09 November 2007
By Sophorn
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The Kirivong district authority confiscated loudspeakers, and ended the Bon Phka (Flower fundraising) festival organized at the Phnom Den North pagoda which was organized by civil society, during a prayer session and a call for the release to freedom of former Monk Tim Sakhorn.
In the morning of 09 November which coincides with Cambodia’s National Independence Day, during a Bon Phka fundraising festival organized at the Phnom Den North pagoda, a verbal clash started between the authority and the NGOs when the latter reminisced the name of former Monk Tim Sakhorn.
Mam Sonando, director of the Beehive radio station and one of the organizers of the Bon Phka, reacted immediately to the authority telling them that they do not respect Buddhism, the state religion, when they foment empty politicking (pun used by Mam Sonando when he said: “Thveu noyobay khmean bay”, meaning empty politicking): “You trample on Buddhism, you only threaten on everything.”
In response to the issue raised by Mam Sonando, Vong Chhon, the deputy district governor of Kirivong, immediately claimed that Khmer Kampuchea Krom suffered for many generations because of the same types of callings made by Mam Sonando.
Vong Chhon added: “During Sdech Sihanouk, they formed the “white scarf” and the Khmer Serey movements which called Khmer Kampuchea Krom for help, when they came over, a large number of them died because of such calls. We are uniting the monks in order to rebuild Buddhism back at the Phnom Den pagoda, this is done in the name of the local authority. You call us the cheaters, but those who currently are the cheaters, they are convicts who have just been released, you think I don’t known this Mam Sonando?” [KI-Media note: Mam Sonando was jailed by Hun Sen in January 2006 for protesting against the illegal border treaty concluded by Hun Sen and Vietnam, and approved by King Norodom Sihamoni]
Dr. Pung Chiv Kek, President of the Licadho human rights organization and also an organizer of the Bon Pkha Samaki festival, expressed her regrets (to see such behavior from the authority). “Because, you don’t understand our custom, and this is my right … what I said, there is nothing wrong about it, we did not violate any law, we did not raise any banners, we did not do anything, we did not shout, what we did was done according to our Khmer custom … you shut down our loudspeakers … I say you are violating the rights of the people,” Dr. Pung Chiv kek said of the pro-government authority,
Ngoeun Song, the Phnom Den North pagoda committee leader who is newly installed by the pro-government authority after the defrocking of Monk Tim Sakhorn and his deportation to Vietnam, immediately put up an anger scene claiming that recalling the name of Monk Tim Sakhorn’s name is tantamount to destroying his pagoda.
On her part, the younger sister of former Monk Tim Sakhorn spoke out loudly, asking what was her brother’s fault? Why is the Cambodian authority unable to put him on trial in Cambodia?
According to civil society, the reason human rights organizations in Cambodia organized this Bon Phka at Phnom Den pagoda today, because it is the National Independence Day, and it also coincides with a Buddhist holy day as well, therefore, they all want to pray for the freedom of former Monk Tim Sakhorn so that he can lead a normal free life just like other citizens in the kingdom.
In the morning of 09 November which coincides with Cambodia’s National Independence Day, during a Bon Phka fundraising festival organized at the Phnom Den North pagoda, a verbal clash started between the authority and the NGOs when the latter reminisced the name of former Monk Tim Sakhorn.
Mam Sonando, director of the Beehive radio station and one of the organizers of the Bon Phka, reacted immediately to the authority telling them that they do not respect Buddhism, the state religion, when they foment empty politicking (pun used by Mam Sonando when he said: “Thveu noyobay khmean bay”, meaning empty politicking): “You trample on Buddhism, you only threaten on everything.”
In response to the issue raised by Mam Sonando, Vong Chhon, the deputy district governor of Kirivong, immediately claimed that Khmer Kampuchea Krom suffered for many generations because of the same types of callings made by Mam Sonando.
Vong Chhon added: “During Sdech Sihanouk, they formed the “white scarf” and the Khmer Serey movements which called Khmer Kampuchea Krom for help, when they came over, a large number of them died because of such calls. We are uniting the monks in order to rebuild Buddhism back at the Phnom Den pagoda, this is done in the name of the local authority. You call us the cheaters, but those who currently are the cheaters, they are convicts who have just been released, you think I don’t known this Mam Sonando?” [KI-Media note: Mam Sonando was jailed by Hun Sen in January 2006 for protesting against the illegal border treaty concluded by Hun Sen and Vietnam, and approved by King Norodom Sihamoni]
Dr. Pung Chiv Kek, President of the Licadho human rights organization and also an organizer of the Bon Pkha Samaki festival, expressed her regrets (to see such behavior from the authority). “Because, you don’t understand our custom, and this is my right … what I said, there is nothing wrong about it, we did not violate any law, we did not raise any banners, we did not do anything, we did not shout, what we did was done according to our Khmer custom … you shut down our loudspeakers … I say you are violating the rights of the people,” Dr. Pung Chiv kek said of the pro-government authority,
Ngoeun Song, the Phnom Den North pagoda committee leader who is newly installed by the pro-government authority after the defrocking of Monk Tim Sakhorn and his deportation to Vietnam, immediately put up an anger scene claiming that recalling the name of Monk Tim Sakhorn’s name is tantamount to destroying his pagoda.
On her part, the younger sister of former Monk Tim Sakhorn spoke out loudly, asking what was her brother’s fault? Why is the Cambodian authority unable to put him on trial in Cambodia?
According to civil society, the reason human rights organizations in Cambodia organized this Bon Phka at Phnom Den pagoda today, because it is the National Independence Day, and it also coincides with a Buddhist holy day as well, therefore, they all want to pray for the freedom of former Monk Tim Sakhorn so that he can lead a normal free life just like other citizens in the kingdom.
