After more than a year, the Board of Directors of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Buddhist Monks Association elected a successor to the late president Yoeun Sin.

Kan Sophan Norrith, chief monk at Meanchey district’s Prek Pra pagoda, in Phnom Penh, was chosen over Yin Phat, chief monk at Dangkor district’s Kraing Thnong pagoda, in a vote of seven to one on Sunday.

After the Youen Sin’s death in September of last year, the Department of Cults and Religions moved quickly to appoint Khin Veasna as his replacement. Association officials rebuffed the succession attempt because Khin Veasna was not a member of the ethnic minority group.

Newly elected president Kan Sophan Norrith said yesterday that “claiming land and freedom for Khmer Kampuchea Krom” remains a top priority for the organisation.