Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, this morning emphasised that religious discrimination is very dangerous, but this has not happened in Cambodia so far.
Addressing a Preah Sokunveray (fragran water) offering ceremony – a Buddhist ritual – to 11 senior monks at Mony Sovann pagoda, aka Champous Ka-ek, located in Sangkat Prek Thmey, Khan Chbar Ampov, Phnom Penh, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said the wars now do not result from weapons, but from prejudice and discrimination, as well as the stigma attached to each other.
These problems have led to hatred among people and caused many wars in the world, but in Cambodia, people live together harmoniously, he added.
Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said all different religions in Cambodia have been working with the Royal Government in different fields and contributing significantly to the country development.
In Cambodia, the constitution stipulates that Buddhism is the state religion, but the law provides freedom of belief and religious worship, neither interferes with others’ beliefs and religions nor violates public order and security.
According to H.E. Chay Borin, Minister of Cults and Religious Affairs, there are currently 5,133 pagodas with a total of 68,967 monks in Cambodia.
Besides, he continued, the Kingdom has over 701,508 followers of Islam with 593 mosques, 109,752 Catholics with 2,231 churches, 96,587 Protestants with 601 churches.
Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse