Judge Hands Down Victory for Embattled Cambodian Buddhist Temple in Oakland

September 16, 2008

Author: Paul T. Rosynski

Original Source: Oakland Tribune

https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2008/09/16/judge-hands-down-victory-for-embattled-cambodian-buddhist-temple-in-oakland/

For the city's Cambodian Buddhists, the past three years have been filled with everything but love, joy and compassion.

Instead, about 600 refugees and immigrants have found themselves battling "outsiders" in court for control of an East Oakland temple they successfully argued was illegally taken from them. The battle, which some described as a "civil war," began in March 2005 when a Massachusetts-based Cambodian Buddhist organization took control of the local temple and its assets in an election the local group said was illegal.

The local group argued in court that the International Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Center — through intimidation and a smear campaign — gained control of the board of directors and then voted to transfer all assets, more than $400,000 worth of property and cash, to the Massachusetts nonprofit organization.

Once the transfer was complete, the International Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Center locked the Oakland group out its own temple and refused to give it about $100,000 that the group had saved in hopes of building a new temple in the city.

Although the Oakland group won its court claim in January, it wasn't until last week that an Alameda County Superior Court Judge made a ruling that set guidelines on how the group could win back its temple and about $100,000 in cash.