Village Chief Starts Petition to Remove Opposition Monk

3 January 2014
The Cambodia Daily
Civil society / Human rights / Social development
Achar Leak commune / Cambodia National Rescue Party / CNRP / Krachab village / Stung Sen City

A village chief in Kompong Thom province has begun collecting signatures on a petition to remove the opposition-aligned head monk of his local pagoda, whom he has accused of embezzling the pagoda’s money. Kheang Khean, the chief of Krachab village in Stung Sen city’s Achar Leak commune, said Thursday that chief monk Ann Mony of Wat Krachab pagoda stands accused by villagers of pilfering money placed under his purview. … “This is not politically motivated,” Mr. Khean insisted. “We are not discriminating…even though he joined in marches with the CNRP.” … Ann Mony denied he had ever misappropriated funds, and said that the petition was in response to his attendance at protests in Phnom Penh. … “They just want to get rid of me since I have participated in CNRP marches. They were not happy when they saw me march with the CNRP—they said monks should not be involved in politics.” …

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http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/village-chief-starts-petition-to-remove-opposition-monk-49972/