Mr. Sam Rainsy (R) in one of the religious ceremonies he had organised.By Khmerization
Mr. Sam Rainsy, president of the eponymous opposition Sam Rainsy Party, has accused the authority of Chantrea district in Svay Rieng province of trying to prevent his party from holding a Kathen (religious fundraising) Ceremony in Ang Rumdenh pagoda which is located on the Khmer-Vietnamese borderline, reports Radio Free Asia.
Mr. Sam Rainsy said the local authority had threatened and ordered the Buddhist monks and temple officials not to accept donations from his Kathen. He said: "The Sam Rainsy Party had organised a Kathen on 25th October to take it to a temple in Chantrea district of Svay Rieng province. The local authority over there had threatened the monks and Buddhist laypeople not to accept our Kathen. This sort of action is very inappropriate because we are all Buddhists, so when we hold Buddhist ceremonies, making alm-offerings or organising a Kathen, we don't think about what political parties or political beliefs. Religious affair is a separate thing and all people have freedom to hold a religious or alm-offering ceremony, wherever they want or whoever want to join can join."
Local officials, however, have denied Mr. Rainsy's accusations. Mr. Kim Mao, chief of Samrong commune in Chantrea district said his officials did not threaten anybody. "There is no (threats). I have signed an authorisation already for the Kathen ceremony. I have signed since a few days ago", he said.
The Sam Rainsy Party on 25th October was leading a Kathen procession from Phnom Penh to Ang Rumdenh pagoda in Svay Rieng province, with the participation of 26 MPs, party activists and many other people.
Mr. Sam Rainsy, president of the eponymous opposition Sam Rainsy Party, has accused the authority of Chantrea district in Svay Rieng province of trying to prevent his party from holding a Kathen (religious fundraising) Ceremony in Ang Rumdenh pagoda which is located on the Khmer-Vietnamese borderline, reports Radio Free Asia.
Mr. Sam Rainsy said the local authority had threatened and ordered the Buddhist monks and temple officials not to accept donations from his Kathen. He said: "The Sam Rainsy Party had organised a Kathen on 25th October to take it to a temple in Chantrea district of Svay Rieng province. The local authority over there had threatened the monks and Buddhist laypeople not to accept our Kathen. This sort of action is very inappropriate because we are all Buddhists, so when we hold Buddhist ceremonies, making alm-offerings or organising a Kathen, we don't think about what political parties or political beliefs. Religious affair is a separate thing and all people have freedom to hold a religious or alm-offering ceremony, wherever they want or whoever want to join can join."
Local officials, however, have denied Mr. Rainsy's accusations. Mr. Kim Mao, chief of Samrong commune in Chantrea district said his officials did not threaten anybody. "There is no (threats). I have signed an authorisation already for the Kathen ceremony. I have signed since a few days ago", he said.
The Sam Rainsy Party on 25th October was leading a Kathen procession from Phnom Penh to Ang Rumdenh pagoda in Svay Rieng province, with the participation of 26 MPs, party activists and many other people.
No comments:
Post a Comment