27/03/2007 – Phnom Penh, Cambodia A prayer ceremony for Venerable Eang Sok Thoeun was conducted by Khmer Buddhist monks residing in Samakyrangsey Pagoda, Sangkat Stung Meanchey, Khan Meanchey earlier yesterday.
Khmer Buddhist monks conducting prayers for the passing of Venerable Eang Sok Thoeun (source: KKN) Venerable Eang Sok Thoeun of Khmer Krom descendent was found with his throat slit just hours after participating in a non violent demonstration on February 28th in front of the Vietnam Embassy in Phnom Penh. Protests across the world erupted all over the world after two hundred monks of Khmer Krom descendent faced prosecution for participating in a non violent demonstration demanding religious freedom in Soc Trang, Vietnam early February. According to reports submitted by KKF, at least nine Khmer Krom Buddhist monks have been forced by Vietnamese authorities to disrobe for organising the non violent protest. Over sixty monks preparing to conduct a prayer ceremony over his grave at Tru Num Chhrung temple in Kandal province on Friday 16th 2007 was refused entry by Cambodian police and was forced instead to do it on a nearby rice field.
(source: KKN) While the circumstance surrounding his death remains obscure, human rights group are urging the Cambodian police to fully investigate his death, denying initial allegations by the authorities that it was a suicide staged by the monk.
