Monks turn nasty as temple feud erupts

[dArKeR]

INNER PEACE: Cambodian monks threw petrol bombs and metal balls at each other as a two-year row over the selection of a temple committee came to blows

AP , PHNOM PENH
Sunday, Feb 29, 2004,Page 5

Pel Kosal, Battambang deputy police chief

Buddhist monks, who are sworn to shun all violence, fired metal balls from slingshots and threw burning gasoline bottles at each other as a long-simmering conflict erupted into fighting at a temple in northwestern Cambodia, officials said yesterday.

The "monks' war," which resulted in a number of injuries, broke out Thursday at Russey pagoda in the northwestern province of Battambang, said Pel Kosal, a local deputy police chief.

He said the violence followed more than two years of conflict between two temple factions over the selection of a new committee to manage the temple's affairs and funds. Each side has about 20 monks.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/02/29/2003100576

[Ekova]

1. Certainly a moment of weakness

not good.

[smirkymonkey]

2. Does anyone else see the irony in this??

I can see why Christians, Jews and Muslims go at each other (not that it's right), but Buddhist Monks?? Over a committee selection??

Regardless of the religion, it seems to be the "Organized" part of organized religion that is the problem.

Pretty f**ed up if you ask me, what is this world coming to??

[displacedtexan]

3. I thought they were supposed to set themselves on fire...

if they lost control due to anger.

Truly weird.