CAMBODIAN authorities are looking at banning monks from participating in political protests and may even jail those who do so.
However, civil society organisations and opposition parties are objecting to this, saying the law must not infringe upon the liberties granted to all citizens – including monks – by the Constitution.
According to the Phnom Penh Post, the Ministry of Cults and Religion and other relevant stakeholders are drafting a Law on Religion in Cambodia with the intention of placing the ban.
Ministry spokesman Seng Somony told The Post that a working group had been working on an amended draft law on religion since 2013, but the work was not yet complete.
He said religion minister Chhit Sokhon had already submitted copies of the draft law to the legal experts at relevant institutions for their input, so that the law will be in effect prior to the upcoming election in June.
Somony said the goal of the new law was to protect all religions in Cambodia and harmonise them in order to strengthen and expand the effectiveness of religious practices, especially Buddhism.
One of the proposals that was recently leaked online states - "Buddhist monks who intentionally take part in political protests, strikes, riots or organised activity against any political party will be sentenced to a prison term of seven to 15 years, not including other applicable punishments as stated in the Criminal Code."
Somony claimed that these were only drafts and would likely undergo further changes.
Ou Chanrath, a former lawmaker of the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and founder of the new Cambodian Reform Party (CRP), said the proposed changes must not affect the basic rights of any individual, monks included.
He said any legitimate constitutional law must preserve people's basic rights including freedom of expression, whether they are social or political in nature.
"I think the law should be more open. We already know that religion plays many important roles in our society. Monks or clergy are typically educated and most of them have a good grasp of the issues that concern the nation. Throughout our history many of our leaders have been born from the ranks of our monks," he said
Cambodian Institute for Democracy president Pa Chanroeun said monks were also Cambodian citizens and they should have the right to participate in social and political events.
"They should also have the right to support what they believe in and protest what they disagree with through public demonstrations and through voting.
"If we ban monks from expressing their views on any and all issues – including speaking out against any political party – that stands against the foundations of Cambodian law."
On the purpose of punishing monks with lengthy prison terms merely for taking part in political activities, Somony said the law intends to protect the values of Buddhism so that the religion does not lose the respect of its followers.
He said there have been physical clashes that have resulted from past protests, which is unseemly for monks.
"If the monks take part in protests and strikes, they will stir up contempt against this or that person or party and monks showing anger and cursing other people is just not suitable.
"Some protests involve fighting – like what we witnessed in Stung Meanchey when some monks threw rocks at people – which was totally improper and it damaged the public's respect for the monkhood," he said.
Somony also explained that the law will ensure that people do not hide behind Buddhism or use it as a shield while attempting to undermine and sabotage the state and its religion.
"The precise punishments will be discussed further and I'm confident that the committee will set out penalties that are appropriate and fair and the sentences must then be approved by the justice ministry for the final draft," he added.