Tim Sakhorn receives asylum in Europe

By Sam BorinRadio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Read in Khmer

Tim Sakhorn, the former abbot of the Phnom Den North Pagoda, received full protection from the UNHCR and a European country also gave him asylum.

Venerable Thach Berong, deputy head monk of the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF), indicated that the vow taking ceremony for Tim Sakhorn prior to the Vossa season (rainy season) is currently delayed because the former abbot received legal refugee status from the UNHCR and a European country agreed to provide him with asylum. This choice is much better than having him taking his Buddhist vow again [for now].

Regarding the other 5 monks from Khleang province, Kampuchea Krom (current South Vietnam), who were forced-defrocked by the Viet authority during an unrest period in 2007, there is no schedule set for their vow taking ceremony yet.

Venerable Thach Berong told RFA over the phone from Thailand past midnight yesterday: “KKF has organized the vow taking ceremony for Tim Sakhorn and the other 5 [Khmer Krom] monks. Now, KKF is preparing documents with a number of other NGOs, we are not organizing the vow taking ceremony yet because the UNHCR indicated that Tim Sakhorn received the legal authorization to travel to a third country. Therefore, currently, former abbot Tim Sakhorn is under the protection of the UNHCR.”

Venerable Thach Berong indicated also that KKF would like to see the other 5 defrocked Khmer Krom monks receiving the same treatment as Tim Sakhorn: “For the safety protection of the 5 defrocked Khmer Krom monks, I am preparing their paper works so that the UNHCR recognize their [refugee] status and that it would intervene to protect their safety. This is what we are preparing for. Our goal is for them to receive the same treatment as Tim Sakhorn so that a third country provides legal asylum for them. This is our hope, and the KKF is also contacting embassies and refugee institutions, as well as the UNH.

NOTE: Tim Sakhorn went to live in a European country yesterday (July 03).