Khmer Krom people protest about land disputes in Prey Nokor (HCMC)
17 December 2007
By Mondul Keo Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
About 200 families of Khmer Krom people came to demonstrate in front of the Vietnamese Assembly in Prey Nokor (Ho Chi Minh City) to demand that the Vietnamese authority returns back their lands which were confiscated by the authority in 1978-1979. The authority forced the protesters into trucks and took them all home as of 16 December morning.
Chau In, a representative of the Khmer Krom people, told RFA by phone that, at 03:00 PM on the same day, the Vietnamese brought in several trucks, forced them to get into the trucks and took them home while promising that the resolution will be provided at the local level.
Chau In said that his group plans to continue the demonstration in front of their individual commune offices on Monday morning: “They broke us up, they forced us into the vehicles, and took us back to our villages. Tomorrow, my group will demonstrate in front of the An Ty commune office, because district and provincial officials will come to meet there.”
Vin Ba, a representative of the demonstrators, said that when they reached home, they were under the surveillance of the local police, and they cannot move freely anymore.
Vin Ba said: “Now, (where) I live in Khleang province (An Giang in Vietnamese), it’s full of cops who came to watch us, wherever we go, they follow us.”
Trinh Ba Cam, Hanoi’s mouthpiece in Cambodia, said that he does not know about this issue, therefore, he cannot provide any comment.
Nevertheless, Venerable Yoeung Sin, a representatice of the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Association in Cambodia, said that Khmer Krom people living in Cambodia and overseas, always support the demands made by Khmer Krom brothers and sisters who are currently living on their native lands (Kampuchea Krom), however, the venerable asked for Khmer Krom people to avoid using violence during the resolution of the disputes, and during their demands and protests.
Venerable Yoeung Sin said: “We decide to support (Khmer Krom people), we cannot remain still, and we are calling to the national and international communities to provide help to the victims. We cannot remain idle with all these issues.”
Up to now, 7 Khmer Krom laymen and 6 Khmer Krom monks disrobed by force the Vietnamese authority, are currently being jailed, and a number of other Khmer Krom people were stopped for questioning simply because they demand religious freedom rights to observe the Cambodian Buddhism faith according to Cambodian customs, and they are also demanding for a resolution in these land disputes.
17 December 2007
By Mondul Keo Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
About 200 families of Khmer Krom people came to demonstrate in front of the Vietnamese Assembly in Prey Nokor (Ho Chi Minh City) to demand that the Vietnamese authority returns back their lands which were confiscated by the authority in 1978-1979. The authority forced the protesters into trucks and took them all home as of 16 December morning.
Chau In, a representative of the Khmer Krom people, told RFA by phone that, at 03:00 PM on the same day, the Vietnamese brought in several trucks, forced them to get into the trucks and took them home while promising that the resolution will be provided at the local level.
Chau In said that his group plans to continue the demonstration in front of their individual commune offices on Monday morning: “They broke us up, they forced us into the vehicles, and took us back to our villages. Tomorrow, my group will demonstrate in front of the An Ty commune office, because district and provincial officials will come to meet there.”
Vin Ba, a representative of the demonstrators, said that when they reached home, they were under the surveillance of the local police, and they cannot move freely anymore.
Vin Ba said: “Now, (where) I live in Khleang province (An Giang in Vietnamese), it’s full of cops who came to watch us, wherever we go, they follow us.”
Trinh Ba Cam, Hanoi’s mouthpiece in Cambodia, said that he does not know about this issue, therefore, he cannot provide any comment.
Nevertheless, Venerable Yoeung Sin, a representatice of the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Association in Cambodia, said that Khmer Krom people living in Cambodia and overseas, always support the demands made by Khmer Krom brothers and sisters who are currently living on their native lands (Kampuchea Krom), however, the venerable asked for Khmer Krom people to avoid using violence during the resolution of the disputes, and during their demands and protests.
Venerable Yoeung Sin said: “We decide to support (Khmer Krom people), we cannot remain still, and we are calling to the national and international communities to provide help to the victims. We cannot remain idle with all these issues.”
Up to now, 7 Khmer Krom laymen and 6 Khmer Krom monks disrobed by force the Vietnamese authority, are currently being jailed, and a number of other Khmer Krom people were stopped for questioning simply because they demand religious freedom rights to observe the Cambodian Buddhism faith according to Cambodian customs, and they are also demanding for a resolution in these land disputes.
1 comment:
Video of the protest can be watched here http://somleng.com/item/KBKPBHQF1ZX5HGPV
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