Samdech Techo Hun Sen Calls on His Compatriots to Join Kathina to Khmer Krom


Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate of Cambodia, has appealed to all his compatriots, regardless of their political tendencies, to take part in the “Great Khmer Family Solidarity Kathina” to Khmer Krom next month.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen made the appeal in a message posted on his official Facebook page this morning, stressing that the Kathina’s procession will arrive in Khmer Krom on Nov. 4.

“Khmer Leu, Khmer Kandal, Khmer Krom are the same Khmer, so that’s why we named this Kathina ‘Ang Kathintean Moha Samaki Krousar Khmer’ (which literally means Great Khmer Family Solidarity Kathina) to which Cambodians everywhere, of all political tendencies can participate together,” he underlined.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen, also President of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), said that the planned Kathina to Khmer Krom is organised by the CPP, the Royal Government, the National Assembly, the Senate, the monastic institution, and other national institutions.

The senate president added that his spouse, Samdech Kittiprittpundit Bun Rany Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian Red Cross, has planned to hold Kathina to Khmer Krom pagodas a long time ago, but the plan has been postponed many times due to family reasons.

According to Samdech Techo Hun Sen, a ceremony will be organised at the January 7 Palace, the CPP’s headquarters in Phnom Penh on Nov. 3 in his presence and that of his spouse. Then the next day, Samdech Kittiprittpundit Bun Rany Hun Sen will personally join the Kathina procession to Khmer Krom along with Samdech Kitti Sangahapundit Men Sam An, a Member of the Supreme Privy Council to His Majesty the King and a CPP’s Vice President, and many other senior officials.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen also reminded those who wish to join the upcoming Kathina to Khmer Krom to complete the cross-border formalities because it is a cross-border Kathina.

A commission in charge of organising the Kathina to Khmer Krom has recently formed. The 22-member commission is headed by Samdech Kitti Sangahapundit Men Sam An with H.E. Chhin Ketana, Secretary General of the National Committee for Organising National and International Festivals, as permanent vice president; and H.E. Mrs. Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts; H.E. Chay Borin, Minister of Cults and Religious Affairs; and H.E. Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information, as vice presidents.

Kathina, one of the biggest Buddhist festivals in Cambodia, falls this year from Oct. 18 to Nov. 15. During this period of twenty-nine days, Cambodian people of all social backgrounds jointly contribute their donations, either in materials or cash, for the Buddhist monks to build achievements inside their respective pagodas or communities.

Khmer Krom or Kampuchea Krom is the region in the southwestern part of Vietnam inhabited by ethnically Khmer people who remain deeply attached to their culture, religion, customs, traditions and ancestral lands.