Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Governors told to assist monks amid lockdown

Governors told to assist monks amid lockdown

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
People give food offerings to Buddhist monks in Phnom Penh. File Photo

Governors told to assist monks amid lockdown

Some Buddhist monks are reportedly facing food shortages as the Covid-19 restrictions prevent people from visiting pagodas to offer food and monks from going out to receive alms, prompting Prime Minister Hun Sen to instruct capital and provincial governors to pay attention to their plight.

In an audio message on the night of April 20, the prime minister stated that during the measures to prevent Covid-19 transmission, travel was restricted, which included no visits to pagodas. Monks could also not leave the pagoda to get alms, risking a food shortage.

Hun Sen said: "During the lockdown, all governors need to pay attention to monks who cannot go out for food. Please take care of them."

Yu Yi Hak, chief monk of Phnom Penh Thmei pagoda in Phnom Penh Thmei commune of the capital's Sen Sok district, said since the beginning of the year, very few Buddhists have come to perform rituals or offer food. And during the lockdown no Buddhists come to pagodas to offer alms.

"Every day I send my students to buy food from the market to cook by themselves, because no Buddhists come to the pagoda. Since the outbreak of Covid-19 this year, on the holy day, no people come at all.

"This morning, the Phnom Penh Thmei commune clerks and relatives brought fresh food, such as fresh vegetables and pork, to the monks for cooking. Today we have enough food, but some days we don't," he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former

  • After three deferrals, Capital Gains Tax to take effect Jan 1, 2024

    The General Department of Taxation (GDT) will implement the Capital Gains Tax starting January 1, 2024 to after being deferred three times as industrial players warn that the implementation might have some negative impact on the property market growth, which is down due to the economic downturn.