Original report from Kandal province
02 October 2009
In white clothes and Muslim caps, more than 700 students were set to begin classes at the Cambodian Islamic Center on Thursday, with the Ramadan festival coming to an end.
The center, in Kandal province, is the largest Islamic school in the country and registers students from seven different provinces, though most come from Kampong Cham.
Students stood in long lines outside the center, waiting for classes to begin.
Ari Fin, 15, said he was looking forward to studying at the center, as it provided both general knowledge and Islamic subjects.
“Having both programs makes it easy for me, as I don’t have to go to our religious school far from my village home,” said the ninth grader from Kampong Cham.
Formerly the Om Al-Qura high school, the center has registered 744 Muslim students, who board at the school and study from seventh to twelfth grade. (In 2003, the Om Al-Qura was closed down after three Islamic teachers there were implicated in a Jemaah Islamiyah plot to attack targets in Cambodia and were arrested.)
Pich Solin, who is in charge of secular studies at the center, said the addition of Islamic studies attracts an influx of Muslim students. “Our Khmer Muslims want both, as Islam is the most important for us, and state schools provide only general knowledge.”
Students also said they liked the structure provided by the center.
“I did badly at my old high school,” said Meut Tor Hiet, 15, who was starting ninth grade. “But I do better being here. Here I focus only on my studies, and I don’t go around.”
The center sits on four hectares, and includes dormitories, a canteen, a football pitch, a basketball court and a mosque.
Parents say they like the school because it is fully equipped and helps their children retain their traditions.
“I wanted my son to be well educated in Islam, as I am afraid he would sin, as I did, because I did not know much about Islam,” said Li Pi As, who had accompanied her son on a journey from Pursat province and held a crying infant by her side.
Along with Islamic studies, students can also pursue computer skills and English, Malay and Arabic, courses meant to prepare them for job markets and opportunities overseas.
Each year, about six students from the center manage to travel abroad, to countries like Saudi Arabia, Libya and Malaysia, Pich Solin said.
The center, in Kandal province, is the largest Islamic school in the country and registers students from seven different provinces, though most come from Kampong Cham.
Students stood in long lines outside the center, waiting for classes to begin.
Ari Fin, 15, said he was looking forward to studying at the center, as it provided both general knowledge and Islamic subjects.
“Having both programs makes it easy for me, as I don’t have to go to our religious school far from my village home,” said the ninth grader from Kampong Cham.
Formerly the Om Al-Qura high school, the center has registered 744 Muslim students, who board at the school and study from seventh to twelfth grade. (In 2003, the Om Al-Qura was closed down after three Islamic teachers there were implicated in a Jemaah Islamiyah plot to attack targets in Cambodia and were arrested.)
Pich Solin, who is in charge of secular studies at the center, said the addition of Islamic studies attracts an influx of Muslim students. “Our Khmer Muslims want both, as Islam is the most important for us, and state schools provide only general knowledge.”
Students also said they liked the structure provided by the center.
“I did badly at my old high school,” said Meut Tor Hiet, 15, who was starting ninth grade. “But I do better being here. Here I focus only on my studies, and I don’t go around.”
The center sits on four hectares, and includes dormitories, a canteen, a football pitch, a basketball court and a mosque.
Parents say they like the school because it is fully equipped and helps their children retain their traditions.
“I wanted my son to be well educated in Islam, as I am afraid he would sin, as I did, because I did not know much about Islam,” said Li Pi As, who had accompanied her son on a journey from Pursat province and held a crying infant by her side.
Along with Islamic studies, students can also pursue computer skills and English, Malay and Arabic, courses meant to prepare them for job markets and opportunities overseas.
Each year, about six students from the center manage to travel abroad, to countries like Saudi Arabia, Libya and Malaysia, Pich Solin said.
20 comments:
It is encouraging that Khmer government allowing diversity in our country. Unlike Thailand, we Khmer respect different religion and cultures. I hope these kids get educated to help rebuilding our homeland. Despite of your race, when you are borned in srok Khmer and love Khmer, you are 100% Khmer.
Khmer govt and khmer people should keep an eye on this Islamic center.Make sure this center is not becoming a brainwash center for khmer islam like the madrassas school in Pakistan where all kids were taught hatre .
Remember,not all muslims are terrorist,but every terrorist are muslims.
2:14 don't get too excited! wait and see when the muslim number increases and their population catch up the others, just like in philippine for instance! it has been in the past and now, islam religion does not tolerate the other religion like buddhism or christianity. Muslim only help muslim, you should know that!
I am independent researcher in Cambodia. I have learned some about muslim community in Cambodia and round the globe. I would like to express my opinion regarding what I have observed and searched about this religion as I do not want our Cambodian people get confuse to this minority. You do not say that every muslim is terrorist as I searched in the Islam Holy Book (Koran) and asked Muslim people, it is not educated Muslim people to kill someone, but it is educated to help poor people and do charity. When you receive news from CNN which broadcast a lot of people were killed by terrorist. Those are Muslim people. Being a smart Khmer People, you should search why people kill people. Why Pol Pot kill his own nation? This is the religion education or the individual or group theory. All religion educate people to do good. You should know that CNN is behind US and it always broadcast bad news about Islam, and it makes people around the world get confuse what Islam is. That is why Muslim people try to against US, they want peace and freedom. For example, Iraq is instability and insecurity, but US can not solve this even still dominate this country. In the histroy until now, Arabic world is never satisfied with USA that Support Israel. USA dominates and do pressure to islam countries which govern via Islam's Ideology. USA wants to cancel those ideology and bring US policy and invest christianity in Muslim world. Go back to Muslim community in Camboida,it is very little number roughly 500000 compared to vitnamese 400.0000. Cambodian muslim was born in Cambodia and they must build and love combodia even they embrace Islam religion, but they are Cambodian people. You should inspire not only muslim people , but also vitanmese, chinese to love Cambodia. Do not say that Muslim only help muslim but Muslim help other Nation. Every year, billion dollar from Arabic world is given to UN agency for charity to help people around the world. You must open widely ur mind. Do not judge someone with only ur opinion. You must do research and research. wht is fact , what is not true. In conclusion, You must inspire every nation to love Cambodia and become a real nationalism. Do not say that u are Khmer Islam, vitnamese, chinese, christianity, but all of them live in Cambodia, they must work for Camboda and they must protect Cambodia. For example, Singapore and Malaysia are very good country to inspire their people to respect other minority nations and inspire those group to love their country in term of nationalism.
Sorry for any inconvenient idea. This is from wht I have done research and apply with my idea. Throw it a way if you think that it is not useful.
Make sure those muslim terrorists not coming to Cambodia and train Cambodian muslim to be a terrorists.
No, religion teaches to hate but love, compassion, share and respect everyone equally. e.g. in Christian believe in "love your neighbours like you love yourself plus the ten commandments" In Buddha's wisdom of life is about "love and be true to yourself and to others" and those who committed the crimes, they have no morality in them, basically, they don't believe in any God. They are the one whom we called evils, but they are using God's name of doing their evils act, e.g. Allah, Jesus or Buddha told me to kill! which is not true. All Gods' theories teach us the same way! all are in parallel...So, we must include everyone around the world as equally important, doesn't matter who they are or where they come from. we must be focusing on skilled migrant intakes as well as increase in population growth because they are the foundation to the development our nation. Aust
Let's hope all khmer islam will not behave like their counterpart in Thailand.Khmer Buddhist and khmer islam had been coexisted for centuries.
Sound to me, you all here enjoyed talking about terrorist and judged other Khmer as bad people. First you need to know better about the Khmer society, Khmer culture, Khmer religion and of course Khmer educational background.
My experience from my school time in our country Cambodia were very peaceful with all friends, Khmer Cham and Khmer Chen. We were always friendly, respected each other.
As Khmer born, we should have real good, constructive critics or suggest our Khmer government to include Buddhist Teaching in to the school system to educate young Khmer generation to preserve our Khmer culture-identity.
Our ancestor adapted the Buddhist as State religion in our society, because they wanted us to be good, friendly and responsible person to our country, society, communities and of course the family value.
Yeah,Thai buddhist are always respect and friendly to the Thai muslim .Look at the Thai muslim now.What did they do?.Same thing in Europe,these muslim are restless.They want the world to be like them.If not ,they start jihad.
Talk about Thai Buddhist. We remembered very well, how the lovely, friendly and respected Thai buddhist treated the Khmer people, when they tried to flee from the Pol Pot regime during 1975 until 1978 and late how well they treated the Khmer refugees in the UN Refugee-Camps.
How about khmer buddhist and khmer buddhist.Didn't they slaughtered each others?.We are not advocating hatred toward our khmer muslim .WE trust them and keep an eye on them too.Trust but verify.
Even Thai embraces buddist the same as Khmer,but Thai never treat Khmer equally in buddist philosophy. Thai seriously look down on Khmer and made khmer get suffering a lots when Khmer flee to thai in order to move to third country. As my grandmother told me about her life when escaping duing Pol Pot regime, she and her friends were brought by Thai army and kept away on the top of the mountain. Some Khmer people were fought and kicked heavily. Is Thai buddist good or bad?
Let's inspire nationalism to all minority group in Cambodia. It seems as if some of you discriminate Khmer Islam in our beloved country. This is not humanity value. I have a lot of Khmer Islam friends when I was in Norton University. They were so nice to me and respected to others as well. Right now, we are still good friends. I don't know why some of you accuse of them being terrorist. As I used to discuss with them about Thai Muslim, I found out that three provinces in the southern Thailand is a former belong to Malaysia. That is why 90%of Thai people are Muslim.And the Thai Government, Taksin regime, did pressure to those group. Many Thai muslim were killed by Taksin regime. They start doing against Thai Government because of Thai persecution and strongly pressure. Khmer Islam never think to against Cambodia Government,but they live peacefully with our Khmer people. Their land was conquered by Vietname like Kampuchea Krom. They need only peace and follow their belief in Islam religion. I suggest all of reader, please do not break consolidarity in our society. We must joint hand together to develop our beloved country. Everyone has one life , and it is very short to live in this world.
I believe, let the past be bye gone because today, tomorrow and the future is more important than yesterday, however least we can do is learned from the past mistakes and turn it into a positive learning outcome. We must focus on what needs to be done next e.g. putting new infrastructures such as every 1000 quality homes have access to safe roads, schools, park, lake, market, dentist/clinic, family doctor /clinic, and also focusing on waste management which turn into gas and be usable for effective outcome. The people can not achieve this though but the government can if they are to work together as a team, that is to reach common goal and common interest for the benefit of both people and government. Government needs to ask every country to donate their engineering teams to come and teach us the skills as well helping us to achieve the outcome because money alone is not good enough as it could go into the wrong hands and then it will be useless. Another example is to look at these successful countries such as Aust, Singapore, Janpan, USA extra (these countries have a Multicultural society). If these nations can create a safe heaven for their people so can we. Aust
I don't agreed with your comment about the muslim people...they are good, nice and friendly, but they will never trust anyone beside their group. Thay why the above comment said, Muslim is only support Muslim, I absolutely do agreed as I use to worked with Muslim guys....they think, they are doing the rith thing, not listen to other...their group is always right...You know, when you marry to Muslim girl or guy YOU JUST BE MUSLIM...they only allow us to join their comminity but they don't allow you to get out...they are not open minded...they not drink, they are not hangout...no enterntaiment...which I don't think it will match with our culture...
Our government have to be seriousely look into this group (Muslim). And the most important, we have to promote our Budhism as our nation religion.
3:49 My own experience I was married to a muslim woman, though my wife dearly loved me but her whole family never accept me!since i'm a buddhist.For those guys who think muslim are nice as their friend, you don't judge people that way! Pol pot was my classmate he was very nice soft spoken as you have seen him on the interview and look what he has done! Muslim helped only Muslim! Malaysia, Quatar libya etc... only help buid Mosque and schools for the muslim community only, you all have seen that! When the muslim population grows larger and larger you will see what will happen! case already proved in Phillipine, India etc...especially when their big brother(the arabs) ignite the conflict. We do not discrimate them but at the same time we(government) should not promote them bigger and bigger! they can promote themseves..
3:49PM As a result of government help in promoting the Islamic schools and other helps that only offered to Khmer ISlam community by their big bothers from Malaysia, Arab nations, I've seen lots of buddhist Khmers now have converted into muslim in order to get the benefits...muslim community grows bigger faster and later buddhist state religion will be challenged.
Yeah Right! I used to live in Malaysia,their Government only encourage and promote their Islamic religion, the others has to promote themselves...not so kindly like our khmer Government.
Each religion has its respective culture and value. So, Everyone have to understand and respect each religion. You must not criticise and blame that culture. Islam prohibits muslim people to drink alcohol. but Buddist also prohibit Buddism people to drink alcohol. You know 5 and 8 principles of Buddism. Because you never stay at the Pagoda, you like going to entertainment place to drink and do something. Do not worry about Khmer people convert to Muslim people, but you must worry about the increase of Khmer people convert to Christian. Right now, many churches have been built around the country.However, most of khmer people do not strongly follow buddist as they like western civilization. They forget who they are. For example, they celebrate Chrismas as you have seen on TV, they celebrate Valentine's Day, and they also call theirselves that chinese. Where is our Khmer people? You are right, Government have to involve buddist in school curriculum as khmer people now do not wht is buddist. Do not say only Khmer muslim help only muslim. As my experience, I used to work with many foreigners such as french, English, and chinese when I was in Cambodia. Those people never accept my idea and colleages, they agreed only their friends. For example, french people used to critise my colleage and treat us as young boy, but their friend who is a trainee, and young. They treated as good advisor. You see! Since then I never work with french, I also do not work with chisese. They never give value to Khmer people. That is why I say that don't judge other nation with one or two people whom you used to work and then apply to as whole.
Recently, US has witdrawn Cambodia from blacklist and recognise Cambodia is democracy country.Everyone has rights and freedom. So, We, governmet, must govern our country concurance to country reputation. We do not want to break consolidarity among other minority in Cambodia. Everyone has the rights to believe other religions by their decision. So,please donot hatred which become conflict as we have seen Thailand for our case. Learn to harmonize and live in peace together.
correction: Buddha, Buddhist, and Buddhism. community, right, converted, Christmas, prohibited.
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