This is a real story told by Somony Sam ..... in 1979 .....

Right after Heng Samrin and Vietnamese took over Battambang along road 13 to Pailin, I was still in my village, Svay Prokeap, Chhoeuteal, Battambang.

It would take about an hour to get to Phnom Sampov where the Vietnamese Soldiers are station along road 13.

After returned from Phnom Thipdey or Tapday, we enjoy our freedome from the Pol Pot regime.Cooking and eating as we please after harvesting some rice from the rice field on the west of the village, where you can see Phnom Sampov.

But because we did not know that, Phnom Sampov was liberated, we just keep hoping that the liberation front, Ranak Se Romdous, getting there soon.

Every day we see the Pol Pot soldiers passing by the village but did not ask us anything.

One day there were gun fired on the rice field west of the village where the big lake between Svay Prokeap and Chhark Po end. About an hour later we saw some Pol Pot soldiers came by with green unifrom, not black.

My Mother's older cousin was also sitting at my house where we were Bok Srov. They ask us what we were doing and left. My uncle was still there and amazed that the new liberated soldiers were coming who actully Pol Pot soldier.

After my uncle left for a while, one of his kid came by and told us that the soldiers when reaching the eastern end of the village decided to demand us to cross the river to where they still control people under Pol Pot regime.

We were so diappointed when we get to the village across the river, when they asked us that why not going to Phonm Sampov where there is free market and liberated zone is.

That night, I was dream that my family were crossing the deep creek with a big one board bridge. After my family get to the other end, that bridge collapsed and broke into two pieces.

In the morning after all the olders people talked over from that night, they decided to cross the river back west and walked thru Chhark PO village across from my village by the lake.

Some people stopped at the eastern end of the lake wanting to cross back to Svay Prorkeap to get some belonging left behind the day before.Those include my uncle's family.

My family did not stop and continue with some other family to the end of the village with destine to Phonm Sompov. When we got to the end of the village, about 30 to 50 dead bodies, including children were scattered in the field, that were shot to death by the same soldiers that sent us across the river.

The rest of the village families that came with my family felt scared and took Svay Prokeap route back across the river into Pol Pot regime again. They stay with Pot Pot soldiers for a couple months as they're moving up along Sanker river with them.

My famliy get to Phnom Sampov safely.

My uncle's family got killed by the same soldiers when they were chasing us acroos the river.

Where we found dead bodies at the end of both village is a newly built temple called Watt Svay Prorkeap now. My mother who already passed away started the foundation of the Vihara building. It is not finished yet, but it is the place that my dream shown as a bridge between dead and alive. I will try my best to finish this building.

Written by Sambath Sim

Sambat Sim is the author of this article and have an exclusive right to the entire article.

Somony is Sambath's wife. He wrote this article for her that effortlessly raising fund to finish this project.

For more info please contact Sambath's Email

Vandalism has plagued a Buddhist temple near Rochester for seven years. Neighbors and police are outraged and baffled.

 

By CURT BROWN, Star Tribune

Last update: May 29, 2010 - 8:59 PM

ROCHESTER, MINN.

A chorus of chirping crickets and the smashed shell of a mailbox greet Chhan Aun when he steps out the door of his monk's residence at the hilltop Buddhist temple southeast of Rochester.

"We are quiet and peaceful; we try to pray for good things, not bad," he said, wrapped in his orange robe, as a former monk translates his Cambodian words. "We don't understand why people are doing things like this."

This month's busted mailbox is the latest in a seven-year string of vandalism that has jarred the four monks who live on the grassy, rolling, 10.5-acre site they chose for tranquil reflection.

Someone sprayed-painted "Jesus Saves" and a cross on their driveway last May. Dozens of lights have been broken and stolen. Flowers and trees have been yanked from the earth. Instead of studying the teachings of Buddha, the monks have been installing motion-detecting lights and asking the Postal Service to approve moving their mailbox down from 29th Street and closer to their house.

"One night at 2 a.m., a group of four or five people were outside and I shined my flashlight in their face," said Aun, 63. "They never confront us face to face; they just run away."

Neighbors and police are outraged and baffled at what would motivate the vandals to harass such gentle men, some of whom, including Aun, lived through the Cambodian genocide of the late-1970s Khmer Rouge killing fields.

"They believe in peace and tranquility, and they sure don't deserve this," said Glenda Bale, who moved into the quiet residential area in 2003, just as the temple construction was completed and the monks moved in next door from their former downtown location.

Back then, her place was an overgrown "jungle," and as she worked to clear the lot, the monks would bring with food offerings. They invite Bale to all their celebrations.

Her friend's unlocked car was broken into once and papers were scattered. The monks say they've been struck three or four times a year since they arrived.
 

AsiaRooms.com can announce that anyone staying in accommodation in Siem Reap at the end of May will find that there are festivities taking place for one of the region’s most famous faces. May 28th will be a day of processions and festivities as Cambodia’s Buddhists mark the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. Known as Vesak Day, the celebrations take place in temples across south-east Asia, with countries such as Thailand and Malaysia also marking the event. Anyone who wants to witness some of the religious ceremonies taking place is advised to visit one of the many Buddhist temples located around Siem Reap. Travellers can spend the morning listening to sermons from monks or can sit back and take in the meditation sessions and chanting that usually take place. Monks dressed in orange or saffron robes will lead candlelit processions in the evening, which wind their way along Siem Reap’s streets. There is no charge to observe any of the day’s activities and tourists are even invited to take part in certain rituals throughout the festivities. One of the ways in which to pay your respects to Buddha is to participate in a ceremony of the circumambulation of a stupa three times, which is said to also be a sign of respect for Dhamma and Sangha, Urbandharma.org reveals. Posted by Charlotte Springer