Vietnamese authority forbids Cambodian monks from constructing the fence around the temple in Memot district
Radio Free Asia By Or Phearith 12th Feb, 2009 Translated from Khmer by Khmerization Cambodian Buddhist monks residing in a temple near the Khmer-Vietnamese borders in Memot district were forbidden by the Vietnamese authority from constructing a fence around their temple. Ven. Chhay Vith, who resides at Wat Kiri Meanchey pagoda at Boeng Chrong village, Choam commune of Memot district (Kampong Cham province) said that Khmer overseas have donated money through the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) president, Mr. Sam Rainsy, to build the temple fence for Wat Kiri Meanchey pagoda located at Boeng Chrong village. The Cambodian authority had already signed a document approving the construction but the Vietnamese authority prohibits the monks from building the fence. Ven. Chhay Vith said: "The permission letters (to build the fence) were signed by the district governor, the Ministry of Cult and Religion and signed by the District Chief Monk. It has been stamped by the district governor, but when we want to build the fence on the south side of the pagoda, the Vietnamese prohibited us from building." Ven. Chhay Vith blamed the Cambodian government for neglecting the developments of the borders which led the Vietnamese authority to prohibit the development of religious temples. He said: "If the government wants to develop, it must develop the border areas. To let the Vietnamese authority chip away a lot of our lands is not very good at all." Mr. Chek Sa-Orn, governor of Memot district said by telephone that he was the one who signed the construction approval, but added that he was also the one who prohibited the monks from constructing the fence by stressing that this is a national issue (that needed to be handled by the national authority). Mr. Chek Sa-Orn said: "Even though our temple is not situated on the borderlines, but they (Vietnam?) won't allow us to build anything that could change the status quo. I signed a letter to give permission to build the fence, but the construction must not violate the affairs of the border authority." Mr. Mao Monivann, The SRP's MP for Kampong Cham, said that the construction was for the purpose of protecting our borders and territorial integrity. He said: "What the Vietnamese authority did was in violation of Cambodian territories and Khmer territorial integrity. The Cambodian government must intervene to make it possible for the people and the Temple Committee to construct the temple fence in order to protect the temple as well as protecting Cambodia's territorial integrity." Mr. Chek Sa-Orn, governor of Memot district, said that this issue is a national issue that must be resolved by the Border Committee of both countries. He added that, last year the Cambodian authority has prohibited the Vietnamese side from digging a canal near Phoum Daung Pram Pi Doem (Seven Coconut Trunks Village). But MP Mao Monivann said that, during his tenure as an MP for the last ten years, he never seen Khmer authority went to resolve the issue face to face with the Vietnamese authority. He added that, what the Khmer authority had just said was just an alibi to show to the people that they tried to protect the borders whenever there is a violation of our territorial integrity from foreigners. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org" group. This is an unmoderated forum. Please refrain from using foul language. Thank you for your understanding. Peace among us and in Cambodia. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/camdisc Learn more - http://www.cambodia.org -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
