The late Ven. Vijaratanapanna Maha Yoeung Sin appointed Ven. Nilathero Riddhi Lam as acting abbot 2 years before His passing

Thursday October 21, B.E.2554, A.D.2010 Year of the Tiger
Source: Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community

The Late Ven. Vijaratanapanna Maha Yoeung Sin appointed Ven. Nilathero Riddhi Lam, age 24, resident monk, as an acting Abbot of Wat Samakkiraingsey on Friday the 10th waning moon of Assayuja B.E.2552, October 24, A.D.2008 Year of the Rat.

KKC leaders pay homage to the late Ven. Vijaratanapanna Maha Yoeung Sin

Monday October 4, B.E.2554, A.D.2010 Year of the Tiger

Ven. Vijaratanapanna Maha Yoeung Sin lies in state at Wat Samakkiraingsey until October 29, 2010. He passed away on Tuesday the 5th waning moon of Potthapāda B.E.2554, September 28, A.D.2010.

KKC leaders lay a wreath at the Extraordinary Funeral Service for the late Ven. Vijaratanapanna Maha Yoeung.

Click here to view more photos

Biography of Preah Moha Vijaratanapanha Yoeung Sin

Late Ven. Yoeung Sin (All Photos courtesy of Prey Nokor News)

Ven. Yoeung Sin's remain lies in state at Wat Samaki Raingsey Pagoda for his disciples to visit

កម្មវិធីបុណ្យគឺ ព្រះសង្ឃ សិស្សគណ, ពុទ្ធបរិស័ទ សមាគមខ្មែរក្រោម និងសហព័ន្ធខ្មែរកម្ពុជាក្រោម នៅកម្ពុជា និងបរទេស ប្រារព្ធពិធីបុណ្យបង្សុកូល តាមប្រពៃណី ទំនៀមទម្លាប់ ព្រះពុទ្ធសាសនា ចាប់តាំងពីថ្ងៃទទួលអនិច្ចធម្ម កាលពីថ្ងៃទី ២៨ កញ្ញា រហូតដល់ថ្ងៃទី ២៩ តុលា ឆ្នាំ២០១០ ទើបបូជាព្រះសព នៅវត្តសាមគ្គីរង្សី ភូមិទ្រា សង្កាត់ ស្ទឹងមានជ័យ ខ័ណ្ឌមានជ័យ ក្រុងភ្នំពេញ។

Biography of Preah Moha Vijaratanapanha Yoeung Sin

Abbot of Wat Samaki Raingsey Pagoda and

President of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Monks Association in Cambodia

Translated from Khmer by Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Click here to listen to the Voice of Kampuchea Krom Radio

• Preah Moha Yoeung Sin (aka Ta Yoeung) was born in the year of the boar, Buddhist Era 2579, 1935 AD
• He was born in Ta Tes village, Ta Keo commune, O’Romol district, Prek Russey province, Kampuchea Krom
• He was the son of the late Yoeung Seen and the late Srey Chim.
• He has four siblings: his older brother Yoeung Sat, his older sister Yoeung Thy Srey Sang, Preah Moha Yoeung Sin and his younger sister Yoeung Thy Yao.

• In 1935, at the age of 10, he followed his father, a soldier in the French army, to Prey Nokor (Saigon).
• In 1950, at the age of 15, he studied Khmer language at the Wat Samrong elementary school in Khleang province.
• In 1953, at the age of 18, he took the vow and became a novice monk at Wat Luong Bassac (Bay Chhao) Pagoda, located in My Xuyen commune, Bay Chhao district, Khleang province, Kampuchea Krom. He continued his religious Dharma classes at Wat Prasat Kong Pagoda, Kampong Dong (Tham Don in Vietnamese) commune, Bay Chhao district (My Xuyen in Vietnamese), Khleang province, Kampuchea Krom.
• In 1955, he was ordained senior monk (Bikkhu) at Wat Luong Bassac (Bay Chhao) under the tutelage of Venerable Lim Ben.
• Between 1955 and 1956, he pursued his religious study at Wat Samrong, Khleang province.
• Between 1956 and 1959, he resided at Wat Khnor Dambong Pagoda, located at Cheung Prey district, Kampong Cham province, Cambodia. He also served the Khmer Serey (Free Khmer, anti-communist movement) movement under the cooperation with Mr. Khemarin.
• Between 1960 and 1967, he resided at Wat Luong Bassac Bay Chhao. He remained a Khmer Serey activist, and he also led anti-Ngo Din Diem regime activities (KI-Media Note: Jean Baptiste Ngô Đình Diệm was the first South Vietnamese president. His rule proved authoritarian, elitist, nepotistic, and corrupt. A Catholic, Diệm pursued policies that rankled and oppressed the Republic's Montagnard natives and its Buddhist majority. Source: Wikipedia). Ven. Yoeung Sin was charged with arguing against the South Vietnamese government for people who were conscripted into the South Vietnamese army.
• In 1967, he left religion to pursue a one-year stint in the Thieu-Ky (Nguyen Van Thieu, Nguyen Cao Ky) government as a rural region administrator.
• In 1969, he joined the special force (MIKE Force?) and was trained in Long Hay and Nha Trang.
• In 1970, following the coup d’état in Cambodia [that toppled then-Prince Sihanouk], he was sent to work in Cambodia by the Khmer Serey movement to provide liaison with the remnant of the Khmer Issarak movement (Free Khmer movement which started as an anti-French colonialism movement).
• In 1974, he left Cambodia and returned to Bay Chhao district, Khleang province, Kampuchea Krom.
• Between 1974 and 1976, he acted at the deputy chairman of the (Khmer Krom) Buddhist Association in Khleang province following the retirement of Venerable Moha Dinh Prach.
• Between 16 February 1976 and 25 November 1979, he was jailed in the Prek Russei prison after he was accused of attempting to topple the Vietnamese communist regime within his Khmer Krom movement. (At that time, he was in charge of the movement activities in Bay Chhao district – which included the communes of Prasat Bakong, Boeung Tonsa, as well as numerous other communes and villages. However, the movement failed and numerous Khmer Krom groups were killed and arrested by the communist Vietnamese regime. Those who were jailed were sent to forced labor camps and suffered long-lasting trauma from torture imposed on the prisoners). Ven. Yoeung Sin saw his health deteriorated during his internment and he never fully recovered since then.
• Between 1979 and 1984, following his release from jail, he reunited with his family, and he was nominated as a pagoda layman for Wat Botum Por Krom and Wat Pothivong Leu pagodas, located in Kampong village, Preah Bat Choan Chum commune, Kirivong district, Takeo province, Cambodia. He resided in Takeo province, Cambodia, during that time and he was also nominated as the Tonloap market chairman.
• Between 1984 and 1986, he was sent to jail in Takeo after he was accused of leading Khmer Serey activities. (He was arrested on 14 March 1984 following the connivance between the Vietnamese and Khmer communist regimes.)
• In 1987, he retook the vow at Wat Unalom under the tutelage of Venerables Sum Chhum, Sar Mieng and Pek Phang.
• Between 1993 and 28 September 2010, he was the President of the Khmer Krom Monks Association in Cambodia, an association which he initiated on 13 July 1993.
• Between 02 July 1997 and 28 September 2010, he was the Abbot of Wat Samaki Raingsey pagoda, located in Trea 3 village, Stung Meanchey commune, Meanchey district, Phnom Penh city.
• In 2006, he was nominated as Preah Obachheay (Senior monk) by Ven. Loh Lay.
• Ven. Yoeng Sin was the founder of Wat Samaki Raingsey Pagoda which is currently building its 2-story temple. The roof of the temple is still to be completed.
• On the 5th day of the waning moon of the month of Photrabot, the year of the Tiger, Buddhist Era 2554 (28 September 2010), at 12:15PM, Preah Moha Yoeung Sin passed away after a bout of asthma attack at the age of 75.

Penned by Ly Chhuon, in Phnom Penh on 28 September 2010

Ven. Yoeung Sin had an asthma attack

Photo by: Pha Lina

Local monk mourned

Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Khouth Sophakchakrya
The Phnom Penh Post

Mourners gather around the body of Yoeun Sin, formerly the head of the Khmer Krom Monks’ Association and abbot of the Samaky Rainsey pagoda in Meanchey district’s Stung Meanchey commune. A long-time Khmer Krom advocate, Yoeun Sin died of an asthma attack yesterday at the age of 75. His body is scheduled to be cremated at the pagoda in a ceremony on October 29.

Obituary: The Venerable Vijaratanapanna Maha Yoeung Sin

Late Venerable Yoeung Sin

Tue, Sep 28, 2010

Respected Venerables,

Dear Compatriots,

Ladies & Gentlemen,

The late Venerable Vijaratanapanna Maha Yoeung Sin, age 75, born in Khleang province, Kampuchea Krom, president of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Buddhist Monks Association in Cambodia and abbot of Wat Samakkiraingsey, passed away on Tuesday September 28, B.E.2554, A.D.2010 due to illness.

His Body lies in a state at Wat Samakkiraingsey.

The venerable was fiercely courageous in advocating the respect of religious and human rights of his fellow Khmer Buddhist monks and compatriots in Kampuchea Krom and Cambodia.

The Khmer Kampuchea Krom community just lost one of the heroic Buddhist monks and human rights advocates. This great loss is for the Khmer Nation and the world.

Please kindly view the following links in regards to some activities of the late Ven. Vijaratanapanna Maha Yoeung Sin.

1. http://www.khmerkromngo.org/activities/june07/usEmbassy.htm

2. http://www.khmerkromngo.org/activities/july07/phnomden.htm

3. http://www.khmerkromngo.org/activities/july07/pressConference.htm

4. http://www.khmerkromngo.org/activities/july07/pressConference.htm

5. http://www.khmerkromngo.org/activities/july07/pressConference.htm

6. http://www.khmerkromngo.org/press/pdf/july07/joint_statementCA070107.pdf

7. http://www.khmerkromngo.org/articles/pdf/pr081408.pdf

8. http://www.khmerkromngo.org/photos/photos.htm

9. http://www.khmerkromngo.org/articles/pdf/KKC20100531.pdf

10. http://www.khmerkromngo.org/photos/kkloss60/index.html

11. http://www.khmerkromngo.org/multimedia/kk61Loss.htm

12. http://www.khmerkromngo.org/photos/photos.htm

If you wish to make charitable contributions to help with the funeral services organizing cost, please make check payable to:

Thach Ra

c/o The Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community-North America (KKC-NA)

P.O. Box 37502

Philadelphia, PA 19148

U.S.A.

Thank you very much to you and your family in advance for the donations.

KKC

Venerable Yoeung Sin passed away at 75 [-Our Sincere Condolences for this Great Khmer Krom Activist]

Ven. Yoeung Sin, Abbot of the Samaky Raingsey Pagoda (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)
Ven. Yoeung Sin (2nd from Right?) during a Khmer Krom prayer

28 Sept 2010
Prey Nokor News
Translated from Khmer by Soch

KI-Media Note: Dear Readers, it is with great sadness that we learned that Ven. Yoeung Sin has passed away. We will keep you updated once we receive additional information.

Ven. Yoeung Sin, the Abbot of the Wat Samaky Raingsey Pagoda and President of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Monks Association in Cambodia, passed away due to old age at a hospital in Phnom Penh on Monday 27 September 2010.

This is a brief information for our compatriots around the world.

Khmer Krom Monks Association is deceived by TVK

16 October 2007
By Hassan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

The Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Monks Association (KKMA) issued a declaration on Monday 15 October, expressing its deep deception on TVK (Cambodian TV channel controlled by the government) which broadcasted a scolding message aimed at Khmer Krom monks who demonstrated against the communist Vietnamese government. TVK stated that the demonstration is degrading the Buddhism moral code of conduct.

The KKMA declaration signed by Venerable (Preah Vichea Ratana Panha Preah Moha) Yoeung Sin, Abbot of the Samaky Raingsey pagoda and KKMA President, stated that the equity program broadcasted by TVK on 08 October 2007, at noon time, is “unfair” to Khmer Krom monks. The declaration raised three issues to back up its statement:

1- Khmer Krom monks demonstrated because the repression of the rights of Khmer Krom people, but, they have no intention of causing any harm to Buddhism.

The statement indicated that the Vietnamese authority shot and killed several Khmer Krom monks, why didn’t TVK help broadcast these cases?

2- Khmer Krom demonstrated because they suffer from the hardship oppression imposed by the Vietnamese regime. For example, (Vietnam) allows the opening of only one Buddhist religion school (for all Khmer Krom monks). Furthermore, Vietnam does not allow Khmer monks to celebrate religious festivals more than one day, etc…

3- The Cambodian government beat up a (Khmer Krom) monk and causing him to bleed, in front of the Unalom pagoda. On 20 April 2007, Venerable Sam Bun Thoeun was assassinated, and on 27 February, Venerable Eang Sok Thoeun was also assassinated. Later on, Venerable Tim Sakhorn, the abbot of the Phnom Den pagoda was also defrocked. On all these cases, did the TVK director put any thoughts in them?