URGENT APPEAL

By HRH Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranariddh

President of Funcinpec Party

To the World Buddhist Council

To all Buddhist Associations and Organizations

To all our Buddhist Brothers and Sisters around the World Cambodian Buddhist Monks Murdered by Armed Forces

For the past four days Buddhist monks have been killed and severely injured on the streets of Phnom Penh by armed forces. Police forces are entering the holy sanctuary of the pagodas to continue their brutal forces and to prevent the venerable monks from leaving the pagodas. At least one venerable monk has been killed but the body has not been found.

The people of Cambodia are shocked and outraged by this type of brutality. The systematic killings of venerable monks and the wiping out of Buddhism took place during the three-year Pol Pot communist regime.

Hundreds and thousands of venerable monks throughout the country have defied government orders by joining the opposition and student groups to protest the results of the elections which took place on July 26, 1998.

A sixteen-day sit-in protest at the Democracy Square was swept and destroyed by armed police forces on September 9, 1998. I solemnly launch this urgent appeal to all our Buddhist brothers and sisters and all peace lovers the world over to:

1. Send messages of peace to Mr. Hun Sen, Second Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia, urging him to immediately put an end to the use of brutal force on Buddhist monks;

2. Ask your government to send a clear message to Mr. Hun Sen to immediately stop the killing of Buddhist monks in Cambodia,

3. Organize Buddhist ceremonies for peace in Cambodia.Your prompt actions can save the invaluable lives of our venerable monks whose commitment is for social justice, democracy and peace in Cambodia.

Signed

Norodom Ranariddh

President