25 May 2012
KI-Media
“Defrocking a monk for standing up for the poor is a sign of Hun Sen’s desperation” - Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch
As of 4:00AM this morning in Phnom Penh, we picked up a copy of the Phnom Penh Post which provided the following details about Ven. Loun Sovath:
A Post reporter who gained entry to the [Wat Botum] complex [where Ven. Loun Sovath was detained] approached the Supreme Patriarch, but he refused to answer questions.
About 7:30 pm, the [defrock] meeting with the senior monks ended and Loun Savath made a brief appearance near the entrance.
“I am not defrocked,” he told reporters. “But they have asked me to stay at a pagoda in my homeland in Siem Reap.”
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According to an anonymous source, Hun Xen issued an order to Hochimonk Non Nget not to defrock Ven. Loun Sovath, but only to teach him a lesson. Our source also indicated that Ven. Loun Sovath has already been released although his whereabout is still unknown.
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An anonymous source informed us that, during his detention at Wat Botum pagoda, Ven. Loun Sovath was severely beaten up by the Hochimonks. Currently, he is physically hurt pretty bad.
The Hochimonks also forced Ven. Loun Sovath to sign an agreement not to involve with future human rights issues or any other protests. Under threat of defrocking and jailing, the “Multi-Media Monk” had no choice but to sign this agreement that was forced on him. Among the trumped-up charges that were laid on him by the Hochimonks, Ven. Loun Sovath was accused of: (1) leading the protest, (2) fomenting a revolutionary war against the government, (3) being involved with Sourn Serey Ratha’s group and (4) being involved with the Paris-based Phka Chhouk (Lotus Revolution) movement. All these trumped-up charges clearly point to Hun Xen’s regime desperation.
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