Friday, May 22, 2009

Vietnam Authority Summon Khmer-Krom Buddhist Monks for a Night Meeting

The Patriotic United Buddhist Association (Hội Đoàn Kết Sư Sải Yêu Nước) of An Giang province have summoned a Khmer-Krom Abbot and nine Buddhist follower of all Khmer-Krom temples in Kra-Bao (Tinh Bien) district to attend a meeting at Thom-Mit temple in Vinh Trung village, Tinh Bien district, An Giang province to be held at 6:00pm on May 22, 2009.

The Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks are very concerned about joining the Patriotic United Buddhist Association because they suspect that this association was created by the Vietnamese Authority as a propaganda association to monitor and further control the activities of the Khmer-Krom religion.

The Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks and Buddhist followers usually do not want to attend the meeting of the Patriotic United Buddhist Association, but have found that they have no choice. If they do not go, they will be accused of breaking the rule and would be subjected to interrogation by the Vietnamese authority.

The Buddhist monks and Buddhist followers are also very concerned about their safety as they have not been given the details of what the meeting is about and why it is taking place during the night time. This meeting may be a tactic to threaten the Khmer-Krom Buddhist leaders to stop demanding their religious rights to practice the Theravada Buddhism freely.

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