Activist monk Loun Savath detained [-Will the Hochimonks prevail in this travesty of justice???]

Luon Savath speaks to reporters during a demonstration at Boeung Kak lake earlier this week. Photograph: Meng Kimlong/Phnom Penh Post

Hochimonk Non Nget - a monk who serves a communist regime!!!

Hochimonks clergy: Tep Vong (L) and Non Nget (R)

Thursday, 24 May 2012

Khouth Sophak Chakrya

The Phnom Penh Post

Senior members of the monastic community this morning detained Buddhist monk Loun Savath, an award-winning human rights activist, after he took photos of protesting Boeung Kak lake villagers outside Phnom Penh municipal court.

Senior monks forced him into a Land Cruiser and ushered him away from the scene as more than 60 protesters, flanked by about 100 police, called for the release of 13 Boeung Kak women who where being questioned inside.

The monks would not comment on why they had detained Venerable Loun Savath, who was banned from all pagodas in Phnom Penh last year by Supreme Patriarch Nun Nget.

Venerable Loun Savath was driven to Wat Botum, where police and officials from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Cults and Religion barricaded him inside, sealing off entries so even pagoda boys could not enter.

A Ministry of Cults and Religion official said it was unclear whether the supreme patriarch has grounds to defrock the monk.

“[Venerable Loun Savath] is being held here, and after [the supreme patriarch] has finished lunch, he will decide what to do.”

The 13 Boeung Kak women arrested on Tuesday are yet to be charged.