Only 35% hold an ID card
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
The Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Organization presented yesterday a report detailing the living conditions of Khmer Krom people in Cambodia. The investigation report indicated that the principal demand of these “immigrants” was to become naturalized citizens by obtaining a Cambodian identification card, without which, their fundamental citizen rights, such as the right to vote, access to schooling and work, are being refused.
According to Ang Chanrith, the executive director of the Organization, only 35% of the some 1.5 million Khmer Krom people accounted in the census hold a Cambodian citizen identification card. Most of them had to lie about their actual birthplace, or even change their last name [in order to obtain citizen identification card]. “The local authorities said that they cannot issue birth certificates and ID cards to these [Khmer Krom] people because they [the authorities] did not receive any order on this matter from the Ministry of Interior,” Ang Chanrith explained during a press conference.
A Khmer Krom man from Takeo anonymously testified and explained to the audience the daily difficulties he encounters for living without an official citizenship identification card. “They said that we are human beings, Normally, it would be the identification card. where is the official document which recognizes that?I can support going on without having food to eat, but I am demanding my identification card. Without this card, we have no right, we cannot move anywhere at all,” the anonymous man explained.
According to Ang Chanrith, the refusal by the authorities to provide the citizenship to Khmer Krom people living in Cambodia is tantamount to maintaining them in misery. Almost 60% of the Khmer Krom population in Cambodia consists of women, and 90% of them are illiterate. Too busy to help their parents, 70% of Khmer Krom children living in Cambodia do not attend school.
According to Ang Chanrith, the executive director of the Organization, only 35% of the some 1.5 million Khmer Krom people accounted in the census hold a Cambodian citizen identification card. Most of them had to lie about their actual birthplace, or even change their last name [in order to obtain citizen identification card]. “The local authorities said that they cannot issue birth certificates and ID cards to these [Khmer Krom] people because they [the authorities] did not receive any order on this matter from the Ministry of Interior,” Ang Chanrith explained during a press conference.
A Khmer Krom man from Takeo anonymously testified and explained to the audience the daily difficulties he encounters for living without an official citizenship identification card. “They said that we are human beings, Normally, it would be the identification card. where is the official document which recognizes that?I can support going on without having food to eat, but I am demanding my identification card. Without this card, we have no right, we cannot move anywhere at all,” the anonymous man explained.
According to Ang Chanrith, the refusal by the authorities to provide the citizenship to Khmer Krom people living in Cambodia is tantamount to maintaining them in misery. Almost 60% of the Khmer Krom population in Cambodia consists of women, and 90% of them are illiterate. Too busy to help their parents, 70% of Khmer Krom children living in Cambodia do not attend school.
4 comments:
If AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave can do such thing to the Khmer Krom people in Cambodia and now just imagine what the Vietcong government would do to the Khmer Krom people in Southern Vietname!
The Vietcong government can't get away for what they did to the Khmer Krom people!!!!!
Why must Khmer continue to suffer!!
Mr. Hun Sen,
You are Cambodian, you can your mind, change your destination, change your future by fighting Vietcong to save the country incl. Khmer Krom - why you cannot do??? why??????????????????????????????We the citizens in the whole country supporting you, and we pardon you if you could, otherwise you would be hanged same as Iraq's Sadam!! bye!!
In goodwill
Ong Att.
Mr. Hun Sen,
You are Cambodian, you can your mind, change your destination, change your future by fighting Vietcong to save the country incl. Khmer Krom - why you cannot do??? why??????????????????????????????We the citizens in the whole country supporting you, and we pardon you if you could, otherwise you would be hanged same as Iraq's Sadam!! bye!!
In goodwill
Ong Att.
hun sen got many ideas from the vietcong. like land grabbing,two kids per family policy....
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