PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)
Some 300 Buddhist villagers, apparently angered by a rival faith within their community, have razed a partially built Christian church to the ground near the Cambodian capital, an official said Tuesday.
In a rare act of religious intolerance, the mob chanted "Destroy the church!" and "Long live Buddhism!" as it descended upon the unfinished Protestant church Friday in Boeng Krum Leu, 30 kilometers (18 miles) east of Phnom Penh, said Ros Sithoeun, a representative of the area's Christian community.
Che Saren, the chief of Lvea Em district, said the Buddhists felt threatened by the visible presence of another faith. The church would have been the area's second, but there is only one Buddhist pagoda to serve the spiritual needs of the overwhelmingly Buddhist community.
"The villagers were angry with the Christians in the village who they felt mocked their Buddhist beliefs," said Che Saren.
The building was nearing completion when the villagers attacked it with hammers and sticks. The structure _ situated only 700 meters (yards) from the Buddhist pagoda _ was torn down and the rubble torched by the mob.
Kandal provincial officials denied planning permission for a church in Lvea Em, but the Christian community _ which numbers between 20 and 30 _ pressed ahead with the construction, determined to use it as accommodation for religious teachers prior to converting it to a church at an unspecified future date, said Ros Sithoeun.
"The Buddhists didn't want us to build the Christian church in their community," said Ros Sithoeun. "They were afraid that their practice of Buddhism would be negatively affected."
The Christians have not complained to the police _ neither to recoup the lost investment in the now defunct church, nor to demand the arrest of the mob. The two sides came to a peaceful compromise after authorities gave them a lecture on the law of religious freedom, said Che Saren.
Cambodian Buddhists, which make up more than 90 percent of the population, are generally tolerant of other religions and all faiths have been allowed to freely practice in Cambodia, except during the Khmer Rouge era when adherents to all religions were persecuted.
In a rare act of religious intolerance, the mob chanted "Destroy the church!" and "Long live Buddhism!" as it descended upon the unfinished Protestant church Friday in Boeng Krum Leu, 30 kilometers (18 miles) east of Phnom Penh, said Ros Sithoeun, a representative of the area's Christian community.
Che Saren, the chief of Lvea Em district, said the Buddhists felt threatened by the visible presence of another faith. The church would have been the area's second, but there is only one Buddhist pagoda to serve the spiritual needs of the overwhelmingly Buddhist community.
"The villagers were angry with the Christians in the village who they felt mocked their Buddhist beliefs," said Che Saren.
The building was nearing completion when the villagers attacked it with hammers and sticks. The structure _ situated only 700 meters (yards) from the Buddhist pagoda _ was torn down and the rubble torched by the mob.
Kandal provincial officials denied planning permission for a church in Lvea Em, but the Christian community _ which numbers between 20 and 30 _ pressed ahead with the construction, determined to use it as accommodation for religious teachers prior to converting it to a church at an unspecified future date, said Ros Sithoeun.
"The Buddhists didn't want us to build the Christian church in their community," said Ros Sithoeun. "They were afraid that their practice of Buddhism would be negatively affected."
The Christians have not complained to the police _ neither to recoup the lost investment in the now defunct church, nor to demand the arrest of the mob. The two sides came to a peaceful compromise after authorities gave them a lecture on the law of religious freedom, said Che Saren.
Cambodian Buddhists, which make up more than 90 percent of the population, are generally tolerant of other religions and all faiths have been allowed to freely practice in Cambodia, except during the Khmer Rouge era when adherents to all religions were persecuted.
11 comments:
One must allow himself to explore the beauty and glory of other belief beside his own selfishness.
One must not limit himself to the enlightment of other's belief that can help him grow and understand the faith of others.
Freedom to belief, but not freedom to harm other people who has different belieft. This will give us peace and harmony in our soceity, even when we have different faith in God. To me all Gods are good Gods which is equal to only one God, but he just happen to appear in a differnt times, countries and languages.
Why do we fight and kill each other in the name of God?? It's only create more Sins upon ourselves.
well, i can understand that why villagers are mad at Christian because that particular faith does not show any tolerance. Especially, when they believe that those who doesn't believe in God will go to hell. Also, they hated Gay/lesbian and think they are to only one who claim truth. But anyway, it is not Buddhist practice and believe to be violence. So this action is not permissible.
Truly, this is not Buddhist intolerance, it is because of Christian monopolizing that those who don't believe in God of Yehowa/Jesus are the Satan. So when more churches are illegally built in Cambodia, more Cambodian Buddhists will become Satan.
World Christian Organization through their ambition is using Khmers to mock Khmers...and when such thing happen, they will blame of intolerance.
The point is that, do Christians organizations have tolerance to convert people around the world?
A Middle Man
Christian should stay away from Cambodia because they are trying to win the world over religion domination. While they preach in Cambodia it government use tax money buy bomb and dropped on other nation. Christian is like this: They are the interlectual who came down to teach the uneducated one and in a way manipulate thier way thorugh this people. If god does really exist he or she should have control over the world but I guess he or she is on a holiday vacation for a long time and forget about his creation.
well, let me just clearify a little bit about this situation...listen careful ...don't tried to pick small thing and created to a very big problem..don't just talk nonsense...khmer life in srok khmer all should understand the truth about buddhism and the christian church...This is about politic the only one way that the khmer who influent other religion like christian church to come, and to spread thier religious in cambodia... why?...because of the uneducated one who no nothing about
religion and when they reach to christian, then they started trashing buddhism ..because of thier benefit one thing, and another things just to let the world react between the about their christian belief!!...to me .i don't see any big thing, becuase it happened every where in the world about christian vs.islam or christian vs. other religion
lucky khmer just burn the church only..look at other countries they've killed millions of people>
why..people are killing and hate each other.. this not about religion... this is about the the person itself in that religion.. that promoted that led to violent such burning these church as example!..i don't think khmer just go there and start burning or gather the villagers with no reasons... please understand to the
better way of thinking ..and don't just hearsay..thats not good.. in any of your opinions .. I think these christians beliefs must did something to make them can't stand no more ...thats led to the burning .....no big deal..if you all love khmer and khmer please try to work it out with letting the world involve ok...thats all i can say for now..
Why Christain is now so popular in Cambodia? and Who promoted it? Who brought it to Srok Khmer. It's all American.
Just like back in the 70's when American promised to support Lon Nol government. They promised to support Lon Nol all the way, but to only abandond us into the hand of Khmer Rouge. Where was American?
Now here we go again, with Christain, they teach us and they used their missionary people running around in promoting this religion to, then they leave us to fight, burn and kill each other once again. They should leave us alone, knowing that among SouthEast Asian, Cambodia is known to be a Buddhism Nation and we have AnkorWat as a solid proof of the Biggest Religious House in the World. Even India came second when it all come down to the religious influence.
So Khmer People please learn to understand the facts and calm things down.
well..well..I just clearified to all of you on the top...but nobody seems understand any clue!..in this incidents, it got nothing to do with the religions...Its' the person individual itself.. get it now?...let me clear to you all just a little bit more...look at thailand: Ah siam , as an example:.. it got more religions belelf than us... why they can live in peace.. why not us( khmers )..it has not got to do with, becuase of american or any body ...listen all of you!!...its about the politic, the money influent, and the uneducated...and the cpp, and the funcipputs, and the the king sihamuanary....thats at all. If you wanted khmer to have a freedom of democracy, others can came to our land, thats' but just let them, that they do not promote hatre, or look down other religions, just becuase they giving food or gifts..!! thats' what happened in this case..
but the news..sounds seems like buddhism vs. christian ..the news media..just wanted khmer to look bad thats all...and they like to see us look bad....so be carefull..
when you read the news and don't try to judge or used your opinions..base on what you've read..YOU ARE KHMER AND YOU KNEW ALL ABOUT KHMER, YOU DON'T KNOW 100% ABOUT THE SITUATIONS, please do not guess or hearsay..becuase that alone can let to violent for sure. I knew most of khmer are buddihsm, but let play the cold way: cold war( verbal ).. let just pretend that you are referee.. you opinions should be like that, and let the audiences judge. But if the referee favor one side what happen to the audiences, they yell at referee, right!..thats' how you opinions go... so please listen and think, and don't just read and get mad or prejudge.. let say if you read about russia.. you might don't know much...but if they're about khmer you should know ..at least or enough about the situations before you give your opinion or otherwise it will hurt yourself, even others khmer, too.
you guys ideas/suggestions are bunch of craps and vague. You're suggestion that we continue to let outside countries to come in and influence Cambodia? They don't come for any good reason, Unless they see what they can profit out of. You guys keep on saying that it's all an individual person himself and Khmer should work to out the problem out by ourself. That's so easy to say, but I haven't heard you make any better suggestion or recommendation. If you look back into History, King is a big fan in having other countries come to influence Cambodia. But look at what happen to Cambodia... only to loose a bit of everything to other countries.
well..well..well..is how stupid you are!..i said others and came and learn about khmer, not to promote hatre....jeesh, do some think, don't open your mouth!.. use your brain, why lots of khmer always fight each other, like you as and example!..so please thinks..
i don't give or such of any thing, most of my opinions are base on research and thinks. Before posting any opinion, please read any clearified for other to learn, so that they can use your opinions
to form their own, get it now?
To Umborkhmer
Obviously, You're are using your brain alright!! Take a good look at yourself, use your Big Empty Head to think and have some manner, your words are too shallow and are embarrasing to us all. All you do is bashing on other people different opinions and acting so arrogant. Becasue people don't agree with you, you acted like you're 100% right on everything you've said? and you leave no room for anyone one to disagree you, Who the fuck are you? Come on dude! That's why you're no body. If Khmer Have people like you running Cambodia, you're be so fucked up!! Maybe you do more research and think how to be respect other people's opinions.
by the way Umborkhmer you taste nasty. No body eat that shit anymore, only the low life like you.
GET IT NOW?!!!
To Mother Fucker Whom May Concerned:
Your clown azz Christians coming down to PP is not for help, but take advantages of us. Culture imperialism is no longer accepted here. You offer poor Cambodian many incentives, but we could take it honestly from you; unless, we give our religion and being a pure Christianity. You provide us free of charge learning, but we have to study your bible daily. You fund us to study abroad, but after graduated we have to serve you a long life work as a Christian.
You think you are doing the right thing, or you are giving people the freedom to trust and believe.
Post a Comment