Urgent Appeal for the Release of the former Abbot Khmer-KromBackground
Mr. Thach Sophon was ordained as a Khmer-Krom Buddhist monk in 1990 and was promoted to the Abbot of the Kampong Kasann temple (or Chua Moi in Vietnamese) in Khom 8, Phuong 6, Preah Trapeang province (renamed Tra Vinh) since 2000.
On July 22, 2010, Vietnamese authorities coerced Mr. Thach Sophon to defrock.
A week later, on July 29, 2010 at 11:00 am, the Tra Vinh provincial police came to the Kampong Kasann monastery and kidnapped Mr. Thach Sophon.
Prior to his defrocking and kidnapping, Mr. Thach Sophon was active in promoting and encouraging his monk students to study abroad, such as at the universities in Thailand. He also encouraged and exercised freedom of information by using communication devices such as the satellite dish to listen to world news. Mr. Thach Sophon also took safety and security measures to protect against thieves who entered the temple to steal artifacts and vandalize the temple. We believe that the above activities have been the grounds in which Vietnamese authorities have used to defrock and apprehend Mr. Thach Sophon.
Mr. Thach Sophon’s whereabouts remains unknown to his family members and to his many Khmer-Krom Buddhist followers to date.
On behalf of the defenseless Khmer-Krom family of Mr. Thach Sophon, we seek the urgent attention of the international community to:
Thach Ngoc Thach
KKF President
On July 22, 2010, Vietnamese authorities coerced Mr. Thach Sophon to defrock.
A week later, on July 29, 2010 at 11:00 am, the Tra Vinh provincial police came to the Kampong Kasann monastery and kidnapped Mr. Thach Sophon.
Prior to his defrocking and kidnapping, Mr. Thach Sophon was active in promoting and encouraging his monk students to study abroad, such as at the universities in Thailand. He also encouraged and exercised freedom of information by using communication devices such as the satellite dish to listen to world news. Mr. Thach Sophon also took safety and security measures to protect against thieves who entered the temple to steal artifacts and vandalize the temple. We believe that the above activities have been the grounds in which Vietnamese authorities have used to defrock and apprehend Mr. Thach Sophon.
Mr. Thach Sophon’s whereabouts remains unknown to his family members and to his many Khmer-Krom Buddhist followers to date.
On behalf of the defenseless Khmer-Krom family of Mr. Thach Sophon, we seek the urgent attention of the international community to:
- Help closely monitor and help investigate the disappearance of the Mr. Thach Sophon in Tra Vinh province.
- Request that Vietnam uphold their commitment to human rights and to immediately release Mr. Thach Sophon without conditions attached.
- Urge the government of Vietnam to respect the rights of Mr. Thach Sophon as the indigenous people of the Mekong Delta to freely express his opinion and practice his religion.
Thach Ngoc Thach
KKF President
4 comments:
Please release him, just think of him as he is your father, brother or your son, you wouldn't want to do this to him. "you do yourself a favour when you are kind but when you are cruel, you do it to yourself" proverbs (bible). In Aust, Viets and Khmers are like brothers. We have helped each other out and we look after each other very well especially in the market and we both becoming very rich indeed. Please let this man go because it is ok to have expression of freedom and needs and it is ok to promote education for everyone who may like it, because the more we learn the smarter nations we become and then let good overtake evil. Aust
Crazy Vietnam, took our land and treating on our people are not well. How about Vietnamese people are living in our country. should we do anything on them.? Please release him
Crazy Vietnam
Vietnam govt must release Thach Sophon right away. This govt must respect human Rights. The govt o Vietnam had signed Human Right Laws. Vietnam signed it must obey because it is international laws. The Khmer Kampuchea Krom has more than twenty thousand people,but they could organize as a strong organization called KKF ( Khmer Krom Federation).These people are living along the delta river in South Vietnam. By contrast,Khmer Kandal two million people live oversea,but could not organize an organization.What matter with all those people ? Many of them are well educated people.If they will get organized one and stick together as rock;and they will be good one. I am one of them will support all heart and soul to help inside to escape from Vietnam and can work together with KKF. Bravo ! Khmer new generation ! UNITED WE STAND !
Every time I read or hear these kind of treatment from the Viet government it makes me sick.
How can you detain a person for speaking his mind.
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