the monks even after they dispersed (Photo: Licadho)
Surprised passers-by were told by the police "those who we are beating are not real monks." (Photo: Licadho)
Anti-riot Police chased the monks four blocks down various side-streets in the area around the Vietnamese Embassy (Photo: Licadho)Clash between monks and cops
17-12-2007By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
"Even if the monks committed mistakes, the police forces should not use violence against them because we are all Buddhists" - Chan Saveth, Adhoc investigatorBuddhist monks who came to deliver a petition to the Vietnamese ambassador to ask for the release of several Khmer Krom monks jailed in Vietnam, were violently broken up by the police force on Monday 17 December. Human rights NGOs immediately denounced the violence perpetrated against the monks. The cops assured that they were simply responding to provocations.
Clashes took place in the morning of Monday 17 December between 40 monks and about 100 cops in front of the Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh. The Buddhist monks, native from Kampuchea Krom (South Vietnam), came from various pagodas in the capital to deliver their petition demanding that the Hanoi regime releases one of their compatriots, Venerable Tim Sakhorn, who was arrested in the province of Takeo – some claim that he was in fact “kidnapped” – disrobed, and transferred to be jailed in Vietnam since last June. An activist who defended the rights of his community, Venerable Tim Sakhorn was accused of political crimes and of undermining the good relationship between the two nations, he was subsequently sentenced in November to one year of jail. Five other Khmer Krom monks were also jailed since 22 February by the Vietnamese authorities under similar charges.
Since 08:00 AM, armed cops, bearing shields and batons, prevented the monks to approach the embassy. At 09:30 AM, the monks were dispersed. According to Venerable Chan Dara, about 20 monks were kicked and hit with batons. Three of the monks were sent to the hospital. “It was not a demonstration. We only wanted to deliver the letter directly to the ambassador,” Venerable Chan Dara said.
Touch Naroth, the Phnom Penh police commissioner, said that the monks overstepped the law. “The cops were attacked first, they had to defend themselves. The demonstrators knocked one of them down,” Touch Naroth explained, adding that the monks used (plastic water) bottles. A cop said that he didn’t want to threaten the monks because as a Buddhist, he must respect them, but he said it was due to the “violence from the monks.”
Venerable Thach Kun Yoeun disagrees with this version of the event. “We are religious men, we never created any problem, but the cops didn’t respect us and they used their weapons.” Venerable Thach Kun Yoeun added that the petition will be delivered to the ambassador in another future attempt.
Am Sam Ath, an investigator for the Licadho human rights defense NGO, sharply denounced the attitude adopted by the cops. To Am Sam Ath, it is very deplorable that the government, which earlier denounced the Burmese repression against Buddhist monks last October, is acting similarly to the Burmese military Junta. The Adhoc NGO also issued a communiqué to condemn the clash. “I regret that the monks and the cops fought each others. Even if the monks committed mistakes, the police forces should not use violence against them because we are all Buddhists,” wrote Chan Saveth, an investigator for Adhoc. He also accused the Cambodian authorities and the Vietnamese embassy for being responsible of this conflict, and that they didn’t try to find a solution to this issue.
The NRP also reacted by issuing a communiqué condemning this violence against the monks, stating that it is “not too far off from the Khmer Rouge era and from the action taken by the Burmese military Junta.”
Monks Clash With Riot Police [-Police chief Tour Naroth: "The police did not use violence..."]
This photo posted on Khmer Krom Network shows Khmer Krom monks peaceful attempt to deliver their petition to the Vietnamese embassy. The monks were confronted by numerous electric baton-wielding and armed police officers (Photo: Khmer Krom Network)
The police did not use violence, they only used their electric baton to beat up the monks (Photo: Reuters)By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
17 December 2007
Buddhist monks who hoped to carry a petition to the Vietnamese Embassy clashed with armed police Monday, leaving several seriously injured, rights groups said.
Less than 50 monks met with 200 police, who were armed with rifles, shields and electric batons, witnesses said.
The monks were carrying a petition demanding the release of jailed Khmer Kampuchea Krom monks in Vietnam, including defrocked monk Tim Sakhorn.
Tim Sakhorn has been in jail since his disappearance from a Takeo province pagoda in July.
The Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Organization and the rights group Adhoc said in a statement police stopped the monks from entering the Vietnamese Embassy.
Chan Saveth, a rights worker for Adhoc, called the clashes "very brutal."
Police chased monks and beat them, he said, while monks hurled water bottles at the police.
The groups said six monks were seriously hurt and 10 received minor injuries.
Buddhist monk Thach Mony called the clash an act of godlessness.
"The use of violence on the monks, I think it is wrong, it does not look good, and it is illegal," he said. "They are monks, and they should not do that.
[The monks] have nothing, they do not have weapons, yes, and [the police] used violence on them, using batons to assault them." The monks were not demonstrating, he said, but trying to deliver the petition.
Phnom Penh Police Chief Touch Naroth told VOA Khmer that several monks initially assaulted police, by kicking them in the throat, swinging satchels and throwing water bottles.
"The monks assaulted the police and wounded six policemen," he said. "The police did not use violence; it was the monks who used violence against the police, and the police only protected themselves."
Less than 50 monks met with 200 police, who were armed with rifles, shields and electric batons, witnesses said.
The monks were carrying a petition demanding the release of jailed Khmer Kampuchea Krom monks in Vietnam, including defrocked monk Tim Sakhorn.
Tim Sakhorn has been in jail since his disappearance from a Takeo province pagoda in July.
The Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Organization and the rights group Adhoc said in a statement police stopped the monks from entering the Vietnamese Embassy.
Chan Saveth, a rights worker for Adhoc, called the clashes "very brutal."
Police chased monks and beat them, he said, while monks hurled water bottles at the police.
The groups said six monks were seriously hurt and 10 received minor injuries.
Buddhist monk Thach Mony called the clash an act of godlessness.
"The use of violence on the monks, I think it is wrong, it does not look good, and it is illegal," he said. "They are monks, and they should not do that.
[The monks] have nothing, they do not have weapons, yes, and [the police] used violence on them, using batons to assault them." The monks were not demonstrating, he said, but trying to deliver the petition.
Phnom Penh Police Chief Touch Naroth told VOA Khmer that several monks initially assaulted police, by kicking them in the throat, swinging satchels and throwing water bottles.
"The monks assaulted the police and wounded six policemen," he said. "The police did not use violence; it was the monks who used violence against the police, and the police only protected themselves."
Monday, December 17, 2007
Cambodia monks clash with police
Police say the monks brought stones to use as missiles Monday, 17 December 2007
By Guy De Launey BBC News Phnom Penh
Buddhist monks and riot police have been involved in a violent confrontation in Cambodia's capital.
The monks were trying to draw attention to allegations of mistreatment of the Kampuchea Krom minority, who are ethnic Cambodians living in Vietnam.
They were attempting to deliver a petition to the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh when police officers blocked their way.
Human rights workers claim the police beat the monks with batons.
The violence started after about 50 orange-robed monks arrived at the Vietnamese Embassy and staged a sit-down protest.
The situation deteriorated as riot police ordered the monks to move on.
The authorities allege that the monks tried to storm the embassy and had brought stones to throw at the police.
Several members of each side were injured, none of them seriously.
Sensitive topic
The monks had been protesting about the treatment of ethnic Cambodian colleagues in Vietnam.
Their petition asked for the release of a monk who has been jailed on charges of "undermining national unity".
They also demanded the return of Vietnamese territory which they claimed belonged to Cambodia.
It is a sensitive topic for the Cambodian government.
Its links with Vietnam date back to 1979 when Vietnamese-backed troops ousted the Khmer Rouge from power.
But many Cambodians dislike their larger neighbour and resent the loss of territory over the years, which includes modern day Ho Chi Minh City.
Some Buddhist pagodas have become rallying points for protests on the issue.
The monks were trying to draw attention to allegations of mistreatment of the Kampuchea Krom minority, who are ethnic Cambodians living in Vietnam.
They were attempting to deliver a petition to the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh when police officers blocked their way.
Human rights workers claim the police beat the monks with batons.
The violence started after about 50 orange-robed monks arrived at the Vietnamese Embassy and staged a sit-down protest.
The situation deteriorated as riot police ordered the monks to move on.
The authorities allege that the monks tried to storm the embassy and had brought stones to throw at the police.
Several members of each side were injured, none of them seriously.
Sensitive topic
The monks had been protesting about the treatment of ethnic Cambodian colleagues in Vietnam.
Their petition asked for the release of a monk who has been jailed on charges of "undermining national unity".
They also demanded the return of Vietnamese territory which they claimed belonged to Cambodia.
It is a sensitive topic for the Cambodian government.
Its links with Vietnam date back to 1979 when Vietnamese-backed troops ousted the Khmer Rouge from power.
But many Cambodians dislike their larger neighbour and resent the loss of territory over the years, which includes modern day Ho Chi Minh City.
Some Buddhist pagodas have become rallying points for protests on the issue.
Cambodia Buddhist monks, police clash during protest to show solidarity with Vietnam monks
Monday, December 17, 2007
The Associated Press
The Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Dozens of Buddhist monks kicked, punched and hurled bottles at baton-wielding police in Cambodia's capital Monday at a demonstration to demand religious freedom for monks in neighboring Vietnam.
The clashes erupted as about 40 monks approached the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh to submit a petition against authorities' alleged mistreatment of Buddhist monks in the communist country.
The protesters accused Vietnamese authorities of arresting and defrocking several ethnic Cambodian monks over the past few months.
Authorities let only a few state-sponsored religious organizations operate in Vietnam, a situation that has led to altercations there with some groups including Buddhists.
A large part of southern Vietnam, known in Cambodia as Kampuchea Krom, used to be part of Cambodia's Khmer empire centuries ago. Many ethnic Cambodians still live there.
In the Phnom Penh protest, about 100 riot police used batons to beat back the monks, blocking them from marching near the embassy.
The monks responded by punching the police and throwing water-filled plastic bottles at them. One monk was seen kicking a police officer in the groin.
Touch Naroth, the Phnom Penh police chief, said six policemen were slightly injured.
"They tried to storm the embassy, and police had the duty to protect the embassy," he said.
The police bruised seven monks on their heads or bodies, said Chan Saveth, an investigator with the nonprofit Cambodian human rights group Adhoc. He accused police of violence against the monks, who are widely revered in Cambodia.
The clashes erupted as about 40 monks approached the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh to submit a petition against authorities' alleged mistreatment of Buddhist monks in the communist country.
The protesters accused Vietnamese authorities of arresting and defrocking several ethnic Cambodian monks over the past few months.
Authorities let only a few state-sponsored religious organizations operate in Vietnam, a situation that has led to altercations there with some groups including Buddhists.
A large part of southern Vietnam, known in Cambodia as Kampuchea Krom, used to be part of Cambodia's Khmer empire centuries ago. Many ethnic Cambodians still live there.
In the Phnom Penh protest, about 100 riot police used batons to beat back the monks, blocking them from marching near the embassy.
The monks responded by punching the police and throwing water-filled plastic bottles at them. One monk was seen kicking a police officer in the groin.
Touch Naroth, the Phnom Penh police chief, said six policemen were slightly injured.
"They tried to storm the embassy, and police had the duty to protect the embassy," he said.
The police bruised seven monks on their heads or bodies, said Chan Saveth, an investigator with the nonprofit Cambodian human rights group Adhoc. He accused police of violence against the monks, who are widely revered in Cambodia.
Hun Sen's dogs are doing a good job at protecting Hun Sen's masters
Cambodian anti-riot police officers chase Buddhist monks in front of Vietnam Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Dec. 17, 2007. The monks protest against alleged mistreatment of ethnic Cambodian monks living in Kampuchea Krom, a former Cambodian territory which is now part of southern Vietnam.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Cambodian anti-riot police officers chase Buddhist monks in front of Vietnam Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Dec. 17, 2007. The monks protest against alleged mistreatment of ethnic Cambodian monks living in Kampuchea Krom, a former Cambodian territory which is now part of southern Vietnam. (AP Photo/Heng Chivoan)
Cambodian anti-riot police officers chase Buddhist monks in front of Vietnam Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Dec. 17, 2007. The monks protest against alleged mistreatment of ethnic Cambodian monks living in Kampuchea Krom, a former Cambodian territory which is now part of southern Vietnam.(AP Photo/Heng Chivoan)Nine hurt as Cambodian monk protest turns ugly [- Poor cops! They beat the monks and they got injured instead?]
Kampuchea Krom Buddhist monks clash with riot police during a protest near the Vietnam embassy in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh December 17, 2007. REUTERS/Chor SokuntheaMon Dec 17, 2007
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Three Cambodian Buddhist monks and six riot police were hurt on Monday in a fight that broke out when the monks tried to deliver a protest letter to the Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh, officials and witnesses said.
About 40 saffron-robed monks were trying to demand Vietnam stop persecuting Buddhists. When their path was blocked, they started throwing bottles and hitting the 100 riot police positioned near the embassy compound.
The riot police, who were not armed, chased the monks away with electric batons.
One of the marchers, 20-year-old Thach Many, accused police of overreacting. "We just wanted to deliver a protest petition," he told Reuters.
The petition urged Vietnam to free a jailed Cambodian monk called Tim Sakhorn, release five others disrobed by Hanoi early this year and respect the religious rights of the ethnic Cambodian minority in Vietnam's Mekong delta area.
Tim Sakhorn, 39, was defrocked in June and sentenced to a year in jail in Vietnam on charges of upsetting Cambodia-Vietnam relations.
Police accused the monks of staging an illegal and violent protest.
"Monks hid stones in their bags and hit police, injuring them in the arms and legs," said police chief Touch Naroth.
Nobody at the Vietnamese embassy was immediately available for comment.
About 40 saffron-robed monks were trying to demand Vietnam stop persecuting Buddhists. When their path was blocked, they started throwing bottles and hitting the 100 riot police positioned near the embassy compound.
The riot police, who were not armed, chased the monks away with electric batons.
One of the marchers, 20-year-old Thach Many, accused police of overreacting. "We just wanted to deliver a protest petition," he told Reuters.
The petition urged Vietnam to free a jailed Cambodian monk called Tim Sakhorn, release five others disrobed by Hanoi early this year and respect the religious rights of the ethnic Cambodian minority in Vietnam's Mekong delta area.
Tim Sakhorn, 39, was defrocked in June and sentenced to a year in jail in Vietnam on charges of upsetting Cambodia-Vietnam relations.
Police accused the monks of staging an illegal and violent protest.
"Monks hid stones in their bags and hit police, injuring them in the arms and legs," said police chief Touch Naroth.
Nobody at the Vietnamese embassy was immediately available for comment.
Only two dictatorships in the world beat up Buddhist Monks: The Burmese Military Junta and the Pro-Vietnamese Hun Sen regime
Kampuchea Krom Buddhist monks clash with riot police during a protest near the Vietnam embassy in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh December 17, 2007. The monks were demanding the release of a senior colleague arrested in Vietnam six months ago. All photos by REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea 
A Kampuchea Krom Buddhist monk examines his colleague's head after clashes with riot police during a protest near the Vietnam embassy in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh December 17, 2007. The monks were demanding the release of a senior colleague arrested in Vietnam six months ago. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea The pro-Vietnamese Hun Sen regime clashes with Khmer Krom monks to defend their Vietnamese masters
Cambodian monks clash with riot police
Mon, 17 Dec 2007
DPA
Mon, 17 Dec 2007
DPA
Phnom Penh - Cambodian Buddhist monks from the ethnic minority Kampuchea Krom clashed with riot police in the capital Monday after they were refused permission to deliver a petition to the Vietnamese embassy. Around 50 monks in saffron robes arrived at the embassy mid-morning but were refused entry, according to one, and staged a peaceful sit-in outside the embassy for around an hour.
However things turned violent just as monks appeared to be complying with requests by Cambodian police to leave and suddenly turned and began throwing bottles and rocks at police before fleeing down one of the city's main streets.
Police said no arrests were made and there were only minor injuries on both sides.
"The monks only wanted to deliver a petition and the police behaved badly to them so they threw things," investigator for local human rights group Licadho, An Sam Ath, claimed.
"It is a great shame that the Cambodian government criticized Myanmar for attacking monks and then does the same thing to its own monks," he added, referring to bloody pro-democracy rallies in Myanmar's capital Yangon in September.
Sam Ath said the monks' petition included a demand for the release of Tim Sakhorn, a Kampuchea Krom monk jailed in neighbouring Vietnam after being defrocked in Cambodia.
Human rights groups decried Sakhorn's deportation and subsequent arrest, but the Cambodian government says he requested repatriation to Vietnam after he was defrocked for alleged sexual misdemeanors and abusing his position at his south-western provincial pagoda.
Police at the scene who declined to be named claimed the monks had orchestrated an attack and had not been provoked.
"Look around: do you see any rocks at the embassy? They brought things with them to throw at us. We don't want trouble with monks. We are Buddhists too. They are cruel to do this," one officer said.
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak declined comment on the rally. Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said he was outside the capital and had no information on the events.
The Kampuchea Krom are ethnic Cambodians from the Mekong delta region which was ceded to Vietnam by France during negotiations for independence.
Human rights groups have alleged they suffer abuses and suppression at the hands of the Vietnamese government - charges Vietnam denies.
The pro-Vietnam Cambodian government has also scoffed at allegations it targets Kampuchea Krom, pointing out a number of highly positioned monks from that ethnic minority who operate freely.
However things turned violent just as monks appeared to be complying with requests by Cambodian police to leave and suddenly turned and began throwing bottles and rocks at police before fleeing down one of the city's main streets.
Police said no arrests were made and there were only minor injuries on both sides.
"The monks only wanted to deliver a petition and the police behaved badly to them so they threw things," investigator for local human rights group Licadho, An Sam Ath, claimed.
"It is a great shame that the Cambodian government criticized Myanmar for attacking monks and then does the same thing to its own monks," he added, referring to bloody pro-democracy rallies in Myanmar's capital Yangon in September.
Sam Ath said the monks' petition included a demand for the release of Tim Sakhorn, a Kampuchea Krom monk jailed in neighbouring Vietnam after being defrocked in Cambodia.
Human rights groups decried Sakhorn's deportation and subsequent arrest, but the Cambodian government says he requested repatriation to Vietnam after he was defrocked for alleged sexual misdemeanors and abusing his position at his south-western provincial pagoda.
Police at the scene who declined to be named claimed the monks had orchestrated an attack and had not been provoked.
"Look around: do you see any rocks at the embassy? They brought things with them to throw at us. We don't want trouble with monks. We are Buddhists too. They are cruel to do this," one officer said.
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak declined comment on the rally. Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said he was outside the capital and had no information on the events.
The Kampuchea Krom are ethnic Cambodians from the Mekong delta region which was ceded to Vietnam by France during negotiations for independence.
Human rights groups have alleged they suffer abuses and suppression at the hands of the Vietnamese government - charges Vietnam denies.
The pro-Vietnam Cambodian government has also scoffed at allegations it targets Kampuchea Krom, pointing out a number of highly positioned monks from that ethnic minority who operate freely.
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