Friday the 05th of June 2009 Written by HOLLY PHAM and VONG SOKHENG
The Phnom Penh Post
Monks, Khmer Krom activists gather to urge the government not to halt future demonstrations
AROUND 600 monks, opposition politicians and rights activists gathered in Phnom Penh on Thursday to mark the loss of Cambodia's southern territories - Kampuchea Krom - to Vietnam.
The rally at Wat Botum park celebrating the 60th anniversary of the handover of Kampuchea Krom also aimed to draw attention to the human rights abuses still reportedly suffered by southern Vietnam's ethnic Khmer residents, known locally as Khmer Krom.
"We are in sorrow. This date represents all our suffering since 1949, when we lost our land to Vietnam. Our rally today sends a message to the young generation of Khmer Krom to remember our sufferings and sacrifices," said Young Sin, chief of the Khmer Krom monks from Phnom Penh's Sammaki Raingsei pagoda.
Historical watershed
The annual gathering marks June 4, 1949, when an ailing French colonial administration transferred Cambodia's old Mekong Delta territories to its colony of Cochinchina, a precursor to today's Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
It is a loss that is still keenly felt by many Cambodians, compounded by reports of human rights violations against Khmer Krom monks.
A Human Rights Watch report released in January decried the "severe and often shrouded methods" used by the Vietnamese government to stifle demands for religious and cultural freedom.
Pich Seiha, 28, a Khmer Krom monk present at the rally, said he joined the protest to call attention to the situation in Vietnam.
"I joined the rally because I want the national government, as well as the international community, to bring us freedom to live our lives, to do the same work as Vietnamese citizens and the rights to make our own decisions," he said.
But participants claim a last-minute change of venue led to a lower turnout than expected.
On May 28, Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema approved the rally to be held at Chaktomuk Theatre, but it was relocated overnight to Wat Botum park.
Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Chhay expressed hopes that in the future the government would be more supportive of the rally.
"We hope that the government will give up its policy against commemorations of Khmer history [and that it] will not restrict or prohibit us from forming a rally," he said.
Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the Post on Wednesday that the gathering of Cambodia's Khmer Krom community would not affect the relationship between Cambodia and its former political patron Vietnam.
"I think that the assembly... is an expression of their freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by the government," he said.
AROUND 600 monks, opposition politicians and rights activists gathered in Phnom Penh on Thursday to mark the loss of Cambodia's southern territories - Kampuchea Krom - to Vietnam.
The rally at Wat Botum park celebrating the 60th anniversary of the handover of Kampuchea Krom also aimed to draw attention to the human rights abuses still reportedly suffered by southern Vietnam's ethnic Khmer residents, known locally as Khmer Krom.
"We are in sorrow. This date represents all our suffering since 1949, when we lost our land to Vietnam. Our rally today sends a message to the young generation of Khmer Krom to remember our sufferings and sacrifices," said Young Sin, chief of the Khmer Krom monks from Phnom Penh's Sammaki Raingsei pagoda.
Historical watershed
The annual gathering marks June 4, 1949, when an ailing French colonial administration transferred Cambodia's old Mekong Delta territories to its colony of Cochinchina, a precursor to today's Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
It is a loss that is still keenly felt by many Cambodians, compounded by reports of human rights violations against Khmer Krom monks.
A Human Rights Watch report released in January decried the "severe and often shrouded methods" used by the Vietnamese government to stifle demands for religious and cultural freedom.
"We are in sorrow. This date represents all our suffering since 1949."In a statement released Thursday, Son Soubert, president of the Permanent Committee of the Son Sann Foundation, said the anniversary was an important opportunity "to assert the Cambodian rights on this territory and to defend the rights of Khmer Krom living there".
Pich Seiha, 28, a Khmer Krom monk present at the rally, said he joined the protest to call attention to the situation in Vietnam.
"I joined the rally because I want the national government, as well as the international community, to bring us freedom to live our lives, to do the same work as Vietnamese citizens and the rights to make our own decisions," he said.
But participants claim a last-minute change of venue led to a lower turnout than expected.
On May 28, Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema approved the rally to be held at Chaktomuk Theatre, but it was relocated overnight to Wat Botum park.
Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Chhay expressed hopes that in the future the government would be more supportive of the rally.
"We hope that the government will give up its policy against commemorations of Khmer history [and that it] will not restrict or prohibit us from forming a rally," he said.
Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the Post on Wednesday that the gathering of Cambodia's Khmer Krom community would not affect the relationship between Cambodia and its former political patron Vietnam.
"I think that the assembly... is an expression of their freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by the government," he said.
10 comments:
Khmer KamPuChea Krom is brave and very strong will! not like khmer kandale chicken shit and kissing Thai ass every fucken day! what's a stupid dumbfuck moron...
Hey Folks!
I've found out that Kampuchea Krom is on the pending in French Parliament or court. Sihanouk have requested the French court to review this case over again but coincidently Khmer got into war from the early 70s and on. Now since Cambodia working toward stability we have to request the French court to revive this case again. They said the case is more likely to be review.
I am happy to hear this.
Bravo! Khmer!!!
If you want to know more please do research. Like you know nowaday is easy for us with this technology.
In 1856, after the French occupation of the provinces of the East Cochinchina, always through the intermediary of the Consul of Singapore, S.M. King ANG DUONG sent another letter and present to the Emperor Napoléon III, in a manner of protest, while drawing his attention over the territory of Cochinchina as Cambodian land, and while asking him not to receive from the Annamese King any territorial offer that was taken away from Khmer territory. Below is the content of the 1856’s letter extracted from the history of Thailand, 4th reign, 2394 to 2411 of the Buddhist era) and translated in French.
Some years later, in 1864, when S.M. King NORODOM paid a visit of admiral de Lagrandière in Saigon in company of Lieutenant Doudart de Lagrée, he had expressed his ardent desire to see France returned to Cambodia the three provinces of Vinh Long (Vinh Long, Sadec, and Travinh), Chaudoc (Chaudoc, Long Xuyen, Cantho and Son Trang) and Hatien (Hatien, Rach Gia and Bac Lieu) and the treaty of 1862 – nil and void since it is the fate of the Cambodian provinces, ever recognized as Annamese, ceded to Annam with no knowledge of Cambodia. He received a promise over the matter and went back convinced for a return in October 1864 to the Cambodian homeland the provinces that had been once detached (Cambodians of Cochinchine, G., Barrault) .
But in 1867, the Cambodian uprisings for the independence of Cochinchina, that was secretly supported by the Court of Hue, had brought France to occupy these three provinces and to evade the promise made through Admiral de Lagrandière’s word to S.M. NORODOM and to remain silent to the painful protests of the King (les Cambodgiens de Cochinchine, G., Barrault).
- Original text in French by Ung Bun Pheav, CFC-CBC/France
We will Kampuchea Krom back by means of tactical nuclear weapons. Soon! No other resolutions will the Youns accept it!
The Viet Namese saying they are the one that have saved Khmer in Cambodia, so we are have hope that the Viet Namese will kill themselves to save Khmer Krom very soon!
When it happen we all will live in peace in south east asia.
Everyone should not be so enthralled and enthusiastic about the event, because the independence will never occur. In my estimation is that it will only transpire when the the U.S. becomes 49th state (of course, absence of Hawaii).
PPU
10:38pm
ខ្ញុំជាកូនខ្មែរម្នាក់កើតនៅខែត្រតាកែវ ស្រុក ព្រះ
បាទជាន់ជុំ ឃុំ ភ្នំដិន ខ្ញុំអាចមើលឃើញភ្នំ ពពាល
ភ្នំ អកយុំដែលនៅលើទឹកដីកម្ពុជាក្រោមសព្វ
ថ្ងៃ។សុំកុំប្រើពាក្យថា khmer kandalលោកអាច
និយាយថាអ្នកដឹកនាំខ្មែរសព្វថ្ងៃជាមនុស្សចោលម្សៀតធ្វើធំដើម្បីប្រយោជន៍ក្រុមគ្រួសារវាប៉ុណ្ណោះ
ហើយវាមិនដែលគិតពីទុក្ខវេទនារបស់ខ្មែរណាម្នាក់
ឡើយ?
ពីខ្ញុំ ខ្មែរស្រឡាញ់ខ្មែរទាំងអស់
Khmer Krom is reuniting with Cambodia as we speak. This was a step forward for all khmer krom people. Keep doing the good deeds that you are doing!
The fucken French Gov'ts are responsibled for the lost of khmer lands and khmer territory to neighbors country like Siamese/Vietnam, it's all started form the fucken French people that given Khmer lands away without any agreement from khmer people! French government must review the case and doing something about it!! the fucken French also tortured and killed King sisowath while he was lock up in jail...i hated the fucken French!!
He's right! we lost lands to Thailand because the French also...
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