The chief of the pagoda where the self-immolation of two nuns and a monk took place

earlier this year hanged himself on Nov 16. Dem Morm, previously chief monk at the

Thmar Sar pagoda in Prey Veng, was defrocked following the suicides in October this

year. Three other members of his pagoda also attempted suicide. Morm was a member

of the Buddhist sect Preah Tumratana, an extreme offshoot of conventional Buddhism.

Chea Savoeun, Minister of Cult and Religions, said that the chief monk had misunderstood

Buddha's teachings. "He thought that when he committed suicide he would achieve

good things," he said.