https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TSINVOaRLM
Showing posts with label Police violence against monk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Police violence against monk. Show all posts
Saturday, May 26, 2012
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
Khmer Kampuchea Monks Chased and Assaulted by Police in Phnom Penh
CCHR-CHRAC Secretariat–CLEC-LICADHO
Media Statement, December 17, 2007
Khmer Kampuchea Monks Chased and Assaulted by Police in Phnom Penh
Media Statement, December 17, 2007
Khmer Kampuchea Monks Chased and Assaulted by Police in Phnom Penh
We, representatives of civil society, strongly condemn the excessive use of violence by the authorities against a group of Khmer Kampuchea Krom monks who gathered peacefully in front of the Vietnamese Embassy on the morning of 17 December 2007.
A group of 48 Khmer Kampuchea Krom monks, ethnic Khmer originally from Southern Vietnam, had convened peacefully in front of the Vietnamese Embassy to submit a petition calling for the release of Kampuchea Krom Buddhist monk Tim Sakhorn and five other monks imprisoned in Vietnam, the resolution of land issues, and respect for minority rights. The Ministry of Interior responded swiftly by deploying a large contingent of police and anti-riot forces who arrived armed with shields, electric batons and guns.
After the monks request for a meeting with an Embassy representative was officially rejected, they sat down at the site to conduct a traditional Buddhist ceremony. At the end of an hour-long of standoff, the monks decided to walk towards the gate of the embassy, where they were met with heavy resistance by the anti-riot police, who used their batons and shields to hit and force back the monks. Some of the monks then threw plastic bottles at the police. The anti-riot unit responded instantly, brutally charging against the monks with their shields and electric batons. The monks then scattered and tried to run away to avoid further injury.
The police continued to violently attack the monks even after they dispersed. They chased the monks four blocks down various side-streets in the area around the Vietnamese Embassy, hitting and beating the monks. Surprised passers-by were told by the police “those who we are beating are not real monks.” (In khmer: “yung wai mun men dejekhun.”)
Two monks were seriously injured after being shocked by electric batons on the backs of their heads; causing one to temporarily lose conscious. Four other monks suffered minor injuries after being assaulted by the police.
Like all citizens, monks have the right to express their opinions and gather peacefully. We appeal to the authorities to refrain from any further use of violence against monks and to ensure that the monks who gathered today will not face any recriminations from religious or state authorities. Furthermore, we request that the relevant authorities investigate and take action against officials that were responsible for assaulting the monks.
For more information, please contact,
Mr. Suon Sareth, CHRAC Executive Secretary at 092 344 357
Mr. Ou Virak, President of CCHR at 012 404 051
Ms. Naly Pilorge, Director of LICADHO at 012 803 650
A group of 48 Khmer Kampuchea Krom monks, ethnic Khmer originally from Southern Vietnam, had convened peacefully in front of the Vietnamese Embassy to submit a petition calling for the release of Kampuchea Krom Buddhist monk Tim Sakhorn and five other monks imprisoned in Vietnam, the resolution of land issues, and respect for minority rights. The Ministry of Interior responded swiftly by deploying a large contingent of police and anti-riot forces who arrived armed with shields, electric batons and guns.
After the monks request for a meeting with an Embassy representative was officially rejected, they sat down at the site to conduct a traditional Buddhist ceremony. At the end of an hour-long of standoff, the monks decided to walk towards the gate of the embassy, where they were met with heavy resistance by the anti-riot police, who used their batons and shields to hit and force back the monks. Some of the monks then threw plastic bottles at the police. The anti-riot unit responded instantly, brutally charging against the monks with their shields and electric batons. The monks then scattered and tried to run away to avoid further injury.
The police continued to violently attack the monks even after they dispersed. They chased the monks four blocks down various side-streets in the area around the Vietnamese Embassy, hitting and beating the monks. Surprised passers-by were told by the police “those who we are beating are not real monks.” (In khmer: “yung wai mun men dejekhun.”)
Two monks were seriously injured after being shocked by electric batons on the backs of their heads; causing one to temporarily lose conscious. Four other monks suffered minor injuries after being assaulted by the police.
Like all citizens, monks have the right to express their opinions and gather peacefully. We appeal to the authorities to refrain from any further use of violence against monks and to ensure that the monks who gathered today will not face any recriminations from religious or state authorities. Furthermore, we request that the relevant authorities investigate and take action against officials that were responsible for assaulting the monks.
For more information, please contact,
Mr. Suon Sareth, CHRAC Executive Secretary at 092 344 357
Mr. Ou Virak, President of CCHR at 012 404 051
Ms. Naly Pilorge, Director of LICADHO at 012 803 650
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 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.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Monk beaten up by military police officers in Preah Vihear
Phnom Penh's regime police forces defending the interest of the communist Hanoi's regime which oppresses Khmer Krom people. (Photo: Khmer Krom Network)10 June 2007
By Sav Yuth Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
An official from a human rights NGO said that a Cambodian Buddhist monk was seriously injured and had to be transported to the Preah Vihear province hospital on Saturday night after he sustained a severe beating all over his body by several military police officers from the province of Preah Vihear.
Sem Ven, local Adhoc investigation aid official, said that 35-year-old monk Chea Nan was seriously injured when he was beaten up by military police officers who did not know the actual situation. Sem Ven said: “His head is completely bandaged but near his ears, there is a lot of blood, and his foot bears severe (beating) markings.”
Monk (Bikkhu) Chea Nan who is currently hospitalized said on Sunday afternoon that he entered monkhood in the Prom Kesor pagoda, in Veal Rinh commune, Prey Nub district (Sihanoukville), but he left to live in Kompong Chrey pagoda, Kompong Srolao commune, Chheb district, Preah Vihear province.
The reason he was beaten up the police officers was because he had on him a sword. He said that he asked for a ride back to his pagoda in Preah Vihear, from a drunk military police officer.
Monk Chea Nan said: “I had with me a sword which I use as magic sword to thwart off the devils and curses.”
Yon Kea, Preah Vihear military police commander, admitted that his officers did beat up the monk because they found several knives on him, the officer then took him by motorcycle to police command post to question him, but the monk resisted the police officers.
Yon Kea said: “There was a report that someone shot my officers. (One of the officers) was riding his motorcycle, (the monk) called (the police officer) for a ride, our group was suspicious of him, and to ask for more information, we took him the command post, then he started fighting and he had two or three weapons, so my officers were defending themselves, and the incidents ensued.”
Cambodian Buddhist monks consider such police beating on a religious monk wearing his orange robe as an act of violence.
Dr Nhem Kim Teng, a monk who completed his PhD degree from India, said that violence should not be used against a religious monk. “If the monk perpetrated a crime, he should be defrocked first, then he can be handed over to the police to take care of him according to the law.”
Human rights observers in Cambodia accuse the Cambodian authority of always using violence against monks such as during the police attack on demonstrating monks in 1998, and more recently to prevent a number of Khmer Krom monks from demonstrating.
Sem Ven, local Adhoc investigation aid official, said that 35-year-old monk Chea Nan was seriously injured when he was beaten up by military police officers who did not know the actual situation. Sem Ven said: “His head is completely bandaged but near his ears, there is a lot of blood, and his foot bears severe (beating) markings.”
Monk (Bikkhu) Chea Nan who is currently hospitalized said on Sunday afternoon that he entered monkhood in the Prom Kesor pagoda, in Veal Rinh commune, Prey Nub district (Sihanoukville), but he left to live in Kompong Chrey pagoda, Kompong Srolao commune, Chheb district, Preah Vihear province.
The reason he was beaten up the police officers was because he had on him a sword. He said that he asked for a ride back to his pagoda in Preah Vihear, from a drunk military police officer.
Monk Chea Nan said: “I had with me a sword which I use as magic sword to thwart off the devils and curses.”
Yon Kea, Preah Vihear military police commander, admitted that his officers did beat up the monk because they found several knives on him, the officer then took him by motorcycle to police command post to question him, but the monk resisted the police officers.
Yon Kea said: “There was a report that someone shot my officers. (One of the officers) was riding his motorcycle, (the monk) called (the police officer) for a ride, our group was suspicious of him, and to ask for more information, we took him the command post, then he started fighting and he had two or three weapons, so my officers were defending themselves, and the incidents ensued.”
Cambodian Buddhist monks consider such police beating on a religious monk wearing his orange robe as an act of violence.
Dr Nhem Kim Teng, a monk who completed his PhD degree from India, said that violence should not be used against a religious monk. “If the monk perpetrated a crime, he should be defrocked first, then he can be handed over to the police to take care of him according to the law.”
Human rights observers in Cambodia accuse the Cambodian authority of always using violence against monks such as during the police attack on demonstrating monks in 1998, and more recently to prevent a number of Khmer Krom monks from demonstrating.
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