Kampuchea Krom flagFriday, November 17, 2006
Khmer Krom Mark 30th Anniversary of Clash
By Saing Soenthrith
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Hundreds gathered for a Buddhist ceremony in Meanchey district's Stung Meanchey commune Thursday to mark the 30th anniversary of a bloody 1976 clash between ethnic Khmers in Vietnam and Vietnamese forces.
Thach Seta, a former SRP senator who heads the country's Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community, said the ceremony at Samaki Rainsy pagoda marked the Nov 16, 1976, "brave resistance movement by the Khmer Kampuchea Krom people who stood up against the Vietnamese."
But the commemoration, attended by some 300 villagers from 12 Khmer Krom associations in several provinces, was delayed by local authorities who said that the group had not obtained a permit to hold the "anarchic" event Meanchey district Governor Kuch Chamroeun said.
"I sent my colleague to stop this ceremony, because they had not asked permission from our authorities and they made very anarchic speeches," he said.
Police had to "re-educate" the chief monk of Samaki Rainsy pagoda, he added.
As guests arrived for the ceremony at 7 am, police ordered them not to attend, but by 9 am about half of the invited group had ignored the police warning and assembled in the pagoda.
Police returned around noon to confront chief monk Yoeun Sin.
Yoeun Sin agreed to fingerprint a document that police presented him with, though the monk maintained that his pagoda did not need a permit to host a religious ceremony.
Kim Vanchheng, chief coordinator of the KKKC, said that the ceremony did not require a permit because it was religious in nature.
"We made our ceremony by Buddhist rules. We don't need a permit from them," he said.
More than 500 people would have turned out for the ceremony if police had not intimidated some of them, he added.
"The authorities deployed police to make our people afraid," he said.
The ceremony marked a day in 1976 when Vietnamese forces killed and arrested Khmer Kampuchea Krom monks and civilians. Some of those who were arrested stayed in prison for up to 20 years, Thach Setha said.
Thach Seta, a former SRP senator who heads the country's Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community, said the ceremony at Samaki Rainsy pagoda marked the Nov 16, 1976, "brave resistance movement by the Khmer Kampuchea Krom people who stood up against the Vietnamese."
But the commemoration, attended by some 300 villagers from 12 Khmer Krom associations in several provinces, was delayed by local authorities who said that the group had not obtained a permit to hold the "anarchic" event Meanchey district Governor Kuch Chamroeun said.
"I sent my colleague to stop this ceremony, because they had not asked permission from our authorities and they made very anarchic speeches," he said.
Police had to "re-educate" the chief monk of Samaki Rainsy pagoda, he added.
As guests arrived for the ceremony at 7 am, police ordered them not to attend, but by 9 am about half of the invited group had ignored the police warning and assembled in the pagoda.
Police returned around noon to confront chief monk Yoeun Sin.
Yoeun Sin agreed to fingerprint a document that police presented him with, though the monk maintained that his pagoda did not need a permit to host a religious ceremony.
Kim Vanchheng, chief coordinator of the KKKC, said that the ceremony did not require a permit because it was religious in nature.
"We made our ceremony by Buddhist rules. We don't need a permit from them," he said.
More than 500 people would have turned out for the ceremony if police had not intimidated some of them, he added.
"The authorities deployed police to make our people afraid," he said.
The ceremony marked a day in 1976 when Vietnamese forces killed and arrested Khmer Kampuchea Krom monks and civilians. Some of those who were arrested stayed in prison for up to 20 years, Thach Setha said.
6 comments:
Who are those cops?
What country are they from?
The Khmer Krom organizers and participants just pay their respect to the courageous compatriots that bravely revolted against the Vietnamese for lying to return Khmer land once the Khmers in Kampuchea Krom helped them chased out the French colonialists and American GIs.
Fear no Vietcong! God is on your side!
Cambodian appeal to French government!
Please take your responsibility in making us losing this Khmer Krom land. You must know that all suffering, khmer krom have upto now from suppression of Yuon, came from your very wrong decision. You must help us find solution for our people!!!
It is not Vietcong that Khmer Krom fear of, what they are fearing of is some Khmer leaders in Cambodia. As we all know too well, Khmer Rouge killed their country man close to two millions. And this could happen to Khmer Krom too. They are being kill by another Khmer fellow.
This present govt is so afraid of the vietnamese. They are willing to oppress their own people ( khmerkrom) just to please their master,the yuon,. What a shame ? .
AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave think that the Vietcong can protect his family member and all his cronies? Well think again!
I remembered AH HUN SEN asked Cambodian people a coffin size the ground distance to walk on if he is going to be taken out from power! Your enemy are honoring your request! It is so sad to see that you have to leave your children behind one day!
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