SUVs Block Pagoda to Keep Out Monks on Peace March
Harassment of monks and their supporters, who are marching to Phnom Penh to participate in International Human Rights Day rallies in the capital, continued Friday when three suburban utility vehicles were used to block the entrance to a pagoda in Kompong Speu province where marchers had planned to rest for the night. The blocking of the Salon Purthivong pagoda’s entrance with the three vehicles—a Lexus, a Mitsubishi Pajero and a Toyota Highlander—which belonged to senior monks based in the province, prompted the more than 65 marchers to block National Road 4, which connects Phnom Penh to Preah Sihanouk province on the coast, for about two hours. The abbot of Salon Purthivong pagoda had given permission for the marchers to stay the night, said the venerable Prim Huon, 25, who is leading the march to Phnom Penh from Kompong Speu province. … Abbot Hoeung Sitha confirmed that he had given permission for the marchers to enter his pagoda. “I am concerned that provincial and district monks and officials will accuse me of allowing the marches to sleep in my pagoda,” he said. “I allowed them to sleep in my pagoda because I see that we are all Khmer.” Samroang Tong district police chief Khut Sophal confirmed that the marchers had blocked the road in retaliation to being blocked from entering the pagoda. He also said that the district governor had negotiated with the marchers to end the blockade, but he declined to comment further. … Similar reports of harassment have emerged from monks and their supporters making their way to Phnom Penh along National roads 5 and 6. About 100 monks are leading the 10-day Peace Walk to Phnom Penh, which began on Sunday, at various points along five national roads leading to the capital. Participants are calling on the government to respect human rights, end land evictions and investigate irregularities in the July national election, which saw Prime Minister Hun Sen’s CPP suffer a thumping from the opposition CNRP at the polls.
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/suvs-block-pagoda-to-keep-out-monks-on-peace-march-48816/
