By Chen Chon SonKhmer Krom Youth Quarterly
September 2007, Vol. 2
My name is Chen Chon Son. I was born in 1985 in Phno Andet village, Kompong Tuok sub-district, Kompong Thom district, Preah Trapeang Province in Kampuchea Krom.
I was ordained into monkhood and started following the Buddhism scripture and monastic life on May 23rd, 2001, resided at Pothitep Jetenaram (Phno Andet) Pagoda, which venerable Son Bien was the head monk.
My father is Son Cheng and my mother is Thach Thi Saryam. Both are living in Phnoh Ondet village, Kompong Tuk, district of Kompong Thom, Preask Trapeang province Kampuchea-Krom.
I would like to take this opportunity to share my life experience and report about Vietnamese communist government threats, suppression, and the violation of my rights as follow.
On October 15, 2006, (While I was still in my monk hood) I visited Cambodia and returned to my home town Kampuchea Krom (South Vietnam) after one week. On my arrival at my home town pagoda, Vietnamese police at my village called me up to the local police department for questioning. They accused me of taking some documents from Kampuchea-Krom to Cambodia brought back some documents from Cambodia to Kampuchea-Krom. From that day on, they sent their secret personnel to monitor my every action and movement up until the event that took place in Preah Trapeang Province on January 19th 2007 which made me led about forty monks from Kompong Nikrot pagoda headed to the local police department of Konh-Chong district without our lunch (after noon time, Buddhist monks are not allowed to serve food, only soft drinks are allowed). Our goal was to demand Vietnamese police to release one of our fellow monks by the name Thach Thung that had been arrested on January 17th 2007. Venerable Thung was accused to have brought back 60 issues of Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) newsletters; one camcorder, and one digital camera to spread political news to other monks and laypeople in Preah Trapeang province. On his way to Preah Trapeang pagoda, he was stopped and arrested by the traffic police and security police who worked together to set up a road block. They questioned him, and took away those 60 issues of newsletters and everything he had on him. Up to January 19th 2007, there was still no resolution to the release of venerable Thach Thung. The Khmer-Krom citizens organized a protest demanding the release of venerable Thung and asked the Vietnamese government to respect human rights law. After four hours of protest, the police released venerable Thung.
On the Morning of the following day, January 20th 2007, the Vietnamese authority working with Unity Association in Preah Trapeang province [an association that Vietnamese government formed to watch over the Buddhist community in Vietnam] called up those monks who have demanded the release of venerable Thach Thung for a meeting. They wanted to find out who was the leader that organized the protest.
From the temple, the following monks and people were called up for the meeting: (names have been changed to protect people)
After many questionings and accusations in the four long days meeting, the Vietnamese authority began using other tactics because they did not get the result they wanted. At 3pm on January 23rd 2007, they came to venerable Thach Xuong, the head master of Kompong Jrey Pagoda, and to the superintendent of Buddhist College where all those protester monks studied. They instructed the Superintendent to let his entire student monks return to their own temple (their village pagoda) to get more education (instruction) from the Head monk of their hometown pagoda. The superintendent said that if we refuse to go back to our village temple, they will not allow us to take our final exam. Since it was only one more week until the exam began, we were pressured to return unhappily and disbelieve that the superintendent took order from Vietnamese authority. When all the student monks returned to their home town village temple, the District police came and questioned each monk individually. The Vietnamese authority could not get any answer from the group of monks; they started to question each monk individually. They threatened and scared the monks with everything they could think of. Some monks could not bear their tactic and admitted to them what they wanted to hear. After they knew who led the protesters for the release of Venerable Thach Thung, the police came and arrested me and venerable Son Lum’Arn.
Morning of January 24th 2007, they sent me along with a fellow monk, venerable Son Lum’Arn, to the regional department where we were to stay. The Authorities however chose to place me at a different place, under the temple arrest where I was monitored by venerable Kim Thon. That was the year I supposed to take my final exam and receive my degree but my education was forced to be discontinued by not allowed me to take the final exam. Since I was worried about not being able to take my final exam which I have been studying hard for almost a year, I wrote a letter to the superintendent of the College of Buddhism to seek help, so that I could take my final exam. The Superintendent agreed to help. With the support from fellow student monks, the Vietnamese authority allowed me to take my final exam. On January 31st 2007, the day of the exam, I was forced to sign an agreement with the Vietnamese authority. The agreement said, if I fail the exam, nothing will happen, however, if I pass the exam, I will have to give my diploma (degree) to them. After that, I felt so stress taking the final exam, but for my own reputation, I managed to finish the exam. The result of the final exam, I came 23rd out of 270 students. This was my pride, but sadly my diploma was taken away from me.
Then on the morning of February 2nd 2007, two officers picked me up with a vehicle to their department and asked more questions for one whole day. Then they brought me back to the same place where they were keeping me tightly guarded. They putted me in a room (house arrest in the temple) away from everyone else and would not let me go anywhere close to or walk near the temple fence or from room to room to talk to my fellow monks. That was their order and even when I was sleeping, there were people guarding all directions.
They did this because they wanted me to admit I was wrong. They took documents of Khmer history (Cambodia history), VCDs, CDs about Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) movement, one computer, one printer, and one digital Camera off me. They accused that having those things were against the law. They also accused me as anti-Vietnamese government. But whatever they said, I always believe what I did is not wrong; it is not wrong, not against the international law nor against the law of Vietnam. We have the right to know about our own rights and the right to know about the news that happens in our own country. The incident lasted for two months. On March 29th 2007, the authority brought me to a hearing about my crime. The offense included, maintaining documentation that is anti Vietnamese government, writing poetry that is anti Vietnam, starting up a protest that is considered to be inappropriate in Vietnam, and other crimes can potentially put me up to 20 years in prison!
As always, I did not accept what ever I did was wrong; I always think that this is a threat that they use to frighten my bravery.
Finally on April 13th 2007, the authorities gathered all Head monks from different districts in Preah Trapeang for a meeting to defrock me. I did not violate the Buddhist regulation so they could not defrock me. However, the meeting continued and they said that I have violated the law of Vietnam, so Buddhist has to hand me over to the Vietnamese government. At the end of the meeting, there was a final agreement signed by all of the head monks. From that day forward, my life as a monk is vanished, which mean Vietnam would not accept me as a monk anymore even if I was in Buddhist robe.
On April 14th 2007, the authorities together with Unity Association in Preah Trapeang province defrocked me at Pothi-Tep Jetanaram Pagoda with about 200 monks and members of the temple attending. There were also about 50 Vietnamese police surrounded the pagoda during the defrock ritual. I was then returned to my family. After my defrocking, my life has never been the same; I do not have the same freedom as the other civilians.
I was ordained into monkhood and started following the Buddhism scripture and monastic life on May 23rd, 2001, resided at Pothitep Jetenaram (Phno Andet) Pagoda, which venerable Son Bien was the head monk.
My father is Son Cheng and my mother is Thach Thi Saryam. Both are living in Phnoh Ondet village, Kompong Tuk, district of Kompong Thom, Preask Trapeang province Kampuchea-Krom.
I would like to take this opportunity to share my life experience and report about Vietnamese communist government threats, suppression, and the violation of my rights as follow.
On October 15, 2006, (While I was still in my monk hood) I visited Cambodia and returned to my home town Kampuchea Krom (South Vietnam) after one week. On my arrival at my home town pagoda, Vietnamese police at my village called me up to the local police department for questioning. They accused me of taking some documents from Kampuchea-Krom to Cambodia brought back some documents from Cambodia to Kampuchea-Krom. From that day on, they sent their secret personnel to monitor my every action and movement up until the event that took place in Preah Trapeang Province on January 19th 2007 which made me led about forty monks from Kompong Nikrot pagoda headed to the local police department of Konh-Chong district without our lunch (after noon time, Buddhist monks are not allowed to serve food, only soft drinks are allowed). Our goal was to demand Vietnamese police to release one of our fellow monks by the name Thach Thung that had been arrested on January 17th 2007. Venerable Thung was accused to have brought back 60 issues of Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) newsletters; one camcorder, and one digital camera to spread political news to other monks and laypeople in Preah Trapeang province. On his way to Preah Trapeang pagoda, he was stopped and arrested by the traffic police and security police who worked together to set up a road block. They questioned him, and took away those 60 issues of newsletters and everything he had on him. Up to January 19th 2007, there was still no resolution to the release of venerable Thach Thung. The Khmer-Krom citizens organized a protest demanding the release of venerable Thung and asked the Vietnamese government to respect human rights law. After four hours of protest, the police released venerable Thung.
On the Morning of the following day, January 20th 2007, the Vietnamese authority working with Unity Association in Preah Trapeang province [an association that Vietnamese government formed to watch over the Buddhist community in Vietnam] called up those monks who have demanded the release of venerable Thach Thung for a meeting. They wanted to find out who was the leader that organized the protest.
From the temple, the following monks and people were called up for the meeting: (names have been changed to protect people)
- Venerable Thach Sovat
- Venerable Thach Suos
- Venerable Thach Vijet
- Venerable Thach Virak
- Venerable Thach Doung
- Mr. Thach Sombat
- Mr. Thach Jear
- Mr. Thach Chorern
- Mr. Thach Vang
After many questionings and accusations in the four long days meeting, the Vietnamese authority began using other tactics because they did not get the result they wanted. At 3pm on January 23rd 2007, they came to venerable Thach Xuong, the head master of Kompong Jrey Pagoda, and to the superintendent of Buddhist College where all those protester monks studied. They instructed the Superintendent to let his entire student monks return to their own temple (their village pagoda) to get more education (instruction) from the Head monk of their hometown pagoda. The superintendent said that if we refuse to go back to our village temple, they will not allow us to take our final exam. Since it was only one more week until the exam began, we were pressured to return unhappily and disbelieve that the superintendent took order from Vietnamese authority. When all the student monks returned to their home town village temple, the District police came and questioned each monk individually. The Vietnamese authority could not get any answer from the group of monks; they started to question each monk individually. They threatened and scared the monks with everything they could think of. Some monks could not bear their tactic and admitted to them what they wanted to hear. After they knew who led the protesters for the release of Venerable Thach Thung, the police came and arrested me and venerable Son Lum’Arn.
Morning of January 24th 2007, they sent me along with a fellow monk, venerable Son Lum’Arn, to the regional department where we were to stay. The Authorities however chose to place me at a different place, under the temple arrest where I was monitored by venerable Kim Thon. That was the year I supposed to take my final exam and receive my degree but my education was forced to be discontinued by not allowed me to take the final exam. Since I was worried about not being able to take my final exam which I have been studying hard for almost a year, I wrote a letter to the superintendent of the College of Buddhism to seek help, so that I could take my final exam. The Superintendent agreed to help. With the support from fellow student monks, the Vietnamese authority allowed me to take my final exam. On January 31st 2007, the day of the exam, I was forced to sign an agreement with the Vietnamese authority. The agreement said, if I fail the exam, nothing will happen, however, if I pass the exam, I will have to give my diploma (degree) to them. After that, I felt so stress taking the final exam, but for my own reputation, I managed to finish the exam. The result of the final exam, I came 23rd out of 270 students. This was my pride, but sadly my diploma was taken away from me.
Then on the morning of February 2nd 2007, two officers picked me up with a vehicle to their department and asked more questions for one whole day. Then they brought me back to the same place where they were keeping me tightly guarded. They putted me in a room (house arrest in the temple) away from everyone else and would not let me go anywhere close to or walk near the temple fence or from room to room to talk to my fellow monks. That was their order and even when I was sleeping, there were people guarding all directions.
They did this because they wanted me to admit I was wrong. They took documents of Khmer history (Cambodia history), VCDs, CDs about Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) movement, one computer, one printer, and one digital Camera off me. They accused that having those things were against the law. They also accused me as anti-Vietnamese government. But whatever they said, I always believe what I did is not wrong; it is not wrong, not against the international law nor against the law of Vietnam. We have the right to know about our own rights and the right to know about the news that happens in our own country. The incident lasted for two months. On March 29th 2007, the authority brought me to a hearing about my crime. The offense included, maintaining documentation that is anti Vietnamese government, writing poetry that is anti Vietnam, starting up a protest that is considered to be inappropriate in Vietnam, and other crimes can potentially put me up to 20 years in prison!
As always, I did not accept what ever I did was wrong; I always think that this is a threat that they use to frighten my bravery.
Finally on April 13th 2007, the authorities gathered all Head monks from different districts in Preah Trapeang for a meeting to defrock me. I did not violate the Buddhist regulation so they could not defrock me. However, the meeting continued and they said that I have violated the law of Vietnam, so Buddhist has to hand me over to the Vietnamese government. At the end of the meeting, there was a final agreement signed by all of the head monks. From that day forward, my life as a monk is vanished, which mean Vietnam would not accept me as a monk anymore even if I was in Buddhist robe.
On April 14th 2007, the authorities together with Unity Association in Preah Trapeang province defrocked me at Pothi-Tep Jetanaram Pagoda with about 200 monks and members of the temple attending. There were also about 50 Vietnamese police surrounded the pagoda during the defrock ritual. I was then returned to my family. After my defrocking, my life has never been the same; I do not have the same freedom as the other civilians.
13 comments:
Run from Viêtnam to Cambodia both “ Atmosphere of HELL”
The Communist Indochina has “an atmosphere as if in HELL” with rampant hunger and disease,
religious figures being zip and jailed and tortured and “a million and one stories of atrocities,” a
Buhhdist leader illegally escaped from that country. I love my country, I love my people, but I have
left my native land where there is no hope, where lives are constant and where human rights are just mockery.” Corruption within Government administratives is wide spread and becoming worse and worse. He bought passport from Hock Lang Dy for 5,000 US dollars. monk said.
I khow you, i am frm Phno Pone.
sok sabay teh oun? mok leng lok mea.
After reading this article, I feel really sorry for him. As a Cambodian, I dont think you can turn your back to the people like him. How many Khmer Krom like him are suffering under the YOUN control??? This is a living evident and we, Khmer, should bring this case to the World, to let the world know how the YOUN is treating Khmer Krom.
As of today, I cannot believe there are some Khmer people who still work for the YOUN just because of power and money. The worst part is some Khmer oversea even join those bastards CPP in Cambodia.
We need to stand up and do something for Cambodia and protect our Cambodian wherever they are suffering...
Hey if you love that type of story, there are plenty at KKF websites.
No thank for me. I don't have any room for any stupid propaganda.
Ah Khmer-Yuons has only one problem, and that is FIERCE HATRED, and you need not to go far to find any proof for this. Even KI have clearly outline this hatred in red in an article entitled, " Khmer Krom: Between a Rock and a Hard Place," below. They will go as far as tampering with Vietnamese affair and causing the lives of millions Vietnamese people. Frankly, I am surprised that I don't see any mass graves full of Ah Khmer-Yuons in Vietnam as we see Khmer people in mass graves in Cambodia. Thus, all I can say is, some people is just blind. They don't see how lucky they are, and they will continue to hurt themselves as continue on their stupid path. There is nothing we can do for them, they are on their own, but they will not drag Cambodia with them and endanger all our lives again.
3:18PM excuse me is it khmer kampuchea krom=Ah khmer youn? I do not think so what school you learn from? How about I call you ah pure youn or ah youn slave is it enough fuck you ! Ah youn servant? I heard ah youn had said in UN exactly the same ah3:18
You right, 3:28, that is if we are living in the early 1700th century. In the 21st century there is no such thing as Kampuchea Krom, only South vietnam. And everyone in Vietnam is vietnamese citizen, except for diplomats and tourists. And just as there are African-American, Chinese-American, ..., or French-American in the US, there are Khmer-Vietnamese (or Khmer-Yuon,) or Chinese-Vietnamese ... in Vietnam. Get it, now?
3:18PM Ah dog Yuon,
When Yuon finished with you Yuon eat You.
A Chkae Yuon touk KARI .
Bonno apetito!
AH youn hun sen khmer 's traitor fuck your mother. Ah cpp youn's slave fuck your mother .
Are you done?
don't talk to a the Youn, there number one tatic is deny deny deny!
Even if they step over a dead body, they would say it was a rock!
They're the one whose blind. They have no idea other people have eyes.
Tsk.
Disagreed.
Viet eat dog! So the Viet need to stop promoting dog eating culture in Cambodia!
No way, Jose, that is yummie!!!
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