CAMBODIA Minister Explains Directive Banning Aggressive Evangelization

Posted: 24th July 2007

PHNOM PENH (UCAN) -- Minister of Religions and Cults Khun Haing has met local Christian leaders to explain a recent government directive that bans house-to-house proselytizing and material inducements for conversion.

Eighteen representatives of six Churches in Cambodia met Haing on July 19 at the minister's office. Three Catholics, including a priest, took part.
The directive that Haing's ministry issued on July 13 says religious leaders and teachers can preach only within the compounds of their worship places, and prohibits using money or other material inducements to convert people. It also says authorities must grant approval before a place of worship may be built.

Catholic Church leaders and workers have told UCA News the recent directive does not affect their Church and they largely agree with the directive.

Haing told the Christian leaders that similar directives had been issued in 1999 and 2003, so the recently issued the directive is not new. He explained that many Buddhists, who account for more than 90 percent of Cambodia's estimated 12 million, have complained that some Christian groups have been forcing people to accept Christian faith formation. He added that those groups denigrate Buddhism, claiming it is a false religion with false gods.

The ministry issued the latest directive, Haing said, to try to ensure peace in society. He noted that the ministry had earlier released another directive banning Buddhist monks from joining demonstrations and riots. It was prompted, he explained, by a street clash between two opposing groups of monks in April in Phnom Penh. At least two monks were injured in the clash that erupted after some Cambodian monks from southern Vietnam staged a protest against Vietnam, voicing allegations of religious suppression in that country.

Haing assured the Christian leaders that they may engage in religious activities but must "always get official permission." He also pointed out that the government has not given permission to any non-Buddhist religion to build new places of worship since the beginning of this year.
Meanwhile, some local Buddhists have expressed their views and experiences to UCA News about the evangelizing Christian groups.
Venerable Yos Hut Khemacaro of the Khmer Buddhist Foundation said it is fine to provide religious instruction and formation to people, "but we must respect their freedom, conscience and free will."

The Buddhist monk spoke against "using all kinds of materials and strategies to convert" people. "It is not necessary to go knocking on doors from house to house," he said. "That not only disturbs the people but also scares them."

Pich Vibol, 30, director of a printing house in Siem Reap, 230 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh, said: "Some Christians keep knocking on the door of my house and push me to understand the Gospel. I always tell them to get out."

But Ros Hok, director of a government-supported youth center for university students, said he would welcome Christian groups into his house to read the Gospel. "That is their right, but it is up to us to accept or not," he said.
"Faith comes from the heart," Hok further explained. "My heart is strongly Buddhist, so I do not need to change. However, I can still listen to them."
Similarly, Chay Vanchy, a district officer in Kompong Cham province, just northeast of Phnom Penh, cited the national constitution and said, "People have the right to choose their religion." In the past 10 years, he said, there have never been problems between Christians and Buddhists in his own area. Moreover, Vanchy noted, "Christians do a lot of charity work for the poor."

Article Source: UCANEWS and CSC