Cambodia News (Phnom Penh): On the morning of 14 July 2022, an outrageous incident occurred at the roundabout of Samdech Preah Sangkhareach Chuon Nath, where a black helmet was found sitting on the head of the statue of Samdech Preah Sangkhareach Chuon Nath.

According to a passerby, he saw a black object sitting on the head of the statute when he was riding his motorbike past the statue. Wondering what the object was, he stopped the motorcycle and checked just to realize that it was a motorcycle helmet.

It should be noted that the roundabout of Samdech Preah Sangkhareach Chuon Nath is under the control and responsibility of Sangkat Tonle Bassac, Khan Chamkarmon authorities. Did they not know that a helmet was placed on the head of the statue of Samdech Preah Sangkhareach Chuon Nath? Such incident is an insult to the statue and under no circumstances appropriate at all.

lol -when I was a teen we used climb stupid statues late on Saturday nights and leave traffic cones on their heads

Helmet? I thought it looked like an olive. With that parasol thing, the whole feature would make a reasonable cocktail garnish.

No parsley in his nostrils, weird.
And the guy putting up the glasses, not a peep about him ?

I'd never heard of Chuon Nath, but it's never too late to learn. It seems that he was great scholar and Khmer linguist, as well as a respected Buddhist leader.


Chuon Nath (Khmer: ជួន ណាត; 11 March 1883 – 25 September 1969) was a Cambodian monk and the late Kana Mahanikaya Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia.
Amongst his achievements is his effort in conservation of the Khmer language in the form of the Khmer dictionary. His protection of Khmer identity and history in the form of the national anthem, "Nokor Reach" and "Pongsavotar Khmer" were also among his contributions to the country.
His ashes were interred at Wat Ounalom in Phnom Penh. His full honorary title is Samdech Sangha Rāja Jhotañāno Chuon Nath (Khmer: សម្តេចព្រះសង្ឃរាជ ជួន ណាត ជោតញ្ញាណោ)

Nath was the head of a reformist movement in the Khmer Buddhist Sangha which developed a rationalist-scholastic model of Buddhism, rooted in linguistic studies of the Pali Canon. This new movement, known as Dhammayuttika Nikaya, influenced young Khmer monks in the early 20th century.[1] The new movement also cultivated Khmer-language identity and culture, giving rise to the notion of Cambodian nationalism.
More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuon_Nath

I too am totally outraged. I have never heard of this eminent gentleman but I enjoy taking exception to this sort of behaviour. You could say its a hobby of mine. Heads should roll! (weak pun intended)

Surely there must have been a few Cambodians who found it funny ?, they can't all have been outraged ?