27 September 2007By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
High ranking government officials, monks, and opposition MPs are reacting differently to the political situation in Burma which is now embroiled wit unrest, and the use of violence against monks causing deaths and the arrest of several hundreds monks during the government attack on demonstrators protesting against the Myanmar regime.
Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman, gave this comment to RFA on Thursday: “We want the Burmese government to avoid using violence, there should be discussions held between all sides of the society again, that would be better.”
Tep Vong, the Buddhist supreme patriarch of Cambodia, said that this is an altogether different issue: “I have no reaction, this is their issue, my issues are mine. The basic attributes of my noble nature are: compassion, pity, joy at other’s happiness, and sincerity…”
Venerable Yoeung Sin, President of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Monks Association in Cambodia, said in reaction to this issue that he is condemning the use of force on Burmese monks.
Venerable Yoeung Sin said: “These savage acts must be condemned by the world and by those who love peace and society. These are savage actions taken by people who are dictators.”
Opposition SRP MP Son Chhay said in reaction to this issue that this is the time for the Cambodian government to show its position.
Son Chhay said: “First, our government should express its position, which party does it side with? Does the (Cambodian) government support the democrats or is it supporting the dictators? This is an issue that the (Cambodian) government can no longer maintain.”
Recently, according to international news, TV, and radio media in English, a large demonstration is occurring in Burma, and more than 100,000 of Burmese monks and laypersons have participated in this mass demonstration to oppose the Myanmar government.
This demonstration was met by violent attacks from the government troops, and 4 people died, over 100 were injured, and more than 200 monks were arrested during the government retaliation.
In 1988, Burma also saw a mass demonstration once already, but that demonstration was quelled with violence causing more than 3,000 deaths from government force shootings.
In Cambodia, there were also government retaliations against demonstration in 1998. The Cambodian demonstration at that time was led by opposition leader Sam Rainsy, and it was also participated by Cambodian monks. The demonstrators were protesting the results of the election which was conducted in July 1998.
Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman, gave this comment to RFA on Thursday: “We want the Burmese government to avoid using violence, there should be discussions held between all sides of the society again, that would be better.”
Tep Vong, the Buddhist supreme patriarch of Cambodia, said that this is an altogether different issue: “I have no reaction, this is their issue, my issues are mine. The basic attributes of my noble nature are: compassion, pity, joy at other’s happiness, and sincerity…”
Venerable Yoeung Sin, President of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Monks Association in Cambodia, said in reaction to this issue that he is condemning the use of force on Burmese monks.
Venerable Yoeung Sin said: “These savage acts must be condemned by the world and by those who love peace and society. These are savage actions taken by people who are dictators.”
Opposition SRP MP Son Chhay said in reaction to this issue that this is the time for the Cambodian government to show its position.
Son Chhay said: “First, our government should express its position, which party does it side with? Does the (Cambodian) government support the democrats or is it supporting the dictators? This is an issue that the (Cambodian) government can no longer maintain.”
Recently, according to international news, TV, and radio media in English, a large demonstration is occurring in Burma, and more than 100,000 of Burmese monks and laypersons have participated in this mass demonstration to oppose the Myanmar government.
This demonstration was met by violent attacks from the government troops, and 4 people died, over 100 were injured, and more than 200 monks were arrested during the government retaliation.
In 1988, Burma also saw a mass demonstration once already, but that demonstration was quelled with violence causing more than 3,000 deaths from government force shootings.
In Cambodia, there were also government retaliations against demonstration in 1998. The Cambodian demonstration at that time was led by opposition leader Sam Rainsy, and it was also participated by Cambodian monks. The demonstrators were protesting the results of the election which was conducted in July 1998.
