Original report from Phnom Penh
09 April 2009
A Khmer Kampuchea Krom monk who was jailed in Vietnam in 2007 and was at the center of a human rights debate arrived in Cambodia for a visit over the weekend and is now seeking to stay legally.
Under strict supervision by Vietnamese authorities since his release last year, the former monk, Tim Sakhorn, was allowed to return to Takeo province for his mother’s 100-day funeral ceremony.
“I want to live in Cambodia, to see my family members and my father,” he told VOA Khmer by phone Thursday.
Tim Sakhorn, who is ethnically Khmer but was born in Vietnam, was defrocked by Cambodian Buddhist authorities in mid-2007, for allegedly fomenting trouble between the two countries. He was later jailed in Vietnam’s An Giang province.
His imprisonment highlighted the problematic situation of the so-called Khmer Kampuchea Krom, those who are culturally Khmer but who inhabit Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, an area that once belonged to Cambodia.
Many Khmer Krom now reside in Cambodia, where they advocate for greater rights of the Khmer Krom in Vietnam and can be recognized as Cambodian citizens. Human rights groups say they suffer persecution in Vietnam.
“I don’t want to live in Kampuchea Krom,” Tim Sakhorn said, referring to Vietnam. “There, I live alone, and I am very poor, without anything to eat. I would like to call on the Cambodian government and the king to let me live in Cambodia legally.”
Tim Sakhorn was arrested followed clashes in early 2007 between Khmer Kampuchea Krom and Cambodian monks, during demonstrations against Vietnam’s treatment of the ethnic minority.
The clashes were an expression of a thorny political problem for Cambodia, because many Cambodians are still angry that the Mekong Delta was made a part of Vietnam following French-colonial rule.
Tim Sakhorn claims he was seized by Cambodian authorities and handed over to Vietnam in May 2007, where he spent a year in jail before his release in July 2008, a claim the Cambodian government has rejected.
He traveled to Cambodia last week on a Vietnamese passport with a 15-day visa.
Ang Chanrith, executive director of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Organization, told VOA Khmer Thursday Tim Sakhorn had requested human rights groups help him find legal residency in Cambodia.
“This is the right thing, because Tim Sakhorn is Khmer, so he must have the right to live in Cambodia legally,” he said.
Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, said Thursday a royal decree by former king Norodom Sihanouk in 2003 allowed for Cambodian citizenship of Khmer Kampuchea Krom people.
“In this meaning, if Tim Sakhorn stays in Cambodia, Tim Sakhorn does not have to apply for Cambodian nationality,” he said. “If Tim Sakhorn is a Cambodian national, Tim Sakhorn should have some documentation, such as…a family book or residence book.”
However, Tim Sakhorn said Thursday all of his documentation disappeared after a defrocking ceremony and his subsequent immediate deportation.
Under strict supervision by Vietnamese authorities since his release last year, the former monk, Tim Sakhorn, was allowed to return to Takeo province for his mother’s 100-day funeral ceremony.
“I want to live in Cambodia, to see my family members and my father,” he told VOA Khmer by phone Thursday.
Tim Sakhorn, who is ethnically Khmer but was born in Vietnam, was defrocked by Cambodian Buddhist authorities in mid-2007, for allegedly fomenting trouble between the two countries. He was later jailed in Vietnam’s An Giang province.
His imprisonment highlighted the problematic situation of the so-called Khmer Kampuchea Krom, those who are culturally Khmer but who inhabit Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, an area that once belonged to Cambodia.
Many Khmer Krom now reside in Cambodia, where they advocate for greater rights of the Khmer Krom in Vietnam and can be recognized as Cambodian citizens. Human rights groups say they suffer persecution in Vietnam.
“I don’t want to live in Kampuchea Krom,” Tim Sakhorn said, referring to Vietnam. “There, I live alone, and I am very poor, without anything to eat. I would like to call on the Cambodian government and the king to let me live in Cambodia legally.”
Tim Sakhorn was arrested followed clashes in early 2007 between Khmer Kampuchea Krom and Cambodian monks, during demonstrations against Vietnam’s treatment of the ethnic minority.
The clashes were an expression of a thorny political problem for Cambodia, because many Cambodians are still angry that the Mekong Delta was made a part of Vietnam following French-colonial rule.
Tim Sakhorn claims he was seized by Cambodian authorities and handed over to Vietnam in May 2007, where he spent a year in jail before his release in July 2008, a claim the Cambodian government has rejected.
He traveled to Cambodia last week on a Vietnamese passport with a 15-day visa.
Ang Chanrith, executive director of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Organization, told VOA Khmer Thursday Tim Sakhorn had requested human rights groups help him find legal residency in Cambodia.
“This is the right thing, because Tim Sakhorn is Khmer, so he must have the right to live in Cambodia legally,” he said.
Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, said Thursday a royal decree by former king Norodom Sihanouk in 2003 allowed for Cambodian citizenship of Khmer Kampuchea Krom people.
“In this meaning, if Tim Sakhorn stays in Cambodia, Tim Sakhorn does not have to apply for Cambodian nationality,” he said. “If Tim Sakhorn is a Cambodian national, Tim Sakhorn should have some documentation, such as…a family book or residence book.”
However, Tim Sakhorn said Thursday all of his documentation disappeared after a defrocking ceremony and his subsequent immediate deportation.
11 comments:
Since he lost his entire personal document for his own identity, the authority should issue him a new document if they authorize him to live in Cambodia. He also has relatives live in Cambodia; they should be able to sponsor him.
The government should do something to save him from deportation. As mentioned, he is a Khmer citizen.
khieu sokpheak u should chang ur last name to Kro Hom Sokpeak that make sence.ur nature is Youn puppet.
Please do Khmer a favour Mr.Khieu Sophac, if you are not Khieu Samphane.Your team is always try to serve viet namese's interests.You are now enjous seeing Khmer people suffering, but the history will not allow to do so. Please "Thinking before Acting"
S.N.Quan
Shame of Khieu Sophac Youn slavery. He is not a human at all, think about Youn people come to live in Cambodia Land, you will be say ok, but not Khmer-Krom people, dont forget they all Khmer too.
Kaun Khmer in Blood
millions of illegal youns can stay in cambodia, but not khmer.
may youns deserves all the punishisment from almighty God soon. May their nation be destroyed again and again.
khmer leaders are stupid banana who dont even know their own race or people.
Khmer leaders do not work for Khmer people. They are the Vietnamese puppets because the Vietnamese protect the CPP military if asked so that the CPP can stay in power and continue to be their puppets; and at the same time allowing the influx of Vietnamese citizens in Cambodia without check, turning a blind when the Vietnamese encroaching, and give favoritism to the Vietnamese just above everything.
រដ្ធាភិបាលគេពុំដែលសម្លាប់ខ្មែរដួចគ្នាទេមានតែ
ជនអគតិទេដែលសម្លាប់ខ្មែរគ្នាឯង។បើគាត់រស់នៅ
បានសុខហើយកុំធ្វើឲ្យគាត់អស់កន្លែងនៅទៀត។
Mr. Tim Sakhorn is a Khmer and has the right to live in Kingdom of Cambodia like other Khmers. But Mr. Tim Sakhonr first needs to hand over the Vietnamese document to the Khmer Authority.
Hey fool above!
do not ever calle the mother fuckers "Khmer leaders" They are
-Thugs
-Gangster
-CPP
-Ah Hun Xen gang
-Mother fuckers
-faked goverment!
But never our leaders!
May lightning or violenced death take them to hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AH Khieu Sopheak is making a big deal about one Khmer Krom monk but the million and million of illegal Viet immigrants currently living in Cambodia and AH Khieu Sopheak never ask to see a damn thing!
AH Khieu Sopheak is just another old fart and his sole purpose in life is to serve the Vietcong! It seems that AH Khieu Sopheak is willing to reward the Vietnamese who are breaking Cambodian’s law! This mother fucker is not qualify to speak for monk Tim Sakhorn!
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