Khmer Times/May Titthara Monday, 19 September 2016
Eleven Cambodian environmental campaigners received “moniseraphon” medals from the government last month in recognition of their work to support the nation, according to a sub-decree signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen.
But Buntenh, the founder of the Independent Monk Network for Social Justice, and social media celebrity Thy Sovantha were the two highest profile recipients of the award, which also included environmental monk Bun Saluth and three pop singers.
The sub-decree was signed on August 12, but has not yet been announced to the public, explained Venerable Buntenh yesterday. He was not sure why this was.
“To give medals to people doing such actions is right for the government, but I think it is a bit late as people who have the ability and strength to protect the forests have been killed, yet they reward the normal people like me,” he told Khmer Times.
He added that he would accept the award, however meaningless he felt it was, on the condition that the government must release the video footage of the murder of prominent political commentator Kem Ley.
Venerable Buntenh is a member of the committee arranging Mr. Ley’s 100-day funeral ceremony and has criticized what he perceives to be the government’s inaction in investigating the murder and a lack of support for the funeral.
“If the prime minister is willing to give me a medal of honor, then please do a good deed and allow us to properly celebrate the 100-day funeral ceremony for Dr. Kem Ley,” he said via telephone from Florida, where he is now meeting with members of the Cambodian diaspora.
News of the awards for people involved in environmental protection is a positive one, and sets an important example, said Ouch Leng, president of the Cambodian Human Rights Task Force.
He has long fought to highlight the destruction that logging is doing to rural communities and environments and hoped the awards would motivate more people to fight to protect Cambodia’s rapidly dwindling forests.
According to a recent report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, current forest cover in Cambodia is only about 50 percent, down from 73 percent. The report warned that crimes such as illegal logging and land grabbing will likely see this amount drop yet further.