By Antonio Graceffo
Asian Tribune
The formation of an international organization, based in Cambodia, hopes to preserve the language and culture of Cambodia’s ethnic Muslim minority.
The Kingdom of Champa, originating in the second century AD was one of the most powerful empires in Indochina, covering much of what is today, Vietnam, and parts of Cambodia. At the peak of its power, Champa toppled the Khmer capital, but was later defeated by King Jayavarman VII, in 1181. Although originally Hindu, the Cham converted to Islam, making them one of the only Islamic Kingdoms in the region. The kingdom eventually broke up, and the survivors were scattered throughout Asia. Today, Cham can be found in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, the United States and Australia.
“It is a long time that the Cham have lost their culture.” Laments Mat Mot, a principle officer of the International Federation of Champa. “Nearly everything disappeared 480 years ago. The language, education, and most of the religion were lost.”
Mat Mot, a Phnom Penh based Cham, has been working to organize the Cham in Vietnam, Cambodia, and the USA to form a single organization, dedicated to the revival of their cultural legacy. “Eighty percent of Cham in Phnom Penh don’t speak our language.” Complains Mat Mot. He goes on to say that in Phnom Penh there is not a single school dedicated to teaching the Cham language.
The Cham are a unique racial group, of Indic/Malayic stock. The Cham language is of Malay origin. Centuries ago, the Cham had their own writing system, a Pali based alphabet, similar to modern Khmer, Thai, Burmese, and Shan.
The destruction and scattering of the kingdom was just the first major blow in a long series of struggles which would threaten the continued existence of the Cham culture. The first encroachments on the language came after the conversion to Islam, as devout Cham worshipers had to adopt Arabic script, in order to read the Koran. Later, religious teachers from Malaysia introduced their own alphabet and language as a mode of instruction. The separation of Kampuchea Krom combined with the bad political blood between Vietnam and Cambodia, created barriers, separating Cambodian Cham from their brethren. The Khmer Rouge years were particularly hard on the Cham community, as Cham were often singled out and killed, and many mosques were burned. After the war, Cham refugees of the Pol Pot regime were resettled in the USA and Australia, thousands of miles away from their community.
According to Mat Mot, 80% of the Cham population lives in poverty. A large percentage of those living on the river boats have never attended school. Lack of education and nutrition are further obstacles which may stand in the way reviving the Cham culture.
More of the Cham identity was lost in 1985, when the Cambodian government decided the politically correct name for Cham people would be Khmer Islam.
“Cham is a race. Our religion is Islam, but we are not Arabs and we are not the same as the Khmer. We have our own culture which we are losing.” aid Mat Mot, in reaction to the new name for his people.
Today, it is estimated that there are between 500 thousand and one million Cham in Cambodia. They are centered in: Kompong Chhnang, Battambamg, and in Phnom Penh. They are divided into two distinct groups, Cham Chweia and Cham Champa. The Cham Champa are the city dwellers, who are in the greatest danger of losing their language and culture. They have regular access to Khmer schools and Khmer society and consequently find themselves becoming “Khmerized.”
The Cham Chweia typically live on house boats, making a living from fishing the Tonle Sap and the Mekong. They speak the Cham language fluently and have less opportunity to integrate into larger Khmer society. Although most are illiterate, and cannot read the Koran, they follow a more traditional form of Islam, in which they pray five times a day. According to Mat Mot, most of the Cham Champa only pray on Fridays.
The culture of the Cham Champa seems to differ dramatically from village to village. “Some write Arabic, some write Malay, some write ancient Cham script.” Said Mat Mot, with a gesture of resignation.
Mat Mot hopes that through his organization, the Cham in the various regions of the world can communicate with each other and work to standardize their religion and language.
“We held a three country conference in 2006 (USA, Cambodia, and Vietnam). We are planning the next conference.”
One of the most concrete steps taken toward the goal of preserving Cham culture was the formation of the Cham Ethno Cultural Center, located in Kampong Chhnang Province. The center was funded by UNESCO, through the work of Dr. Thanh Dai.
“UNESCO gave us the money. Now we have a school to teach Cham language and culture to Cham as well as non-Cham people.”
Antonio Graceffo is an adventure travel and martial arts author, living in Asia. His specialties include ethnic minorities, languages, and martial arts. He has studied Kung Fu at the Shaolin Temple and lived in the last Muay Thai monastery in Thailand. He has published four books on amazon.com
The Kingdom of Champa, originating in the second century AD was one of the most powerful empires in Indochina, covering much of what is today, Vietnam, and parts of Cambodia. At the peak of its power, Champa toppled the Khmer capital, but was later defeated by King Jayavarman VII, in 1181. Although originally Hindu, the Cham converted to Islam, making them one of the only Islamic Kingdoms in the region. The kingdom eventually broke up, and the survivors were scattered throughout Asia. Today, Cham can be found in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, the United States and Australia.
“It is a long time that the Cham have lost their culture.” Laments Mat Mot, a principle officer of the International Federation of Champa. “Nearly everything disappeared 480 years ago. The language, education, and most of the religion were lost.”
Mat Mot, a Phnom Penh based Cham, has been working to organize the Cham in Vietnam, Cambodia, and the USA to form a single organization, dedicated to the revival of their cultural legacy. “Eighty percent of Cham in Phnom Penh don’t speak our language.” Complains Mat Mot. He goes on to say that in Phnom Penh there is not a single school dedicated to teaching the Cham language.
The Cham are a unique racial group, of Indic/Malayic stock. The Cham language is of Malay origin. Centuries ago, the Cham had their own writing system, a Pali based alphabet, similar to modern Khmer, Thai, Burmese, and Shan.
The destruction and scattering of the kingdom was just the first major blow in a long series of struggles which would threaten the continued existence of the Cham culture. The first encroachments on the language came after the conversion to Islam, as devout Cham worshipers had to adopt Arabic script, in order to read the Koran. Later, religious teachers from Malaysia introduced their own alphabet and language as a mode of instruction. The separation of Kampuchea Krom combined with the bad political blood between Vietnam and Cambodia, created barriers, separating Cambodian Cham from their brethren. The Khmer Rouge years were particularly hard on the Cham community, as Cham were often singled out and killed, and many mosques were burned. After the war, Cham refugees of the Pol Pot regime were resettled in the USA and Australia, thousands of miles away from their community.
According to Mat Mot, 80% of the Cham population lives in poverty. A large percentage of those living on the river boats have never attended school. Lack of education and nutrition are further obstacles which may stand in the way reviving the Cham culture.
More of the Cham identity was lost in 1985, when the Cambodian government decided the politically correct name for Cham people would be Khmer Islam.
“Cham is a race. Our religion is Islam, but we are not Arabs and we are not the same as the Khmer. We have our own culture which we are losing.” aid Mat Mot, in reaction to the new name for his people.
Today, it is estimated that there are between 500 thousand and one million Cham in Cambodia. They are centered in: Kompong Chhnang, Battambamg, and in Phnom Penh. They are divided into two distinct groups, Cham Chweia and Cham Champa. The Cham Champa are the city dwellers, who are in the greatest danger of losing their language and culture. They have regular access to Khmer schools and Khmer society and consequently find themselves becoming “Khmerized.”
The Cham Chweia typically live on house boats, making a living from fishing the Tonle Sap and the Mekong. They speak the Cham language fluently and have less opportunity to integrate into larger Khmer society. Although most are illiterate, and cannot read the Koran, they follow a more traditional form of Islam, in which they pray five times a day. According to Mat Mot, most of the Cham Champa only pray on Fridays.
The culture of the Cham Champa seems to differ dramatically from village to village. “Some write Arabic, some write Malay, some write ancient Cham script.” Said Mat Mot, with a gesture of resignation.
Mat Mot hopes that through his organization, the Cham in the various regions of the world can communicate with each other and work to standardize their religion and language.
“We held a three country conference in 2006 (USA, Cambodia, and Vietnam). We are planning the next conference.”
One of the most concrete steps taken toward the goal of preserving Cham culture was the formation of the Cham Ethno Cultural Center, located in Kampong Chhnang Province. The center was funded by UNESCO, through the work of Dr. Thanh Dai.
“UNESCO gave us the money. Now we have a school to teach Cham language and culture to Cham as well as non-Cham people.”
Antonio Graceffo is an adventure travel and martial arts author, living in Asia. His specialties include ethnic minorities, languages, and martial arts. He has studied Kung Fu at the Shaolin Temple and lived in the last Muay Thai monastery in Thailand. He has published four books on amazon.com
5 comments:
I welcome the Cham people to restore their nationhood in central Vietnam. Let's unite with KhmerKrom to fight the Vietcongs to take back Kampuchea Krom(south Vietnam) and Kingdom of Champa(Central Vietnam). Better Late Than Never!!!
Rights for Chams and Rights for KhmerKrom in Vietnam, using International Law.
Kampuchea should not be one day, after Phillipines and Thailand, a fighting ground for Islamist claims.
I welcome the Cham people to restore their nationhood in central Vietnam but not in Cambodia.
Cambodia harboured Chams 5 centuries ago because VIETNAM annexed their territory and and repressed them. Then they took refuge in Cambodia and we have welcomed and considered them as veritable Khmers though them and us have different religions. They have had the same right as us in all areas.
I don't agree with Mat Mot when complain that The Khmer Rouge years were particularly hard on the Cham community, as Cham were often singled out and killed, and many mosques were burned, seeing 2 millions Khmers had been killed and cambodia, pagodas and our own culture pratically destroyed. If he is not happy to be called Khmer Islam and don't considerate yourself as KHMER though the race cham has been in Cambodia about 480 years . Please ask the help of Dr THANH DAI(I suppose he is YUON)to take you back to your former Kingdom Champa so that you could restore you real identity.
(More of the Cham identity was lost in 1985, when the Cambodian government decided the politically correct name for Cham people would be KHMER Islam.
“Cham is a race. Our religion is Islam, but we are not Arabs and we are not the same as the Khmer. We have our own culture which we are losing.” aid Mat Mot, in reaction to the new name for his people).
One of the most concrete steps taken toward the goal of preserving Cham culture was the formation of the Cham Ethno Cultural Center, located in Kampong Chhnang Province. The center was funded by UNESCO, through the work of Dr. THANH DAI.
LOVE CAMBODIA OR
TAKE A TOURISTIC VISA
Dear Cham People of Cambodia,
When your race as a Cham people was systematically annihiliated by the Youns (Viets), your last king gather his Cham people and migrated to Cambodia. We Khmer welcomed you people with open arms. We allowed you to settle in our land and water and you have prospered for many generations. I don't know the reason for our kindness towards you people, but I think you were once part of the Angkorian Empire ruled by his Greatest Majesty King Jayvaraman VII. This made you the citizens of Angkor Empire. We called you "Khmer Islam" because I think your people and our Khmer people had a common bond which was the Indic influences and genetic elements. You should be thankful of the Khmer people and land that have continued to see you as a part of the Khmer greater family. This does not mean that we don't distinguish you from us. We still honor your ethnic name by still calling you "Cham" as our ancestors had done in the past.
I or we Cambodian really support Cham to become a nation with their country again. But this does not mean that they fight Cambodian that give them hospitality over the years. Or fight Cambodian to break away within Cambodian. And I heard the YOUN really scare about Cham getting strong each day. I hope this dream will be a reality for the Cham. With this contrast the KHmer krom can get the opportunity to seek to rejoin back to Cambodia or declare themself a statehood too. I am applaude for this envision. Bravo Khmer Krom! Bravo Cambodian of all! Bravo to the Cham!!! May all keep up the good work!
Dear Cham People,
I strongly support your course to preserve your culture and identtity. I would like to ask you, cham people and especially Mr Mat Mot, 3 questions:
1. IF YOU COMPARE YOUR CHAM'S FREEDOM OF RIGHT, RELIGION AND CULTURE IN CAMBODIA TO THOSE IN VIETNAM OR THAILAND, AND TO KHMERKROMS IN SOUTHERN VIETNAM; WHICH ONE IS BETTER?
2. ARE YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR CHANGING YOUR NAME FROM CHAM TO KHMER-ISLAM? EXAMPLE: WHEN SOME CHAMS IN KAMPONG CHHNANG PROVINCE WANT SOME BENEFIT FROM THE KHMER SOCIETY SUCH AS THE RIGHTS TO HAVE MANY HECTARS OF LAND, DOING BUSINESS IN THE LOCALS, GET SOME AIDS; THEY CALL THEMSELVES KHMERS, EVEN NOT KHMER ISLAM.
3. WHERE IS YOUR HOMELAND? IT'S NOT JUSTICE FOR THE SMALL CAMBODIA WHO HELPED FIT YOU AND SUSTAIN SOME, IF NOT ALL, OF YOUR IDENTITIES NEARLY 500 YEARS TO LET YOU CLAIM ANY TERRITORY HERE!!! HOWEVER, KHMERS PEOPLE WILL HELP AND SUPPORT YOU, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO YOUR HOMELAND AS A FREE NATION IN THE CENTRAL VIETNAM. AND WE WISH YOU HELP US FOR KAMPUCHEA KROM TOO.
I REALLY WANT TO CONTACT MR. Mat Mot FOR GOODWILL. COULD ANYBODY HELP.
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