"I accept to die with my saffron robe, I will not allow the authority to arrest and disrobed me as I have done nothing wrong in the Buddhist Vinaya. By this order, I cannot travel or escape to stay in any temple in the country, I must stay in this temple and accept to die in this place as a monkhood".Listen the report by RFA today (audio embedded here),
the problem happened with Venerable Koeun Ravy in Watt Soriyaaraam Bay-domram, Banan District, Battombong Province, South-West of Cambodia in the accusation of Vinaya offense on the code number 2 regarding "stealing".
According to the news, the scheme of stealing stemmed from few Achaa Watt or clergy leaders accused Ven. Keoun Ravy of stealing money in an amount of 200 dollars which it has been reserved for electricity bill. This accusation filed to the Kana Thera Saphea Khet or Provincial Buddhist Sangha Order (PBSO) by few clergy leaders in the temple in a support from one of the powerful local policemen. Referring this website, the PBSO didn't conduct investigation into the case but just follow the filing in the support of that powerful local policeman who is the member of the Cambodian People Party (CPP).
Seeing this, there are hundreds of laypeople including monks have paraded to support Ven. Keoun Ravy including opposition parties activists such as SRP and NRP in location. The people who came out to street to parade for the support of Ven. Keoun Ravy claimed that the Order by the PBSO is not just and it is politically motivated. Previously, Ven. Koeun Ravy has greeted the supports of opposition party members.
Ven. Keoun Ravy is 26 years old, he confirmed in the radio interview that "I accept to die in my saffron robe, I will not allow the authority to arrest and disrobed me as I have done nothing wrong in the Buddhist Vinaya. By this order, I cannot travel or escape to stay in any temple in the country, I must stay in this temple and accept to die in this place as a monkhood".Note that, the order (directive) of the PBSO has limited time period 15 days in between October 16 to November 1, 2011 for Ven. Koeun Ravy to choose two options: to volunteer disrobe himself or be forced to disrobe.
Let pray for Ven. Keoun Ravy together.
