Ley Ceremony at Wat Chas, Says Wife

October 10, 2016

Ley Ceremony at Wat Chas, Says Wife

 Monday, 10 October 2016

Despite authorities rejecting an application to have slain political analyst Kem Ley’s 100-day funeral ceremony at Phnom Penh’s Wat Chas pagoda, his wife and the organizing committee insisted yesterday that it would go ahead as planned.

Speaking via a video conference to local Social Breaking News, Mr. Ley’s wife expressed disappointment at Phnom Penh City Hall’s rejection of the application, adding that she didn’t understand the decision as it was normal for people to conduct funeral ceremonies at pagodas.

“The statue has no spirit. They [the authorities] are scared and I do not understand how they think,” said Bou Rachana, referring to a statue of her husband mourners planned to carry from Phnom Penh to his home in Takeo province.

“We normally organize funeral ceremonies at pagodas and we have asked for permission from two pagodas. Pagodas are for organizing funerals and we felt such regret when they denied ours.”

On Friday, local media reported that Phnom Penh City Hall had rejected the organizers’ request to have a 100-day ceremony at Wat Chas pagoda, saying that organizers needed to obtain permission from Mr. Ley’s family first.

Last Tuesday City Hall also rejected a similar request to hold a 100-day funeral ceremony at the city’s Wat Botum Park from Friday to Sunday, saying the venue was inappropriate for such a ceremony.

However, the organizing committee and Ms. Rachana said on Facebook yesterday that Mr. Ley’s 100-day ceremony will be held at Wat Chas pagoda, the same pagoda where his funeral was conducted, from Friday until the following Monday.

On Sunday morning there will be a procession from Phnom Penh to bring Mr. Ley’s statue to Takeo province, the post added.

Ms. Rachana has been in Thailand since August 28 after leaving Cambodia for fear of her and her family’s safety. She gave birth to her fifth son there, who was named Kem Leyvireak.

Mr. Ley was shot twice on July 10 while he was reading a newspaper at a Caltex gas station coffee shop in Phnom Penh.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, among a host of others, claimed the government was involved in the murder.

He pointed to the fact that Mr. Ley had only days earlier commented on a Global Witness report highlighting ties between Prime Minister Hun Sen’s family and some of the country’s largest corporations. He also mentioned alleged shooter Eurth Ang’s past as a soldier known to love guns and shooting.

Critics also cited the police refusal to release video footage from the gas station and publish any information about potential motives the shooter may have had to murder Mr. Ley.

The initial motive Mr. Ang gave upon arrest – that Mr. Ley owed him $3,000 – was dismissed days later when Mr. Ang’s wife and mother confirmed to Khmer Times that the family was poor and would have had no way to loan someone that large a sum of money.

Mr. Ang has been charged with premeditated murder and illegal possession of a weapon, according to articles 200 and 490 of the Criminal Code.