RELIGION AND STATE RELATIONSHIPS TODAY
Despite many parts of Cambodian government and society which are considered corrupt, religion has maintained a healthy relationship with state. Cambodia’s population is predominantly Buddhist. The State religion, Theravada Buddhism is a persuasive influence on Cambodian life and Representatives of the Buddhist priesthood are on certain government bodies the majority of villages have a temple and monks are a common sight around the country. Christians and Muslims various other religions have a small population number in Cambodia, however despite this there have been no reports of oppression. (Dfat.gov.au, 2014) Mary-Ann Bateson an Australian Healthcare practitioner working in Cambodia stated:
As I work I see corruption all around me. Cambodia isn’t quite up to pace with the rest of the world and while corruption is still occurring in the government I believe that Cambodia will never catch up, so I think that monks in government is a good thing maybe it will help maintain a bit of fairness in the justice system…I’m not worried about monks oppressing me and people who are not Buddhists…All the time I have been in Cambodia I have not once been oppressed in any sort of way. I find it hard practicing Catholicism over here due to few churches but that doesn’t mean that I’m oppressed and I can’t image that I will be in the near future. (Keyes, Kendall and Hardacre, 1994)
Proving that Cambodia's government has a healthy relationship with the religions in the country
As I work I see corruption all around me. Cambodia isn’t quite up to pace with the rest of the world and while corruption is still occurring in the government I believe that Cambodia will never catch up, so I think that monks in government is a good thing maybe it will help maintain a bit of fairness in the justice system…I’m not worried about monks oppressing me and people who are not Buddhists…All the time I have been in Cambodia I have not once been oppressed in any sort of way. I find it hard practicing Catholicism over here due to few churches but that doesn’t mean that I’m oppressed and I can’t image that I will be in the near future. (Keyes, Kendall and Hardacre, 1994)
Proving that Cambodia's government has a healthy relationship with the religions in the country