By Hassan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The delegation of the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) in the World which included Venerable Thach Birong, Venerable Thach Sarong, Mr. Tran Giap, and Mr. Thach Len, visited two US congressmen in Washington DC on Wednesday morning: US Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Frank Wolf (R-VA), to raise the current issue of Khmer Kampuchea Krom and the case of Abbot Tim Sakhorn who was defrocked by force by the Cambodian authority and handed over to Vietnam for his jailing.
RFA talked to Venerable Thach Birong about the meeting of the KKF delegation, and their hopes after talking with the two US Congressmen.
Ven. Thach Birong said: “There were two main subjects: (1) we discussed about the severe violations perpetrated by the Vietnamese government which defrocked by force (Khmer Krom) monks, their killings of monks, their collusion with the Cambodian government to deport Monk Tim Sakhorn was a violation of the territorial integrity of Cambodia and its Constitution by kidnapping a Cambodian citizen, Monk Tim Sakhorn, and taking him to hide in Kampuchea Krom for almost 2 months, it’s only recently that this case was reported. Now, we are asking the US Congress to pay attention and to study about the violation of the freedom rights of the Kampuchea Krom people and monks. The office of Rep. Frank Wolf wrote a letter to the Hanoi regime telling them to study and review its rights violations, otherwise, punitions in the form of economic sanctions will be imposed.”
Ven. Thach Birong added: “after that our 4-member delegation visited high ranking officials in charge of interfaith … a 7-member committee met us and talked with us for 1 hour and 25 minutes on important issues, including the visit to Vietnam of this 7-member committee on the upcoming 23rd, to talk with the Vietnamese government about the violation of religious rights and human rights in South and North Vietnam. Nowadays, Kampuchea Krom counts several millions of (Khmer Krom) people and monks, but the Vietnamese government only opened one (Buddhist) religion school when the number of (Khmer Krom Buddhist) monks amounts to more than 10,000 for this higher religion school institution.”
At the end, Ven. Thach Birong talked the US officials about the plans fomented by the Vietnamese authority against Khmer Krom people.
Ven. Thach Birong added: “The trailing, the threats, and the frightening of monks and laypeople in the provinces of Preah Trapeang, Khleang, Motr Chrouk, etc… are very severe, we reported this to the US officials and showed them numerous proofs, pictures, and documents. The high ranking official in charge of interfaith provided us a positive answer: (1) they will attempt to visit the 5 Khmer Krom monks who are currently jailed in Khleang province, and they will negotiate with the Yuon government so that it will think about the severe violations on Khmer Krom monks and laypeople, and they will insist that Vietnam must immediately release the 5 Khmer Krom monks in Khleang province, and release without condition Monk Tim Sakhorn and ordain him back according to Buddhist religious rites. Currently, the Yuon government has changed their tactics: they will start closing down the sole Khmer Krom superior religious school, and open another one north of there, in Prek Russei province, the former Kampuchea Krom territory. We are calling to all Khmer Krom monks and people to strengthen their courage. Now US government institution in charge of interfaith will provide help to seek justice.”
RFA talked to Venerable Thach Birong about the meeting of the KKF delegation, and their hopes after talking with the two US Congressmen.
Ven. Thach Birong said: “There were two main subjects: (1) we discussed about the severe violations perpetrated by the Vietnamese government which defrocked by force (Khmer Krom) monks, their killings of monks, their collusion with the Cambodian government to deport Monk Tim Sakhorn was a violation of the territorial integrity of Cambodia and its Constitution by kidnapping a Cambodian citizen, Monk Tim Sakhorn, and taking him to hide in Kampuchea Krom for almost 2 months, it’s only recently that this case was reported. Now, we are asking the US Congress to pay attention and to study about the violation of the freedom rights of the Kampuchea Krom people and monks. The office of Rep. Frank Wolf wrote a letter to the Hanoi regime telling them to study and review its rights violations, otherwise, punitions in the form of economic sanctions will be imposed.”
Ven. Thach Birong added: “after that our 4-member delegation visited high ranking officials in charge of interfaith … a 7-member committee met us and talked with us for 1 hour and 25 minutes on important issues, including the visit to Vietnam of this 7-member committee on the upcoming 23rd, to talk with the Vietnamese government about the violation of religious rights and human rights in South and North Vietnam. Nowadays, Kampuchea Krom counts several millions of (Khmer Krom) people and monks, but the Vietnamese government only opened one (Buddhist) religion school when the number of (Khmer Krom Buddhist) monks amounts to more than 10,000 for this higher religion school institution.”
At the end, Ven. Thach Birong talked the US officials about the plans fomented by the Vietnamese authority against Khmer Krom people.
Ven. Thach Birong added: “The trailing, the threats, and the frightening of monks and laypeople in the provinces of Preah Trapeang, Khleang, Motr Chrouk, etc… are very severe, we reported this to the US officials and showed them numerous proofs, pictures, and documents. The high ranking official in charge of interfaith provided us a positive answer: (1) they will attempt to visit the 5 Khmer Krom monks who are currently jailed in Khleang province, and they will negotiate with the Yuon government so that it will think about the severe violations on Khmer Krom monks and laypeople, and they will insist that Vietnam must immediately release the 5 Khmer Krom monks in Khleang province, and release without condition Monk Tim Sakhorn and ordain him back according to Buddhist religious rites. Currently, the Yuon government has changed their tactics: they will start closing down the sole Khmer Krom superior religious school, and open another one north of there, in Prek Russei province, the former Kampuchea Krom territory. We are calling to all Khmer Krom monks and people to strengthen their courage. Now US government institution in charge of interfaith will provide help to seek justice.”
4 comments:
I believed that KKF will succeed their determination to get KK independent from vietnam very soon as long as they are joining hands in hands for the same principle. They must make sure that they have good elements to govern that country. Therefore they to train their people to be leaders of all Ministries, departments, provincial leaders counties leaders and village leaders. They must avoid corruption like Cambodia, East Timore and Afganistan. They have to learn from Hu Jintao and Wen Jia Pao how to develop the country with success. People must come first. Monies is a caused of country destruction and people miseries. If everyone is hungry with monies then, they shouldn't wasting their times and efforts. Country must come first, family will come second and monies will come third.Areak Prey
KKF is lucky to have some braves and courageous men who risk their lives in order to find better life for their citizen. I am happy to learn that the US support KKF to find justice in this country.
Why France gave KKF to Vietnam?
It is unfair. It was sure that this fact will create wars between the two countries. Maybe lots of french had vietnames wifes. If we can push Hun Sen out to vietnam, we will be able to find justice to khmer people who always live with the feeling of injustice in their hearts. .
Fom a khmer in Europe.
Bravo....!bravo.....!Bravo.....
Khmer Krom's leaders....!
All brothers an sisters in Kampuchea Krom are the owners of the land, not vietnamese.I had the original map since 100AD to 550AD which indicated that only Anam was the country of vietnamese .In 1741 vietnamese invaded Champa (central vietnam).Soon after they occupied Champa they first asking for asylums in KK.In 1949 French gave KK to vietnam by that time French authority favored with vietgirls.I have the whole international map from 100AD -1949 before French cut off and gave kk to vietnam after they lost the war to vietnam at Bien Dien Phu.Dear KKK you have to be strong,smart,unified,courageous ,respect each others and be patient. .Don't give up....from 1 khmer.
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