By Moeung Tum
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
CCHR Ou Virak said that: “We see that the initiation of Tim Sakhorn’s problem is similar to those occurring under the communist regime (PRK regime installed by Vietnam), people were arrested and they disappeared because they were deported to Vietnam to be jailed there. They were prevented from having relative visitation rights. This action is a human rights violation in Cambodia, because Monk Tim Sakhorn is a citizen with his rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Therefore, the Cambodian government’s action reminds us of the period when Vietnam ruled over Cambodia.”
Ou Virak added: “… this is a problem that we should avoid because we consider our country as a democratic currently, and we are currently strengthening the rule of law. This problem shows that our country did not move forward, but we are going backward in the strengthening of the judicial system and in the application of the law. The fact that the Cambodian government can arrest a Cambodian citizen and deport him to another country in secret without court appearance, and without following the letter of the law, is a case of human rights violation.”
CCHR observes that the link between religion and the current Cambodian regime is such that the government is allowed to nominate to the religious hierarchy, monk officials who help spread out the regime’s propaganda. The Cambodian Monk-King Tep Vong is one of such monk officials because the role played by this Monk-King clearly reveals the travesty in the defrocking of Monk Tim Sakhorn who used to be also the vice-president of the People’s Republic of Kampuchea (installed by Vietnam) Assembly in 1981, and the Monk-King also maintains a close relationship with the CPP party.
CCHR calls for a change in such method used for the nomination of monk officials, and it calls for a national level discussion on the link between the government and the religion in Cambodia, so that Buddhism structure in Cambodia can fulfill its role independently.
Ou Virak added: “… this is a problem that we should avoid because we consider our country as a democratic currently, and we are currently strengthening the rule of law. This problem shows that our country did not move forward, but we are going backward in the strengthening of the judicial system and in the application of the law. The fact that the Cambodian government can arrest a Cambodian citizen and deport him to another country in secret without court appearance, and without following the letter of the law, is a case of human rights violation.”
CCHR observes that the link between religion and the current Cambodian regime is such that the government is allowed to nominate to the religious hierarchy, monk officials who help spread out the regime’s propaganda. The Cambodian Monk-King Tep Vong is one of such monk officials because the role played by this Monk-King clearly reveals the travesty in the defrocking of Monk Tim Sakhorn who used to be also the vice-president of the People’s Republic of Kampuchea (installed by Vietnam) Assembly in 1981, and the Monk-King also maintains a close relationship with the CPP party.
CCHR calls for a change in such method used for the nomination of monk officials, and it calls for a national level discussion on the link between the government and the religion in Cambodia, so that Buddhism structure in Cambodia can fulfill its role independently.
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Please, read our history
MAP OF KAMPUCHEA KROM
http://www.khmerkromngo.org/map/map.htm
Kampuchea Krom is rich in history and civilized culture before the Vietnamese settlers arrived on the northern border with Champa Kingdom.
Kampuchea Krom is the oldest land in Southeast Asia.
The Khmers called this part of the Khmer Empire [Present day Kingdom of Cambodia], Kampuchea Krom. Kampuchea Krom is also known as Lower Cambodia, Mekong Delta, or Cochin China. The Khmer populations of this beautiful landscapes share the same race, religion, national language, culture, custom, tradition, and great history as the Khmers in Cambodia. Kampuchea Krom is slightly smaller in size than her motherland, Kingdom of Cambodia.
KAMPUCHEA KROM AT A GLANCE
Kampuchea Krom is composed of 68,965 square kilometers, 21 provinces and municipalities, two large islands - Koh Trol and Koh Tralach, 171 districts, 1,368 communes, 14,778 villages, more than 13 million Khmers, more than 567 Buddhist pagodas and more than 20,000 Theravada Buddhist monks.
99% of population are Theravada Buddhists.
The Khmer kings, governments, regimes and citizens have never relinquish (give up) this part of their country to foreigners.
Kampuchea Krom has been under an ongoing colonial control since her division from motherland, Cambodia.
June 4, 1949 is the date that the Khmer Kampuchea Krom citizens grieve. The Khmer Kampuchea Krom people have organized Buddhist Service annually to honor the fallen Khmer Buddhist monks and heroes, who sacrified their lives for Kampuchea Krom and Theravada Buddhism.
Colonial France divided, ceded and transferred Kampuchea Krom to colonial Vietnam on this date. The freedom of Khmer Kampuchea Krom has been mostly stripped by the Vietnamese ruling regimes and governments since. The French colonial adminstration committed injustice upon the more than 13 million Khmers of this beautiful fertile land.
Justice remains elusive for Cambodia, Kampuchea Krom and her citizens.
And...the struggle to regain freedom and human right by the Khmers in Kampuchea Krom continues as long as injustice commits by the ruling Vietnamese regime(s) has not produced a fruitful result.
The followings are Khmer provincial, municipal and island names that the Vietnamese authorities have changed repeatedly.
1. Preah Trapeang province
in Vietnamese - Tra Vinh
(Vinh Binh)
2. Khleang province
in Vietnamese - Soc Trang
3. Mort Chrouk province
in Vietnamese - Chau Doc
4. Kramuon Sor province
in Vietnamese - Rach Gia
5. Pol Leav province
in Vietnamese - Bac Lieu
6. Tuk Khmau province
in Vietnamese - Ca Mau
7. Peam Banteay Meas province
in Vietnamese - Ha Tien
8. Prek Russey province
in Vietnamese - Can Tho
9. Long Hor province
in Vietnamese - Vinh Long
10. Peam Barach province
in Vietnamese - Long Xuyen
11. Raung Domrei province
in Vietnamse - Tay Ninh
12. Prey Nokor city
in Vietnamese - Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon)
13. Tuol Tamoak province
in Vietnamese - Thu Du Mot
14. Phsar Dek province
in Vietnamese - Sadec
15. Changva Trapeang Sraka Trey
province in Vietnamese - Bien Hoa
16. Me Sor province
in Vietnamese - My Tho
17. Preah Suorkea province
in Vietnamese - Baria
18. Koh Koang province
in Vietnamese - Go Cong
19. Kampong Russey province
in Vietnamese - Ben Tre
20. Kampong Kou province
(New name) in Vietnamese - Tan An
21. O Kab province
in Vietnamese - Vung Tau
22. Koh Tralach (Tralach Island)
in Vietnamese - Con Dao (Con Son)
23. Koh Trol (Trol Island)
in Vietnamese - Phu Quoc island
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