Thursday, May 31, 2012
In a reflecting study: Khmer Hero Bhikkhu Hiem Chiev and Venerable Luon Sovath at the present
Biography of Achar Hem Chiev, a National Hero - ព្រះបាឡាត់ឃោសនាគ ហែមចៀវ វីរបុរសជាតិ
ឆ្នាំងបាយលោកសង្ឃ គឺនៅនឹងប្រជាជន បើប្រជាជនវេទនា អត់បាយ ប្រជាជនគ្មានសិទ្ធិសេរីភាព បើប្រជាជននៅក្នុងឋានៈ ជាខ្ញុំកញ្ជះគេ លោកសង្ឃក៏ទទួល អំណោយផលអាក្រក់ដែរ។ ដូច្នេះ លោកសង្ឃមានភារៈ ប្រោសសត្វលោក គឺត្រូវស្តីប្រដៅ ធ្វើឲ្យមនុស្សមានស៊ី មានស្លៀក មានសេរីភាព ក្នុងប្រទេសឯករាជ្យ និងសន្តិភាព ដ៏បរិបូណ៌។
ទឹកភ្នែកប្រជារាស្ត្រ គឺទឹកភ្នែកព្រះសង្ឃ
- ទឹកចិត្ត ព្រះអាចារ្យ ហែមចៀវ -
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The monks’ rice pot remains with the people, if the people are miserable, have nothing to eat, if they have no freedom, if they live as slave, monks will also feel the hardship pinch. Therefore, monks whose duty is to save the humans, must teach and encourage people to find food to eat, to find clothes to wear, to find freedom for their country, to find independence and total peace.
Tears of the people are those of monks.
- View by Preah Achar Hem Chiev -
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Biography of Achar Hem Chiev
Posted originally by M. P.
At the age of 20, monk Hem Chiev was ordained as Bikkhu at Watt Langka. He then went on to pass the exam to enter the Buddhist Institute in Phnom Penh.
According to Martin Stuart-Fox (2006), “[t]he Buddhist Institute did encourage Buddhist studies, but it also stimulated wider studies into culture and history, folklore and language, which rekindled cultural pride that fed into the rising tide of nationalism. The failure of France to protect either Laos or Cambodia from losing territory to Thailand in 1940-41 had a similar effect. Monks took the lead in opposing clumsy French attempts to introduce romanised forms of Cambodian and Lao scripts. In Cambodia, the monk Hem Chieu, a leader in this opposition movement …”
Achar Hem Chiev encouraged his students to study hard to liberate themselves from the yoke of the French colonial rule. He also started the movement to preach Buddhism in Khmer rather than in Pali.
As a member of the French opposition, Achar Hem Chiev kep contact with other Khmer nationalists at the time, among them: Pach Chhoeun, Son Ngoc Thanh, Chum Moung, Nuon Duong, and Sim Var. They all worked to find ways to free Cambodia from the French rule.
Meanwhile, Achar Hem Chiev kept on his Buddhist preaching, among the most notable principles he preached are:
- Do not be a man of burden to the world (i.e. be useful in life).
- We must bring well-being to the present first because if we now have well-being, there will be well-being in the future as well.
- You must work, do not wait for fate.
- You can cross hardship only if you are determined.
- You can only depend on yourself (i.e. self-reliance).
- You must not frequent bad friends, you should not frequent friends with low life, you should frequent good friends, you should frequent people with high ideals.
- Unintelligent people will bring you actions that should not be brought up, they always bring you chores that are not of concern, they are people who are difficult to teach and bring back to the right path, when they are told about good behaviors, they become angry, they do not know about rules, if you do not meet them, or see them, it is best that way.
- You should not depend on someone else to feed you in life.
At a preaching session where he spoke about independence, one man told him: “We want independence from France also, but we don’t know what to do.” Monk Hem Chiev told him back: “It is easy, as Lord Buddha told us: ‘The union will bring well-being in everything’”.
On July 17, 1942, under the instigation of French spies, Achar Hem Chiev was arrested and unceremoniously defrocked. He was then thrown in jail by the French colonial regime working under the occupation of Japan.
On July 20, 1942, a demonstration asking for the release of Achar Hem Chiev was organized by Pach Chhoeun. He was joined by about 1,000 demonstrators including several monks. In the melee which ensued, Pach Chhoeun was pushed inside the perimeter of the French Resident compound. French agents took this opportunity to close the door behind Pach Chhoeun and arrested him on the spot. Seeing this arrest, the monks started to fight against French police agents and their Vietnamese agents using their umbrellas. Meanwhile, the civilians who were present at the demonstration started to throw rocks against the French. The demonstration idea originated from Son Ngoc Thanh who wanted to show the Japanese (who then occupied Cambodia) the displeasure of Cambodian people against the arrest of Achar Hem Chiev by the French agents of the fascist Vichy regime, he would then ask the Japanese troops for intervention and obtain the release of Achar Hem Chiev. However, the fight and the arrest of Pach Chhoeun changed all Son Ngoc Thanh’s plan. Following the demonstration, several important Cambodian nationalists were arrested by the French after the demonstration.
Accused of sedition (KI-Media Note: Villagers in Kratie who resisted forced evictions are currently charged of secession), Achar Hem Chiev and several other Khmer nationalists were sentenced to life in prison by the French colonial court, and sent to jail in Poulo Condor (Con Son Island) also known in Khmer as Koh Trolach jail. It was there that Achar Hem Chiev died. Rumors had it also that the French forced Achar Hem Chiev to sleep in lime which seriously affected his health (one of my uncle who then belonged to the nationalist movement told me about this rumor).
Before passing away, Achar Hem Chiev said: “The construction of the nation by one individual will never be successful. We must unite altogether, in great number, and we must keep on pursuing it! You must all continue the struggle for me. I cannot carry the country by myself… The country belongs to us all… I am not afraid of death but the only thing I regret, is not being able to see our Cambodia becoming independent. May you live in peace … If our country finds peace again, we must organize a republic, do not forget! I am leaving you…”
On July 4, 1972, the Khmer Republic regime repatriated the remains of Achar Hem Chiev from Poulo Condor back to Cambodia where he received his final proper religious rite. His remain was then kept at Wat Ounalom.
References
Preah Pothiveang So Hay, prepared by Kong Samphea. “Preah Balat Khosaneak Hem Chiev, a National Hero.” Historical document in Khmer. (see below in Khmer)
Acknowledgment
The following PDF edition of the biography of Ven. Hem Chiev was made available by Lok Ly Diep of Angkor Borei News.
“Buddhism and politics in Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand” by Martin Stuart-Fox (2006)
គុកនយោបាយ ដោយ ប៊ុណ្ណចន្ទ ម៉ុល - Political Prisoner by Bun Chan Mol
Dear Readers,
Please find below a copy of Lok Bun Chanmol's book "គុកនយោបាយ - Political Prisoner" which provides an account of his life during Cambodia's struggle for independence from France. In this memoir, Lok Bun Chanmol also provided a glimpse at the Poulo Condor (គុក កោះត្រឡាច) jail set up by colonial France to imprison those who demand for independence in French Indochina. Another famous prisoner in this jail is Ven. Hem Chiev, a Cambodian monk who was defrocked by the French for leading peaceful protest against French occupation. Ven. Hem Chiev died of forced labor at the Poulo Condor jail and his remain was only brought back to Phnom Penh in the 70s.
The situation in Cambodia during that period is very reminiscent of today's Cambodia where only one monk, Ven. Loun Sovath, dares to stand with those who were unfairly evicted from their homes. Furthermore, those who dare protest against the current CPP regime are summarily sent to jail in a tribunal charade. Almost 60 years after achieving independence, Cambodia is returning back to a tyrannical regime just like our ancestors suffered under the French colonial regime. This time around, the tyrants are the CPP and their leaders.
Enjoy, read, learn and remember!
KI-Media team
The Poulo Condor jail:
Tears of Boeung Kak Lake children - ទឹកភ្នែក កុមារាកុមារី បឹងកក់
Tears of Boeung Kak Lake children - ទឹកភ្នែក កុមារាកុមារី បឹងកក់
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| Photos: Ven. Loun Sovath on Flickr and CLEC |
សហគមន៍អន្តរជាតិថ្កោលទោសរដ្ឋាភិបាលអំពីការរំលោភសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស
2012-05-30
ភ្នាក់ងារអង្គការសិទ្ធិមនុស្សអន្តរជាតិ បានទាមទារឲ្យរដ្ឋាភិបាលទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ បញ្ឈប់ជាបន្ទាន់នូវការរំលោភសិទ្ធិមនុស្សធ្ងន់ធ្ងរដែលកំពុងកើត មានទៅលើជនស៊ីវិល និងព្រះសង្ឃ។
កម្លាំងសមត្ថកិច្ចចាប់ព្រះកាយព្រះភិក្ខុ លួន សុវ៉ាត នៅមុខសាលាដំបូងរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ កាលពីរសៀលថ្ងៃទី២៤ ខែឧសភា ឆ្នាំ២០១២។
ការជំរុញរបស់ក្រុមនេះ ធ្វើឡើងនៅបន្ទាប់ពីសមត្ថកិច្ចកម្ពុជា បានបង្ក្រាបយ៉ាងហិង្សាទៅលើក្រុមបាតុករក្នុងបញ្ហាដីធ្លី រួមនឹងការចាប់ខ្លួនពលរដ្ឋចំនួន ១៣នាក់ ព្រមទាំងការគំរាមខាងផ្នែកតុលាការទៅលើព្រះសង្ឃពីបទញុះញង់ជាដើម។
សង្គមស៊ីវិលជាតិ និងអន្តរជាតិ បានថ្កោលទោសយ៉ាងខ្លាំងចំពោះសមត្ថកិច្ចទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ ដែលបានប្រើហិង្សា និងដាក់លក្ខខណ្ឌទាំងបង្ខំដល់ភិក្ខុ លួន សុវ៉ាត ឲ្យបញ្ឈប់ការឈឺឆ្អាលរបស់ព្រះអង្គទៅលើទុក្ខវេទនារបស់ពលរដ្ឋ ដូចកើតមានចំពោះអ្នកភូមិនៅតំបន់បឹងកក់ និងពលរដ្ឋសហគមន៍បុរីកីឡាជាដើម។
នាយកប្រតិបត្តិនៃគណៈកម្មការសិទ្ធិមនុស្សអាស៊ី លោក វ៉ង កៃស៊ីង (Wong Kaishing) មានប្រសាសន៍ថា កម្ពុជាគួររក្សាសេចក្ដីថ្លៃថ្នូររបស់ខ្លួនតាមរយៈការគោរពសិទ្ធិ មនុស្សឲ្យបានត្រឹមត្រូវ និងបញ្ឈប់ជាបន្ទាន់នូវការបង្ក្រាបហ្វូងបាតុករ ឬការចាប់ក្រុមអ្នកតវ៉ាយ៉ាងហិង្សា ដើម្បីផ្ដន្ទាទោសដោយគ្មានហេតុផល និងមូលដ្ឋានច្បាប់។
លោក កៃស៊ីង មានប្រសាសន៍ថា សម្ពាធដ៏ធ្ងន់ធ្ងររបស់រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា មកលើពលរដ្ឋរបស់ខ្លួនអាចនាំឲ្យកម្ពុជាបរាជ័យក្នុងការធ្វើជា ប្រធានអាស៊ាន និងខូចកេរ្តិ៍ឈ្មោះក្នុងឆាកអន្តរជាតិ ក្នុងបរិបទនៃការរំលោភសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស៖ «នេះគឺគំនាបដ៏អាក្រក់របស់រដ្ឋាភិបាលមកលើពលរដ្ឋស្លូតត្រង់។ យើងទាមទារឲ្យរដ្ឋាភិបាលដោះលែងពលរដ្ឋដែលកំពុងជាប់ឃុំឃាំងដោយសារ បញ្ហាដីធ្លីទាំងនោះ កាន់តែឆាប់តាមដែលអាចធ្វើទៅបាន។ ម៉្យាងទៀតអាជ្ញាធរមានសមត្ថកិច្ចមិនត្រូវចាប់ខ្លួនអ្នកដែល គ្រាន់តែបញ្ចេញតាមឆន្ទៈរបស់គេដាក់ពន្ធនាគារនោះឡើយ»។
ការថ្លែងរបស់មន្ត្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់នៃគណៈកម្មការសិទ្ធិមនុស្សអាស៊ី រូបនេះ ធ្វើឡើងនៅបន្ទាប់ពីមានការធ្វើទុក្ខបុកម្នេញផ្នែកតុលាការមកលើ ព្រះតេជព្រះគុណ លួន សុវ៉ាត និងការចាប់ខ្លួនពលរដ្ឋតំបន់បឹងកក់ ១៥នាក់ កាលពីពេលថ្មីៗនេះ។
ក្រុមអ្នកឃ្លាំមើលអំពីការគោរពសិទ្ធិមនុស្សក្នុងស្រុកព្រមានថា ប្រសិនបើរដ្ឋាភិបាលមិនផ្តល់លទ្ធភាពគ្រប់បែបយ៉ាងឲ្យពលរដ្ឋមាន សិទ្ធិក្នុងការបញ្ចេញមតិដោយសេរី និងមានដំណោះស្រាយសមរម្យនូវរាល់វិបត្តិទាំងឡាយ ដែលកើតមានក្នុងសង្គមទេ នោះទស្សនវិស័យនៃការអភិវឌ្ឍប្រទេស នឹងមិនអាចមានលក្ខណៈយូរអង្វែងបានឡើយ។
មន្ត្រីផ្នែកស៊ើបអង្កេតរបស់អង្គការការពារសិទ្ធិមនុស្សលីកាដូ (Licadho) លោក អំ សំអាត បានថ្កោលទោសចំពោះសកម្មភាពរបស់អាជ្ញាធរទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ គ្រប់លំដាប់ថ្នាក់ ដែលបានប្រើសកម្មភាពហិង្សាយ៉ាងកំរោល និងអាក្រក់មើលជាទីបំផុត ក្នុងការចាប់ខ្លួនព្រះតេជព្រះគុណ លួន សុវ៉ាត នៅកណ្ដាលថ្ងៃត្រង់ ក្នុងចំណោមមនុស្សជាសាក្សីរាប់រយនាក់នៅទីសាធារណៈ។
សង្គមស៊ីវិលជាតិ និងអន្តរជាតិ បានថ្កោលទោសយ៉ាងខ្លាំងចំពោះសមត្ថកិច្ចទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ ដែលបានប្រើហិង្សា និងដាក់លក្ខខណ្ឌទាំងបង្ខំដល់ភិក្ខុ លួន សុវ៉ាត ឲ្យបញ្ឈប់ការឈឺឆ្អាលរបស់ព្រះអង្គទៅលើទុក្ខវេទនារបស់ពលរដ្ឋ ដូចកើតមានចំពោះអ្នកភូមិនៅតំបន់បឹងកក់ និងពលរដ្ឋសហគមន៍បុរីកីឡាជាដើម។
នាយកប្រតិបត្តិនៃគណៈកម្មការសិទ្ធិមនុស្សអាស៊ី លោក វ៉ង កៃស៊ីង (Wong Kaishing) មានប្រសាសន៍ថា កម្ពុជាគួររក្សាសេចក្ដីថ្លៃថ្នូររបស់ខ្លួនតាមរយៈការគោរពសិទ្ធិ មនុស្សឲ្យបានត្រឹមត្រូវ និងបញ្ឈប់ជាបន្ទាន់នូវការបង្ក្រាបហ្វូងបាតុករ ឬការចាប់ក្រុមអ្នកតវ៉ាយ៉ាងហិង្សា ដើម្បីផ្ដន្ទាទោសដោយគ្មានហេតុផល និងមូលដ្ឋានច្បាប់។
លោក កៃស៊ីង មានប្រសាសន៍ថា សម្ពាធដ៏ធ្ងន់ធ្ងររបស់រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា មកលើពលរដ្ឋរបស់ខ្លួនអាចនាំឲ្យកម្ពុជាបរាជ័យក្នុងការធ្វើជា ប្រធានអាស៊ាន និងខូចកេរ្តិ៍ឈ្មោះក្នុងឆាកអន្តរជាតិ ក្នុងបរិបទនៃការរំលោភសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស៖ «នេះគឺគំនាបដ៏អាក្រក់របស់រដ្ឋាភិបាលមកលើពលរដ្ឋស្លូតត្រង់។ យើងទាមទារឲ្យរដ្ឋាភិបាលដោះលែងពលរដ្ឋដែលកំពុងជាប់ឃុំឃាំងដោយសារ បញ្ហាដីធ្លីទាំងនោះ កាន់តែឆាប់តាមដែលអាចធ្វើទៅបាន។ ម៉្យាងទៀតអាជ្ញាធរមានសមត្ថកិច្ចមិនត្រូវចាប់ខ្លួនអ្នកដែល គ្រាន់តែបញ្ចេញតាមឆន្ទៈរបស់គេដាក់ពន្ធនាគារនោះឡើយ»។
ការថ្លែងរបស់មន្ត្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់នៃគណៈកម្មការសិទ្ធិមនុស្សអាស៊ី រូបនេះ ធ្វើឡើងនៅបន្ទាប់ពីមានការធ្វើទុក្ខបុកម្នេញផ្នែកតុលាការមកលើ ព្រះតេជព្រះគុណ លួន សុវ៉ាត និងការចាប់ខ្លួនពលរដ្ឋតំបន់បឹងកក់ ១៥នាក់ កាលពីពេលថ្មីៗនេះ។
ក្រុមអ្នកឃ្លាំមើលអំពីការគោរពសិទ្ធិមនុស្សក្នុងស្រុកព្រមានថា ប្រសិនបើរដ្ឋាភិបាលមិនផ្តល់លទ្ធភាពគ្រប់បែបយ៉ាងឲ្យពលរដ្ឋមាន សិទ្ធិក្នុងការបញ្ចេញមតិដោយសេរី និងមានដំណោះស្រាយសមរម្យនូវរាល់វិបត្តិទាំងឡាយ ដែលកើតមានក្នុងសង្គមទេ នោះទស្សនវិស័យនៃការអភិវឌ្ឍប្រទេស នឹងមិនអាចមានលក្ខណៈយូរអង្វែងបានឡើយ។
មន្ត្រីផ្នែកស៊ើបអង្កេតរបស់អង្គការការពារសិទ្ធិមនុស្សលីកាដូ (Licadho) លោក អំ សំអាត បានថ្កោលទោសចំពោះសកម្មភាពរបស់អាជ្ញាធរទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ គ្រប់លំដាប់ថ្នាក់ ដែលបានប្រើសកម្មភាពហិង្សាយ៉ាងកំរោល និងអាក្រក់មើលជាទីបំផុត ក្នុងការចាប់ខ្លួនព្រះតេជព្រះគុណ លួន សុវ៉ាត នៅកណ្ដាលថ្ងៃត្រង់ ក្នុងចំណោមមនុស្សជាសាក្សីរាប់រយនាក់នៅទីសាធារណៈ។
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
New YouTube Channel Aims to Add Context to Activist Videos
New YouTube Channel Aims to Add Context to Activist Videos
By JENNIFER PRESTONA new YouTube channel devoted to human rights was introduced this week to help raise awareness and provide context for the growing number of videos created by citizen journalists and activists all over the world, YouTube announced in a blog post.
“In the case of human rights, video plays a particularly important role in illuminating what occurs when governments and individuals in power abuse their positions,” the blog post says.
“Nonprofits and activism” is one of the fastest-growing categories on YouTube, according to Olivia Ma, YouTube’s news manager. At the height of the Arab Spring last year, she said, 100,000 videos were uploaded from Egypt, representing a 72 percent increase in uploads from the previous three months, even after the government shut down the Internet for five days.
In Syria, where foreign journalists have been barred from covering the violent clashes, activists have uploaded tens of thousands of videos on YouTube in the past year, allowing the world to see the horrific violence unfolding inside their country. Among them is a graphic video uploaded on Friday showing a young boy lying in a pool of blood after he was shot dead in the street by soldiers.
In this video, millions watched the activist Syriapioneer’s channel appealing for medical attention for the wounded journalist Edith Bouvier.
The Human Rights Channel will be overseen by Witness, an international nonprofit organization that has been using video to help activists document human rights abuses for almost 20 years. They are working with Storyful, a news gathering and curation operation that will help provide verification of videos uploaded onto the platform.
Cambodian government: Stop Violent Response but Peaceful Resolution on ongoing land conflicts
Sign this petition online at: Cambodian government: Stop Violent Response but Peaceful Resolution on ongoing land conflicts
Evictions and forcible confiscations of land continue to rank as one of Cambodia's most pervasive human rights problems, and are in fact growing ever worse. Such actions, coupled with total impunity and a lack of the rule of law, are leading to violence fuelled by deep dissatisfaction over existing resettlement schemes, which in turn lead to violent responses by companies, the authorities and the law enforcement agencies.
Without going back through the decades of land conflict history, the year 2012 alone marks a very worrying trend of human rights violations associated with land conflicts, of which the following are some prominent examples:
On 3 January 2012, many families still residing in Borei Keila were forcibly evicted from their homes by a combined force of over 100 police officials, military police, company employees and security guards. More than200 homes were demolished. The combined force also clashed violently with members of the community. Some police and community members were reportedly injured, while some residents were later arrested and detained by the police. Sadly, On 14 May 2012, a nine-month-old baby died in Kuntha Bopha hospital, where he had been taken after suffering from diarrhoea and fever since his family was forcibly evicted from Borei Keila. The boy, Chan Samnang, fell ill as a direct result of wretched living conditions – including a lack of appropriate shelter, food and services in the Srah Po resettlement site.
On 16 May 2012, a 14-year-old girl, Heng Chantha, was shot dead at around 9am in Broma village, Kampong Domrei commune, Chhlong district, Kratie province, and at least two other villagers arrested, during a violent forced land eviction. Witnesses report that hundreds of armed police and military police used rounds of live ammunition against 1,000 or so villagers to forcibly evict them from their property. The villagers were demonstrating against the loss of their farmland as a result of an economic land concession granted to a subsidiary of Russian-owned Kastin LLC.
On 24 May 2012, 13 women affected by the land conflict at Phnom Penh’s BoeungKak Lake who have led protests against the eviction were convicted by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on charges of inciting others to take land illegally under Article 504 of the Penal Code and obtaining land illegally under Articles 34 and 259 of the Land Law 2001after being detained without charge for a period of 48 hours. The 13 women are Kong Chantha, TolSreypov, TepVanny, PovSophea, Suong Samai, Pan Chhunret, Heng Nom, Chan Navy, Po Davy, Nguon Kimleang, Song Sreyleap, Chheng Leap and Nget Kun. Seven women were sentenced to two and a half years in prison, five to two years (with six months’ suspended sentence), and 72-year-old Nget Khun to a year (with a year and six months’ suspended sentence).
On the same day, the Venerable Loun Savath, a prominent human rights activist and monk joined some one hundred protestors outside the court. As shown in this video clip, at around 10am, Ven. Loun Savath was manhandled and forced into an unmarked Land Cruiser by policemen, army officers and unidentified men before being driven to WatBotum Pagoda, where police and officials from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Cults and Religion barricaded him inside. As of 4pm, Wat Botum remained completely sealed off, with even fellow monks unable to gain access to the site. It was widely rumoured that Loun Sovathwas going to be defrocked, although he appears to have been spared this punishment at least for the time being, though he has vowed to continue his activism – and has already been seen doing so. Last year, LounSavath was banned from entering all pagodas in Phnom Penh as a result of his human rights and community activism.
On the same day – 24 May 2012 –170 houses in KohNhek district, Mondulkiri province, were burned down by the local authorities, who claimed that the residents were living on land granted by way of an economicland concession to a Vietnamese company for a rubber plantation.
The continuing problem of land evictions and the violent response by local authorities against protesters and communities who are only advocating for their rights to be respected shall no be longer tolerated. These issues would have better results if the authorities focused on peaceful settlements and adhered to human rights principles in the interests of their citizens and in the interests of establishing a country that observes the rule of law.
We, the undersigned group and ordinary citizens; therefore, call on the Royal Government of Cambodia to:
1. Take immediate and peaceful action to resolve all land conflicts arising across the country, to halt all forced evictions of people, and to consult extensively with affected communities to secure long-lasting resolutions.
2. Immediately release villagers and community representatives who have been charged for their advocacy, in particular the women representatives of Boeung Kak Lake jailed on 24 May 2012.
3. Stop harassing and intimidating human rights defenders, such as the Venerable Loun Savath, who was temporarily detained on 24 May 2012 and explain the ground of his detention.
4. Immediately find suitable and appropriate re-settlement sites with all necessary facilities and living conditions for those residents already evicted, such as those from BoreiKeila, BoeungKak, Mondulkiri, Kratie, and so on. A proper living condition in resettlement sites will cost only a minimal budget by investors and developers.
5. Immediately begin full and proper investigations into the death of the 14-year-old girl from Kratie province.
6. Take pride in putting Cambodian’s livelihood ahead of the development at the expense of people and children’s rights and lives.
Evictions and forcible confiscations of land continue to rank as one of Cambodia's most pervasive human rights problems, and are in fact growing ever worse. Such actions, coupled with total impunity and a lack of the rule of law, are leading to violence fuelled by deep dissatisfaction over existing resettlement schemes, which in turn lead to violent responses by companies, the authorities and the law enforcement agencies.
Without going back through the decades of land conflict history, the year 2012 alone marks a very worrying trend of human rights violations associated with land conflicts, of which the following are some prominent examples:
On 3 January 2012, many families still residing in Borei Keila were forcibly evicted from their homes by a combined force of over 100 police officials, military police, company employees and security guards. More than200 homes were demolished. The combined force also clashed violently with members of the community. Some police and community members were reportedly injured, while some residents were later arrested and detained by the police. Sadly, On 14 May 2012, a nine-month-old baby died in Kuntha Bopha hospital, where he had been taken after suffering from diarrhoea and fever since his family was forcibly evicted from Borei Keila. The boy, Chan Samnang, fell ill as a direct result of wretched living conditions – including a lack of appropriate shelter, food and services in the Srah Po resettlement site.
On 16 May 2012, a 14-year-old girl, Heng Chantha, was shot dead at around 9am in Broma village, Kampong Domrei commune, Chhlong district, Kratie province, and at least two other villagers arrested, during a violent forced land eviction. Witnesses report that hundreds of armed police and military police used rounds of live ammunition against 1,000 or so villagers to forcibly evict them from their property. The villagers were demonstrating against the loss of their farmland as a result of an economic land concession granted to a subsidiary of Russian-owned Kastin LLC.
On 24 May 2012, 13 women affected by the land conflict at Phnom Penh’s BoeungKak Lake who have led protests against the eviction were convicted by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on charges of inciting others to take land illegally under Article 504 of the Penal Code and obtaining land illegally under Articles 34 and 259 of the Land Law 2001after being detained without charge for a period of 48 hours. The 13 women are Kong Chantha, TolSreypov, TepVanny, PovSophea, Suong Samai, Pan Chhunret, Heng Nom, Chan Navy, Po Davy, Nguon Kimleang, Song Sreyleap, Chheng Leap and Nget Kun. Seven women were sentenced to two and a half years in prison, five to two years (with six months’ suspended sentence), and 72-year-old Nget Khun to a year (with a year and six months’ suspended sentence).
On the same day, the Venerable Loun Savath, a prominent human rights activist and monk joined some one hundred protestors outside the court. As shown in this video clip, at around 10am, Ven. Loun Savath was manhandled and forced into an unmarked Land Cruiser by policemen, army officers and unidentified men before being driven to WatBotum Pagoda, where police and officials from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Cults and Religion barricaded him inside. As of 4pm, Wat Botum remained completely sealed off, with even fellow monks unable to gain access to the site. It was widely rumoured that Loun Sovathwas going to be defrocked, although he appears to have been spared this punishment at least for the time being, though he has vowed to continue his activism – and has already been seen doing so. Last year, LounSavath was banned from entering all pagodas in Phnom Penh as a result of his human rights and community activism.
On the same day – 24 May 2012 –170 houses in KohNhek district, Mondulkiri province, were burned down by the local authorities, who claimed that the residents were living on land granted by way of an economicland concession to a Vietnamese company for a rubber plantation.
The continuing problem of land evictions and the violent response by local authorities against protesters and communities who are only advocating for their rights to be respected shall no be longer tolerated. These issues would have better results if the authorities focused on peaceful settlements and adhered to human rights principles in the interests of their citizens and in the interests of establishing a country that observes the rule of law.
We, the undersigned group and ordinary citizens; therefore, call on the Royal Government of Cambodia to:
1. Take immediate and peaceful action to resolve all land conflicts arising across the country, to halt all forced evictions of people, and to consult extensively with affected communities to secure long-lasting resolutions.
2. Immediately release villagers and community representatives who have been charged for their advocacy, in particular the women representatives of Boeung Kak Lake jailed on 24 May 2012.
3. Stop harassing and intimidating human rights defenders, such as the Venerable Loun Savath, who was temporarily detained on 24 May 2012 and explain the ground of his detention.
4. Immediately find suitable and appropriate re-settlement sites with all necessary facilities and living conditions for those residents already evicted, such as those from BoreiKeila, BoeungKak, Mondulkiri, Kratie, and so on. A proper living condition in resettlement sites will cost only a minimal budget by investors and developers.
5. Immediately begin full and proper investigations into the death of the 14-year-old girl from Kratie province.
6. Take pride in putting Cambodian’s livelihood ahead of the development at the expense of people and children’s rights and lives.
ព្រះតេជព្រះគុណ លួន សុវ៉ាត នៅតែបន្តសកម្មភាព
2012-05-28
ព្រះតេជព្រះគុណ លួន សុវ៉ាត មានថេរដីកាថា បើទោះបីមានការរឹតត្បិតធ្ងន់ធ្ងរជាលក្ខណៈប្រព័ន្ធរបស់សមត្ថកិច្ចទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ ដែលហាមប្រាមព្រះអង្គមិនឲ្យចូលរួមធ្វើកូដកម្ម និងបាតុកម្មអហិង្សាជាមួយពលរដ្ឋក្នុងបញ្ហាដីធ្លីក៏ដោយ ក៏ព្រះអង្គប្ដេជ្ញាថា នៅតែបន្តសកម្មភាពរបស់ព្រះអង្គដដែល រហូតដល់មានដំណោះស្រាយសមរម្យជូនពលរដ្ឋទាំងនោះ។
ព្រះតេជព្រះគុណ លួន សាវ៉ាត ទទួលពានរង្វាន់ Hellman Hammett នៅសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក កាលពីខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ២០១១
នៅក្នុងបទសម្ភាសន៍តាមទូរស័ព្ទរវាងលោក តាំង សារ៉ាដា ជាមួយព្រះតេជព្រះគុណ លួន សុវ៉ាត ព្រះអង្គក៏បានជំរុញឲ្យសហគមន៍ជាតិ និងអន្តរជាតិ ឃ្លាំមើល និងការពារដល់សន្តិសុខ សុវត្ថិភាពរបស់ព្រះអង្គបន្ថែម។
សូមស្ដាប់បទសម្ភាសន៍នេះដូចតទៅ៖
On Bravery
“Sometimes they accuse and threaten and defrock [monks], and those monks were stopped. Some monks go outside and escape from Cambodia as refugees. Until now, there has been no monk like me because they are afraid. They are afraid because they know it is very dangerous.“Still, my heart, my activity, I’m still strong. Because I’ll do anything to help the people that are suffering.”The last thing Sovath said to me was this:“My safety right now … I’m not sure. Today it’s okay, but tomorrow I don’t know. I may be stopped from doing anything, but right now I try to help, continue and continue. I won’t stop. So my safety in the future … I’m not sure.”That’s pretty brave.
Op-Ed: Healther Stilwell
Since I moved to Cambodia last year, I’ve had more than a few people tell me that they think I’m pretty brave for living here. I’ll let the secret out – I’m not.
The truth is that for a traveler, the so-called Kingdom of Wonder truly lives up to its name. Whatever you’re looking for, Cambodia’s probably got it. You can fly through the capital high as a kite on cheap drugs, cigarettes and booze; be spiritually awakened at the ancient temples of Angkor Wat; or relax among mountains and rivers in a sleepy provincial town that was once the playing-ground of the French colonial elite. Assuming you don’t go looking for trouble, you don’t have to be all that brave. And if trouble finds you, as a traveler, you almost always have the luxury of getting the hell out.
But that doesn’t mean there’s not an ugly side – the massive gap between the rich and poor, the rapid and brutal destruction of homes, forests, rivers, and oceans, and the blatant absence of basic rights for so many – this is the other side to the country; a side that casual travelers may be oblivious to, but of which Cambodians are painfully aware. Most abysmal is the violent retribution of those who try to speak out and fight for their rights in the country they call home.
In the nine months I’ve been here, this violence has escalated. To be honest, it’s getting scary. But I’m not the one who has to be brave. Cambodians are.
The first story I wrote here was about a local man who was beaten unconscious by police forces for trying to save a few families’ homes from demolition. The beating was wild and brutal, but the craziest part was that the whole thing was broadcast on YouTube, the video coming to a close as the man laid limp and bloody on the ground. I spoke to him after he had some time to recover. This is what he said:
“I love the Khmer people, I live for Khmer and I can die for Khmer … they said they wanted to kill me, but I said I won’t stop unless you stop harming people and you start to respect the law. I will sacrifice my life to protect the villagers.”
That’s brave.
Abuse of Power Draws Criticism From All Corners
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Abuse of Power Draws Criticism From All Corners
 |
| Loun Savath said Thursday he is following the teachings of Buddha by defending human rights and he vowed to continue his activism. (Photo: by Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer) |
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Reporters,VOA Khmer | Washington, D.C
“If the country still allows such anarchy, one day we will all die together. Meaning that all the leaders will die too.”
A group of 23 human rights NGOs issued a statement Tuesday condemning ongoing violence by state security forces against civilians.
The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee accused members of the soldiers and police of serving private companies over the interests of Cambodian citizens, adding its voice to widespread criticism of the government’s handling of land issues, extrajudicial killings and other abuses of power.
The Action Committee noted 24 separate incidents of violence since the beginning of the year, with some ending in the killing of civilians, and none having had proper investigations afterwards. More than 400 people are facing court action in land disputes, the rights group Adhoc said. “They are living under threat,” Ny Chakrya, Adhoc’s chief investigator, said.
The statement comes following the shooting death of environmental activist Chut Wutty in Koh Kong province, the accidental killing of a 14-year-old girl in a crackdown in Kratie province, and the arrest of 15 representatives of families in a land dispute in Phnom Penh, all in recent weeks.
It adds to mounting criticism of the government as Cambodia’s head to the polls on Sunday to elect local commune council leaders.
Tit Sothea, a spokesman for the government, said the administration recognized that “accidents” and “unintentional killings” had taken place, but he said the arrest of the Boeung Kak protesters last week was in accordance with the law.
Nevertheless opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua said she has appealed to the US government to halt aid to Cambodia until its human rights efforts improve, especially given the quick trial and guilty verdicts for the 13 Boeung Kak protestes, who were all women.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Monk Held Over Eviction Protest
Monk Held Over Eviction Protest
2012-05-24
Cambodian authorities detain a prominent monk and send 13 women to jail over land eviction demonstrations.
Policemen force prominent monk Loun Savath into a car amid protests over a forced land eviction case in Phnom Penh, May 24, 2012.
Cambodian authorities briefly detained a prominent activist monk on Thursday after he joined protests against the jailing of 13 women over a long-running forced land eviction case.
Loun Savath had participated in the protests staged by several hundred people from the Boeung Kak Lake community in Phnom Penh who were evicted from their homes, which are being torn down to make way for a residential development project.
Authorities accused the monk of "causing instability” by protesting against a court decision to jail 13 women members of the Boeung Kak community for their role in another protest earlier this week.
Police officers and monks from the Ministry of Cults and Religion forced Loun Savath into a car at about 10:00 a.m. and took him to the Wat Botum pagoda.
Loun Savath, who was not allowed to return home until late in the evening, said that the authorities locked him up for six hours.
“Today, I received massive pressure and I was locked inside a room. I couldn’t walk anywhere and the authorities didn’t allow rights groups or representatives of [foreign] embassies to see me.”
“They accused me of being a mastermind in leading villagers to protest,” he said. “This is not about Buddhism, it is a political issue.”
Thumbprint
Municipal monk officials threatened to have Loun Savath defrocked as a monk, but released him after he put his thumbprint on a statement assuring that he will not join future protests, the monk said.
“If I hadn’t agreed to not participate in the protests in the future, I would have been defrocked and sent to jail.”
“The authorities have violated my rights and freedom. They have abused and threatened me,” he said.
Loun Savath, the recipient of a prominent award from the New-York based Human Rights Watch last year, was banned in April from entering pagodas in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh after he participated in land protests
He was unfazed despite his detention, saying he would not stop his activism even though he was concerned about his personal safety.
Loun Savath had participated in the protests staged by several hundred people from the Boeung Kak Lake community in Phnom Penh who were evicted from their homes, which are being torn down to make way for a residential development project.
Authorities accused the monk of "causing instability” by protesting against a court decision to jail 13 women members of the Boeung Kak community for their role in another protest earlier this week.
Police officers and monks from the Ministry of Cults and Religion forced Loun Savath into a car at about 10:00 a.m. and took him to the Wat Botum pagoda.
Loun Savath, who was not allowed to return home until late in the evening, said that the authorities locked him up for six hours.
“Today, I received massive pressure and I was locked inside a room. I couldn’t walk anywhere and the authorities didn’t allow rights groups or representatives of [foreign] embassies to see me.”
“They accused me of being a mastermind in leading villagers to protest,” he said. “This is not about Buddhism, it is a political issue.”
Thumbprint
Municipal monk officials threatened to have Loun Savath defrocked as a monk, but released him after he put his thumbprint on a statement assuring that he will not join future protests, the monk said.
“If I hadn’t agreed to not participate in the protests in the future, I would have been defrocked and sent to jail.”
“The authorities have violated my rights and freedom. They have abused and threatened me,” he said.
Loun Savath, the recipient of a prominent award from the New-York based Human Rights Watch last year, was banned in April from entering pagodas in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh after he participated in land protests
He was unfazed despite his detention, saying he would not stop his activism even though he was concerned about his personal safety.
Word of the Day from Venerable Loun Sovath បដិវត្ត ឬ បដិបត្តិ
ពិភពលោកសព្វថ្ងែ គេមិនប្រើពាក្យបដិវត្តទេ ពីព្រោះពាក្យនេះឬចលនានេះត្រូវបានសាប រលាយទៅហើយកាលពី៣០ឆ្នាំមុន។ សំរាប់កម្ពុជាសព្វថ្ងែ គឺបដិបត្តិ...បដិបត្តិតាមច្បាប់ឬព្រះ ធម្មវិន័យដែលបានចែងយ៉ាងត្រឹមត្រូវរួចមកហើយ។ បើបុគ្គលណាធ្វើខុស ត្រូវតែទទួល ទោស។ មានតែយើងស្រុះដែគ្នាទេ ដើម្បីពង្រឹងច្បាប់និងព្រះធម៌វិន័យទាំងអស់គ្នា។ ព្រះភិក្ខុលួន សុវ៉ាត់
Today, we don't use the term "Revolutionary" any more because this term or this movement has been disappeared since 30 years ago. For Cambodia today, we must use the term "Implementation". Cambodian people individually must follow and implement the "Rule of law" or "Vinaya or Buddhist disciplines" in which rightly created accordingly. If any individual violated, he/she must be accountable. We must shoulder together to ensure that the "Rule of law" and "Vinaya" have been rightly implemented. Venerable Luon Sovath
ព្រះតេជព្រះគុណ លួន សុវ៉ាត លាតត្រដាងកិច្ចសន្យាដោយបង្ខំ
ដោយ ផន រីណា
2012-05-26
ព្រះភិក្ខុសង្ឃ លួន សុវ៉ាត ដែលរងការបង្ខំពីអាជ្ញាធរក្រុងភ្នំពេញ ឲ្យចុះហត្ថលេខាលើកិច្ចសន្យាដោយបង្ខំ កាលពីថ្ងៃទី២៤ ខែឧសភា កន្លងមកនេះ បានលាតត្រដាងឯកសារកិច្ចសន្យាដែលផ្ទុយពីឆន្ទៈរបស់ព្រះអង្គ។
កម្លាំងសមត្ថកិច្ចចាប់ព្រះកាយព្រះភិក្ខុ លួន សុវ៉ាត នៅមុខសាលាដំបូងរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ កាលពីរសៀលថ្ងៃទី២៤ ខែឧសភា ឆ្នាំ២០១២។
ស្ថិតក្នុងបន្ទប់មួយ នៅវត្តបទុមវតី ហ៊ុមព័ទ្ធទៅដោយអាជ្ញាធរចម្រុះប្រមាណជា ៥០នាក់ ក្នុងនោះមានទាំងគណៈសង្ឃផងនោះ ព្រះភិក្ខុសង្ឃ លួន សុវ៉ាត ត្រូវបានចាប់បង្ខំឲ្យចុះហត្ថលេខាយល់ព្រមលើលិខិតមួយ ដែលមានសម្ដេចសង្ឃ នន្ទ ង៉ែត ជាសាក្សី។
ខ្លឹមសារក្នុងលិខិតកិច្ចសន្យា ដែលសរសេរដោយដៃ ទុកអោយព្រះភិក្ខុសង្ឃ លួន សុវ៉ាត ចុះហត្ថលេខា ដែលវិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរីទទួលបាននោះ សរសេរថា ១.ចាប់ពីថ្ងៃនេះតទៅ ខ្ញុំព្រះករុណាអាត្មាភាពឈប់ដឹកនាំបាតុកម្ម កូដកម្ម កុប្បកម្ម ឬសកម្មភាពតវ៉ាជំទាស់គ្រប់រូបភាពដែលបង្កអោយមានការប៉ះពាល់ដល់សន្តិសុខសណ្ដាប់ធ្នាប់សាធារណៈសង្គម។ ព្រះអង្គយល់ព្រមរួមរស់ជាមួយសហគមន៍សង្ឃគង់នៅក្នុងវត្ត ហើយក្នុងករណីប្រព្រឹត្តខុសនឹងកិច្ចសន្យានេះ ខ្ញុំព្រះករុណាអាត្មាភាព លួន សាវ៉ាត សូមទទួលខុសត្រូវចំពោះមុខច្បាប់ដោយគ្មានតវ៉ា។
ក្រោយពីការដោះលែងនៅថ្ងៃទី២៤ ឧសភា ព្រះភិក្ខុសង្ឃ លួន សុវ៉ាត មានថេរដីកាថា ព្រះអង្គគ្មានជម្រើសទេ គឺព្រះអង្គត្រូវបង្ខំព្រះទ័យចុះហត្ថលេខាលើកិច្ចសន្យានោះ បើមិនដូច្នេះទេ ព្រះអង្គនឹងត្រូវចាប់ផ្សឹកនាពេលនោះ និងបន្ទាប់មកតុលាការនឹងធ្វើការចោទប្រកាន់ព្រះអង្គពីបទញុះញង់ប្រព្រឹត្តឧក្រិដ្ឋ។
ព្រះភិក្ខុសង្ឃ លួន សុវ៉ាត៖ «មានតែអាត្មាតែមួយគត់ ដែលត្រូវបានគេចាក់សោបិទទ្វារសូម្បីតែដើរមួយជំហានក៏មិនបាន ហើយនៅលើខ្លួនប្រាណយើងត្រូវបានគេដកហូតយកទាំងអស់ គិតថាជារឿងមួយបំបិទសិទ្ធិសេរីភាព។ ជារឿងបង្ខិតបង្ខំ ជារឿងគំរាមកំហែងទាំងស្រុង ហើយករណីនៅថ្ងៃនេះ... គឺប្រសិនបើអាត្មាមិនចុះហត្ថលេខាផ្ដិតមេដៃនៅលើលិខិតទាំងនោះទេ អាត្មានឹងត្រូវបានគេចាប់ផ្សឹកដោយបង្ខំ ហើយនឹងត្រូវបានគេកាត់ទោសដោយប្រព័ន្ធតុលាការពីរបីសំណុំរឿងទៀត ដូច្នេះការដាក់សម្ពាធដ៏ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរពីស្ថាប័នច្បាប់ ពីតុលាការផង ពីខាងទាំងសង្ឃប្រើអំណាចកៀបមកលើអាត្មាហ្នឹង ធ្វើឲ្យអាត្មាតែម្នាក់ឯងតទល់គ្មានតម្លាភាព។ ហើយការបិទបាំងមិនឲ្យអង្គការសារព័ត៌មានចូលទៀតក្នុងវត្ត គឺជារូបភាពមួយហាក់ដូចជាចាប់បង្ខំអាត្មាទាំងស្រុងតែម្ដង»។
ព្រះសង្ឃជាសកម្មជនសិទ្ធិមនុស្សរងការបង្ខំឲ្យបញ្ឈប់សកម្មភាពរបស់ខ្លួន
ព្រះសង្ឃជាសកម្មជនសិទ្ធិមនុស្សរងការបង្ខំឲ្យបញ្ឈប់សកម្មភាពរបស់ខ្លួន
រូបថត៖ AP
ភិក្ខុ លួន សាវ៉ាតជាសកម្មជនការពារសិទ្ធិ ដោយចូលរួមយ៉ាងសកម្មជាមួយអ្នកភូមិក្នុងការតវ៉ាចំពោះការរំលោភដីធ្លីនិងសិទ្ធិរស់រានរបស់ពួកគេ។
«កិច្ចសន្យាហ្នឹងជារឿងធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ ព្រោះវាមិនមែនប៉ះពាល់ត្រឹមអាត្មាទេ វាប៉ះពាល់ទាំងអស់គ្នាហ្នឹង»។
ព្រះសង្ឃពុទ្ធសាសនាដែលជាសកម្មជនការពារសិទ្ធិ មនុស្សមួយអង្គ មានសង្ឃដិកាថា ព្រះអង្គត្រូវបានបង្ខំឲ្យយល់ព្រមលើកិច្ចសន្យាបញ្ឈប់សកម្មភាពរបស់ព្រះអង្គក្នុងការការពារសិទ្ធិមនុស្សតទៅទៀត បន្ទាប់ពីព្រះអង្គបានចូលរួមយ៉ាងសកម្មជាមួយអ្នកភូមិក្នុងការតវ៉ាចំពោះការរំលោភដីធ្លីនិងសិទ្ធិរស់រានរបស់ពួកគេ។
ភិក្ខុ លួន សាវ៉ាតមានសង្ឃដិកាថា ព្រះអង្គត្រូវបានបង្ខំឲ្យចុះកិច្ចសន្យាបញ្ឈប់សកម្មភាពរបស់ព្រះអង្គជាមួយក្រុមអ្នកភូមិដែលតវ៉ារឿងដីធ្លីរបស់ពួកគេតទៅទៀត។
«កិច្ចសន្យាហ្នឹងជារឿងធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ ព្រោះវាមិនមែនប៉ះពាល់ត្រឹមអាត្មាទេ វាប៉ះពាល់ទាំងអស់គ្នាហ្នឹង»។
ភិក្ខុលួន សាវ៉ាត ដែលជាសកម្មជនការពារសិទ្ធិមនុស្សដ៏សកម្មមួយរូប ត្រូវបានក្រុមអាជ្ញាធរប៉ូលិសនិងមន្រ្តីសង្ឃចាប់ព្រះកាយទាំងបង្ខំ បន្ទាប់ពីព្រះអង្គបានចូលរួមជាមួយក្រុមអ្នកភូមិបឹងកក់និងថតរូបការតវ៉ារបស់ពួកគេប្រឆាំងនឹងការចាប់ខ្លួនអ្នកភូមិនេះចំនួន១៣នាក់យកមកជំនុំជម្រះទោសនៅតុលាការក្រុងភ្នំពេញកាលពីព្រឹកម៉ិញ។
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Exposing on the actual arresting of Venerable Luon Sovath
This video clip is taken by Venerable Luon Sovath during forcible arrest.
"Monks are not arresting the monks, laymen are arresting the monk" - Ven. Loun Sovath
"Cambodian Buddhist monks are under pressure of the politicians" - Ven. Loun Sovath
"You (laymen) arrest the monk, it means you arrest Lord Buddha including all Cambodian monks and Supreme Patriarchs" - Ven. Loun Sovath
"No one can ban me from fulfilling my tasks, the tasks that are not opposing the Vinaya and the Rule of Law" - Ven. Loun Sovath
"You arrested me by force, by anger and hatred, by greed and delusion....I have no anger and revenge, and I forgive you all" - Ven. Loun Sovath
"The means of non-violence will overcome all obstacles" - Ven. Loun Sovath
"Natthi Santi Paramam Sukham = No Other Happiness is Greater Than Peace" - Ven. Loun Sovath
Trumped charges against Ven. Loun Sovath and the ridiculous promise he was forced to sign
Op-Ed: KI Media
Trumped up charges against Ven. Loun Sovath: On 14 February 2012, Ven. Loun Sovath was accused of [receiving] a call from the Lotus Revolution movement to free Cambodia and the Cambodian population in 2012. He is also accused of owning photos and CDs showing the actions of Sourn Serey Ratha. He is also accused on participating in a KPPM [led by Sourn Serey Ratha] meeting in the US on 16 May 2011.
Trumped up charges against Ven. Loun Sovath: On 14 February 2012, Ven. Loun Sovath was accused of incitement to crime in Phnom Penh and overseas in 2011.
Trumped up charges against Ven. Loun Sovath: On 19 March 2012, Ven. Loun Sovath was accused of incitement for crime in Phnom Penh and overseas in 2011.
On 24 May 2012, Ven. Loun Sovath was forced to sign this ridiculous promise which violates his freedom rights.
Meeting with His Excellency Deepak Ohbrai, Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Op-Ed: CambodiaBuddhism.Info
Joint Statement
Most Respect Venerable Vipassana, the Abbot of Wat Khmer
The Honorable Deepak Ohbrai, MP Calgary East Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Distinguished Guests and Participants;
Today, it is very honored for our Khmer-Canadian community to welcome His Honorable Deepak Ohbrai, the Member of Parliament of Calgary East and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Representatives of our community members had a chance to meeting MP Deepak at his office during March this year, and the visiting of MP Deepak today is meaningful for us. Of course, we are confirmed and confident that meeting with MP Deepak means we are meeting with the Canadian Government. And our community members will have chance to learn the unlearned things and our government will hear the unheard things from us as well.
Today, we have three important issues to discuss with MP Deepak:
1. Our Khmer-Canadian Buddhist Cultural Center in here, its achievements and future plans
2. Latest development and ongoing issues at our mother land, Cambodia
3. Recent forcible arrest of Venerable Loun Sovath who is the Buddhist monk and human rights activist in Cambodia.
Khmer-Canadian Buddhist Cultural Center
Khmer-Canadian community is very proud to have this place for its multi-functional purposes. It is a temple, a shelter for monks and a center for practicing and preserving Khmer culture.
This place was initially purchased in 2002 and completed its renovation in 2003 after the relocating from a residential area in South East of Calgary. Actually, our association was created since the 80s when many Khmer members resettled in Calgary and vicinity. From that time, our senior members put much of their effort and dedication to looking for a place in which we can worship, conduct rituals and serve the youths, the children, the seniors as well as the women.
The center is also opening to the public for meditation classes in every weekend. Those participants have hugely learned on how to have self-management, mental and spiritual development.
At the moment, our community members and leaders have discussed on the plan to solve the current problems such as: expansion plan of the Ogden road in the front of the center by the city, narrow parking lot, old building, no space for playground of our children, not so healthy shelter for the monks and other necessaries. If time arrives, and we have sufficient fund, we will relocate to the larger place to help solve all those problems as well as to serve our growing members in our community.
The Khmer-Canadian Buddhist Cultural Center here is very important for all of us. It has served us physical development, mental development and spiritual development. It has served both original Khmers and mainstream local people. More than this, it has helped develop our second home country of Canada on social, cultural, political and economic development.
Latest development and ongoing issues at our mother land, Cambodia
Although we all have resettled a new life in Canada and have enjoyed the provision of Canada on its State of Welfare, Rule of Law, Democracy, Human Rights and Equality; our community members are still regarding and missing the Cambodia as the unforgettable motherland. Each year, the members go back to visit family members, relatives and home villages in Cambodia.
More than this, our members are following closely the latest development of political, social and economic in Cambodia.
After the Paris Peace Agreement, we do hope things are getting better and changes we have expected are not generally satisfying us. According to recent report on human rights index by the government of America, this recent year, Cambodian government has not undertaken and taken its serious implementation on the respect of human rights. Cambodian citizens who are waking up from the past trauma have sometime been worsened by the recent policies of the government such as: land grabbing, land concession, partial judiciary system and authoritative leadership of the Prime Minister.
As the matter of fact, and as Cambodia is the chair of ASEAN this year; Cambodia must play its role model on bettering its administration, ensuring the respect of human rights, enforcing the respect of the rule of law, and developing the country which could serve the bottom line citizens, not just for the riches, the powerful and the elites at the present.
We would like to call for your attention, the Government of Canada in few below aspects:
- Paris Peace Agreement and its key goals must be achieved in some acceptable level in Cambodia during these passing 30 years.
- Khmer Rouge Tribunal must be impartial, independent and no interference from the government.
- The actual perpetrators and justice for the death of Mr. Chut Wutty, the green forest activist and environmentalist of Cambodia, shot to dead by the police official on April 26, 2012, must be convicted and properly investigated.
- Forced eviction and land grabbing in capital Phnom Penh and throughout the countryside of Cambodia must be stopped and justly solved.
- Venerable Loun Sovath who is a Buddhist monk, human rights defender and non-violence preacher must not be harassed and disturbed by the authority of Cambodian government for his works to preaching peace, compassion and non-violence to all Cambodian people.
Recent forcible arrest of Venerable Loun Sovath who is the Buddhist monk and human rights activist in Cambodia
For this matter, we are speechless to the situation but just take your few minutes to watch video clip as following:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPjeihxDcL4&feature=player_embedded
Thank you very much,
Listen the whole audio voice
Joint Statement
Most Respect Venerable Vipassana, the Abbot of Wat Khmer
The Honorable Deepak Ohbrai, MP Calgary East Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Distinguished Guests and Participants;
Today, it is very honored for our Khmer-Canadian community to welcome His Honorable Deepak Ohbrai, the Member of Parliament of Calgary East and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Representatives of our community members had a chance to meeting MP Deepak at his office during March this year, and the visiting of MP Deepak today is meaningful for us. Of course, we are confirmed and confident that meeting with MP Deepak means we are meeting with the Canadian Government. And our community members will have chance to learn the unlearned things and our government will hear the unheard things from us as well.
Today, we have three important issues to discuss with MP Deepak:
1. Our Khmer-Canadian Buddhist Cultural Center in here, its achievements and future plans
2. Latest development and ongoing issues at our mother land, Cambodia
3. Recent forcible arrest of Venerable Loun Sovath who is the Buddhist monk and human rights activist in Cambodia.
Khmer-Canadian Buddhist Cultural Center
Khmer-Canadian community is very proud to have this place for its multi-functional purposes. It is a temple, a shelter for monks and a center for practicing and preserving Khmer culture.
This place was initially purchased in 2002 and completed its renovation in 2003 after the relocating from a residential area in South East of Calgary. Actually, our association was created since the 80s when many Khmer members resettled in Calgary and vicinity. From that time, our senior members put much of their effort and dedication to looking for a place in which we can worship, conduct rituals and serve the youths, the children, the seniors as well as the women.
The center is also opening to the public for meditation classes in every weekend. Those participants have hugely learned on how to have self-management, mental and spiritual development.
At the moment, our community members and leaders have discussed on the plan to solve the current problems such as: expansion plan of the Ogden road in the front of the center by the city, narrow parking lot, old building, no space for playground of our children, not so healthy shelter for the monks and other necessaries. If time arrives, and we have sufficient fund, we will relocate to the larger place to help solve all those problems as well as to serve our growing members in our community.
The Khmer-Canadian Buddhist Cultural Center here is very important for all of us. It has served us physical development, mental development and spiritual development. It has served both original Khmers and mainstream local people. More than this, it has helped develop our second home country of Canada on social, cultural, political and economic development.
Latest development and ongoing issues at our mother land, Cambodia
Although we all have resettled a new life in Canada and have enjoyed the provision of Canada on its State of Welfare, Rule of Law, Democracy, Human Rights and Equality; our community members are still regarding and missing the Cambodia as the unforgettable motherland. Each year, the members go back to visit family members, relatives and home villages in Cambodia.
More than this, our members are following closely the latest development of political, social and economic in Cambodia.
After the Paris Peace Agreement, we do hope things are getting better and changes we have expected are not generally satisfying us. According to recent report on human rights index by the government of America, this recent year, Cambodian government has not undertaken and taken its serious implementation on the respect of human rights. Cambodian citizens who are waking up from the past trauma have sometime been worsened by the recent policies of the government such as: land grabbing, land concession, partial judiciary system and authoritative leadership of the Prime Minister.
As the matter of fact, and as Cambodia is the chair of ASEAN this year; Cambodia must play its role model on bettering its administration, ensuring the respect of human rights, enforcing the respect of the rule of law, and developing the country which could serve the bottom line citizens, not just for the riches, the powerful and the elites at the present.
We would like to call for your attention, the Government of Canada in few below aspects:
- Paris Peace Agreement and its key goals must be achieved in some acceptable level in Cambodia during these passing 30 years.
- Khmer Rouge Tribunal must be impartial, independent and no interference from the government.
- The actual perpetrators and justice for the death of Mr. Chut Wutty, the green forest activist and environmentalist of Cambodia, shot to dead by the police official on April 26, 2012, must be convicted and properly investigated.
- Forced eviction and land grabbing in capital Phnom Penh and throughout the countryside of Cambodia must be stopped and justly solved.
- Venerable Loun Sovath who is a Buddhist monk, human rights defender and non-violence preacher must not be harassed and disturbed by the authority of Cambodian government for his works to preaching peace, compassion and non-violence to all Cambodian people.
Recent forcible arrest of Venerable Loun Sovath who is the Buddhist monk and human rights activist in Cambodia
For this matter, we are speechless to the situation but just take your few minutes to watch video clip as following:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPjeihxDcL4&feature=player_embedded
Thank you very much,
Listen the whole audio voice
Friday, May 25, 2012
បទសម្ភាសន៍ជាមួយព្រះតេជគុណ លួន សុវ៉ាត បន្ទាប់ពីត្រូវអាជ្ញាធរដោះលែង - Interview of Ven. Loun Sovath following his release
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| ព្រះតេជគុណ លួន សុវ៉ាត ត្រូវអាជ្ញាធរដោះលែងវិញហើយព្រះអង្គមានដីការថារស់ក្នុងការ ដាក់កម្រិតពីអាជ្ញាធរ។ (Credit: ABC) |
ថ្ងៃ 25 May 2012
ABC Radio Australia Khmer
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កាលពីថ្ងៃម្សិលមិញនេះ (ថ្ងៃព្រហស្បតិ៍ ទី២៤ ខែឧសភា ឆ្នាំ២០១២) ព្រះតេជគុណ លួន សុវ៉ាត ត្រូវបានអាជ្ញាធរចម្រុះចាប់ព្រះកាយព្រះអង្គយកទៅវត្ដបទុមនៅក្នុងភ្នំពេញដើម្បីនាំព្រះកាយព្រះអង្គឲ្យទៅចុះហត្ថលេខាកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងឈប់ធ្វើសកម្មភាពសង្គមតទៅទៀត។ តើរឿងរ៉ាវនេះយ៉ាងណា? តើព្រះអង្គធ្វើខុសប្រាសចាកនឹងសីលធម៌ និងគោលការណ៍វិន័យព្រះពុទ្ធសាសនាឬ បានជាមានការចាត់វិធានការតឹងរឹងបែបនេះ?
ឬមួយក៏អាជ្ញាធរចង់បំបិទមិនឲ្យមានការតវ៉ាអំពីរឿងសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស និងជម្លោះដីធ្លីក្នុងសង្គម? តើហេតុផលយ៉ាងណា? តើឥឡូវព្រះ អង្គកំពុងគង់នៅទីណា? តើមានសុវត្ថិភាពទេ? សូមស្ដាប់ការបកស្រាយបំភ្លឺពីព្រះតេជគុណ លួន សុវ៉ាត សច្ចមុនី ក្រោយពីត្រូវអាជ្ញាធរដោះលែងវិញកាលពីយប់ថ្ងៃព្រហស្បតិ៍ទី២៤ ខែឧសភា ឆ្នាំ២០១២។ លោក យុទ្ធ ឈាង ពីវិទ្យុអូស្រ្ដាលីបានសម្ភាសន៍ព្រះ អង្គតាមទូរស័ព្ទពីក្រុងមែលប៊ិនទៅកន្លែងសុវត្ថិភាព ដែលមានការការពារពីអង្គការអន្ដរជាតិ។
Cambodian forest campaigners fight rampant logging
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| Cambodian villagers from other provinces inspect piles of timber in Koh Kong province on May 11. Frustrated by government inaction, Cambodian citizen patrollers are risking their lives to take on the country's illegal loggers in a bid to save their shrinking forests. (AFP Photo/Tang Chhin Sothy) |
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| Cambodian residents march toward the location where Chhut Vuthy -- president of the Natural Resource Conservation Group -- was shot dead in Koh Kong province on April 26. (AFP Photo/Tang Chhin Sothy) |
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