Monday, June 05, 2006

57th Anniversary of the loss of Kampuchea Krom

Buddhist monk looks out from under a banner during a ceremony, to mark the 57th anniversary of the French colonial agreement formally recognising the 'Kampuchea Krom' territory (now the Mekong Delta region) as part of Vietnam since 1949, in Phnom Penh June 4, 2006. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

04 June 2006
By Mayarith
Radio Free Asia

Translated from Khmer by KI-Media

Even though 57 years have passed, several Khmer Kampuchea Krom people said that they can never forget their former land of Kampuchea Keom which is currently occupied by the Vietnamese.

Even now when the land of Kampuchea Krom had been renamed Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), and had passed under the authority of the communist Vietnamese government, some refugees from Kampuchea Krom, who are currently living abroad, claimed that they are continuing the struggle and are calling all Khmer Kampuchea Krom people living inside the country to keep up their hope that they will surely, one day, get back their independence.

The former Cambodian land of Kampuchea Krom was officially given to Vietnam by the French colonial regime on 04 June 1949.

A large number of Cambodian people from Kampuchea Krom were forced to flee their land under the false accusations made by the Vietnamese authority, under the harassment and killings of Kampuchea Krom people who are the native indigenous people, under the destruction of the Kampuchea Krom culture, under the ethnic cleansing with the goal of erasing the history of Kampuchea Krom people from the face of the earth.

Venerable Liv Poeuv, chairman of the Kampuchea Krom monks in the world, who has always encouraged Kampuchea Krom people to keep up their hope for a better future, reminded us that the greed to swallow the land of Kampuchea Krom existed since long ago.

He recalled the events which included the struggle of Khmer people from Kampuchea Krom starting from the 17th century.

He said: “In 1645, Khmer people fought a war with Vietnam in Koh Krabey, Prey Nokor (current HCMC). In 1653, we conducted a war to chase out the Vietnamese in Trapeang Srâka, and in 1658, we fought a war to chase out the Vietnamese from the province of Baray (currently Phuoc Him). In 1738, we fought a war to expel the Vietnamese from the provinces of Siem, Katieng, Kramuon Sar (currently Rach Gia). In 1743, we fought to expel out the Vietnamese from Mé Sar. In 1776, we fought a war to expel out the Vietnamese from Long Hor (currently Vinh Long). In 1835 until 1841 and 1847, we fought a war to expel out the Vietnamese from the province of Preah Trapeang (currently Tra Vinh), the war was led by Tesa Soam – Mr. Khleung Soam – and the Vietnamese governor, Trinh Yong Tieng, was killed. In 1858, we fought a war to expel the Vietnamese from the provinces of Moat Chrouk (currently Chaudoc) and Khleang (currently Soc Trang), the war led by army leader Suos. Today, the grave of army leader Suos is located at the village of Dek Ta Suos (Iron of Grandpa Suos)… In 1859, we fought a war to expel the Vietnamese from the provinces of Po Leav (currently Bac Lieu) and Khleang again (currently Soc Trang), the army was led by army leaders Moan and Tea. Their graves can still be found near Khvel Borbel…”

However all these struggles did not preserve the independence of Kampuchea Krom land. Venerable Liv Poeuv added that in 1859, the war between the Cambodian and the Vietnamese was halted by the French who brought their own troops to invade to the former land of Kampuchea Krom and took over the government from the Vietnamese authority.

During that time, the Venerable indicated that situation was not too bad, but that the situation changed just before World War II (WWII).

Venerable Liv Poeuv said: “Before WWII, the Vietnamese formed a party led by Ho Chi Minh to oppose the French colonial regime. In 1930, this party was named the communist party of Vietnam. Then in 1941, its name was changed to the Federation for the independence of Vietnam. At that time, the Vietnamese gathered and flattered the Cambodian intellectuals, the nationalists, those who have national conscience, and the Vietnamese told them that they should rise and fight the French colonial regime. When victory from the French is achieved, the Vietnamese promised to give them the land of Kampuchea Krom and give them freedom just like the Vietnamese would enjoy. See! This is the Vietnamese trick, they lied, they cheated, we must be careful! Even nowadays, it is the same, we have to be careful.”

Following 04 June 1949, the day Kampuchea Krom land was given to Vietnam, there was an increase of Cambodian refugees from Kampuchea Krom. Currently, some of them are living in Cambodia, some have left to live in a third country.

The Khmer people of Kampuchea Krom who fled their land, went to live in Cambodia, the USA, Australia, Canada, Europe, as well as a number of other countries. They have formed their own associations with the goal of defending the liberty of Khmer people living in Vietnam, and helping them with their living condition there also. Some of these movements went on to actually demand the independence and the return of the Kampuchea Krom territory.

On this Sunday 04 June, several Khmer Kampuchea Krom organizations abroad have organized various commemorations to remind the 57th year event.

Thach Setha, President of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation in Cambodia, said that the people of Kampuchea Krom never forget this tragic event.

Thach Setha said: “The 4th of June is a sad day for the Khmer people of Kampuchea Krom who had lost all their rights. We are commemorating this day to mourn this event almost everywhere outside of the country. In the Kingdom of Cambodia, we are organizing a major commemoration at Veal Meru with the participations of 1949 monks. A large number of people have participated this year, King Norodom Sihamoni and the former Monarch had sent $2,000 of their personal fund to us to organize this event.”

In the small Virginian town of Manassas, USA, a large number of Khmer people from Kampuchea Krom representing Khmer Kampuchea Krom people have gathered at a Khmer Kampuchea Krom pagoda this Sunday also to commemorate the 04 June event which occurred 57 years ago.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

All Khmers krom, I always admire your courage, your struggle against Vietnameses. From now all The Khmers in the Cambodia have to ged rid all the colonialist Vietnameses from our country othevise we will be soon like the khmers krom and the Chams.
Sous le Régime Hun Sén et N. Ranaridh (1993 - 1997):


- En mai 1993, l’APRONUC a enregistré 4.764.430 électeurs (de 18 ans et plus) et a estimé la population totale du Cambodge à 8.820.766 d’habitants.
- En 1995, dans le Web Site du Royaume du Cambodge: 10.300.000 habitants.
- En 2000, selon Khmer Intelligence qui cite le Ministère de l’Intérieur : 12 millions habitants.
- Novembre 16, 2003, Khmer Intelligence,, Latest figures from the Interior Ministry show that Cambodia’s population has now reached 13.8 million versus 12 million in 2000.
- En 2005, K.L BINDRA: 13.500.000 habitants dont 4 à 4,5 Millions Yuons.
CONCLUSION- A ce jour, en 2005, la population cambodgienne arrive à 13,8 M, dont 4 à 4,5 Millions Yuons.
- Ce ne sont guère des immigrés « normaux ».
- Cet accroissement du nombre des yuons est contraire à celui des autres communautés étrangères au Cambodge. Elle ne suit pas une courbe d’évolution régulière, mais avec des hausses et des chutes absolument extraordinaires.
- En fait, dans le passé comme aujourd'hui, les Vietnamiens n'émigrent vers le Cambodge que s'ils y sont particulièrement encouragés et protégés par les pouvoirs vietnamiens et/ou par les autorités cambodgiennes.
- Depuis 1979, le nombre de cette population augmente d’une façon exponentielle. Ce n'est plus une "immigration", mais une véritable INVASION, permise et protégée par le gouvernement pro-yuon actuel.

REFERENCES:
Cambodia's Border Committee http://wms.cfcambodge.org

Get these traitors Hun sen out
Vote for SAM RAINSY