Friday, December 22, 2006

2 Khmer Krom monks arrested by the Vietnamese authority

21 Dec 2006
By Keo Pech Metta
Radio Free Asia

Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Nationalist Union (KKNU) said that 2 Khmer Kampuchea Krom monks from Preah Trapeang (Tra Vinh in Vietnamese) province were arrested for questioning by the Vietnamese authority on 20 Dec 2006. The two are accused by the Vietnamese authority of joining the KKNU, an act considered illegal by the Vietnamese regime

Monk Kim Si Somna, the President of KKNU, said that the two monks arrested by the Vietnamese are Monks Treav Nav and Thach Sambo, the two are residing in Mony Sakor pagoda, Preah Trapeang province. He told RFA: “They were questioned for joining the KKNU through the International Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation.”

Monk Thach Sambo who was arrested by the Vietnamese authority said that he is still being questioned by the Vietnamese authority from Preah Trapeang province, he is not certain about the Vietnamese decision. However, he indicated that he did not commit anything wrong, his decision to join KKNU was only done to serve the interest of his nation, it does not affect any other people: “I am facing several kind of difficulties because of the pressure imposed by the Vietnamese government.”

Regarding the arrest of the Khmer Krom monks, RFA had made several attempts to contact the Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh to obtain clarification on this issue, however, there was no one picking up the phone.

Thach Setha, Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Association (KKA) executive president and former Senator, said that the situation of Kampuchea Krom is rapidly changing, especially with more frequent arrest of monks and Khmer Kampuchea Krom people by the Vietnamese authority. KKA has called on the Vietnamese government to release Khmer Krom people, and put to an end immediately to the hardship imposed on Khmer Krom people, the original land owner of Kampuchea Krom (South Vietnam).

Monk Sim Somna said that currently, there are 13 million Khmer Kampuchea-Krom. They steadfastly maintain their ancestral traditions even though they fall victim to the Vietnamese authority constant pressure and exaction, as well as arrest and jailing, such as what Monks Thach Sambo and Treav Nav are faced with currently. It is not known yet what will be in store for the two monks arrested.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The only good Vietcong is a death Vietcong!!! After the Vietcong leaders COW DUNG visited Cambodia and this is what the Khmer Krom get??

Do you ever hear AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave protest to the Vietcong master who violated the Khmer people freedom and happiness?

Of course not!!AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave will never dare say a word and this is the reason why AH HUN SEN is a fucken Vietcong slave for life!!!!

Cambodian people can help AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave misery from the Vietcong master by ending his life with a single bullet to his head!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm all for it!

You got my blessing to do it 6:34am and you soul will go to heaven whenever you decide you want to go.