By Hassan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The delegation of the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) in the World which included Venerable Thach Birong, Venerable Thach Sarong, Mr. Tran Giap, and Mr. Thach Len, visited two US congressmen in Washington DC on Wednesday morning: US Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Frank Wolf (R-VA), to raise the current issue of Khmer Kampuchea Krom and the case of Abbot Tim Sakhorn who was defrocked by force by the Cambodian authority and handed over to Vietnam for his jailing.
RFA talked to Venerable Thach Birong about the meeting of the KKF delegation, and their hopes after talking with the two US Congressmen.
Ven. Thach Birong said: “There were two main subjects: (1) we discussed about the severe violations perpetrated by the Vietnamese government which defrocked by force (Khmer Krom) monks, their killings of monks, their collusion with the Cambodian government to deport Monk Tim Sakhorn was a violation of the territorial integrity of Cambodia and its Constitution by kidnapping a Cambodian citizen, Monk Tim Sakhorn, and taking him to hide in Kampuchea Krom for almost 2 months, it’s only recently that this case was reported. Now, we are asking the US Congress to pay attention and to study about the violation of the freedom rights of the Kampuchea Krom people and monks. The office of Rep. Frank Wolf wrote a letter to the Hanoi regime telling them to study and review its rights violations, otherwise, punitions in the form of economic sanctions will be imposed.”
Ven. Thach Birong added: “after that our 4-member delegation visited high ranking officials in charge of interfaith … a 7-member committee met us and talked with us for 1 hour and 25 minutes on important issues, including the visit to Vietnam of this 7-member committee on the upcoming 23rd, to talk with the Vietnamese government about the violation of religious rights and human rights in South and North Vietnam. Nowadays, Kampuchea Krom counts several millions of (Khmer Krom) people and monks, but the Vietnamese government only opened one (Buddhist) religion school when the number of (Khmer Krom Buddhist) monks amounts to more than 10,000 for this higher religion school institution.”
At the end, Ven. Thach Birong talked the US officials about the plans fomented by the Vietnamese authority against Khmer Krom people.
Ven. Thach Birong added: “The trailing, the threats, and the frightening of monks and laypeople in the provinces of Preah Trapeang, Khleang, Motr Chrouk, etc… are very severe, we reported this to the US officials and showed them numerous proofs, pictures, and documents. The high ranking official in charge of interfaith provided us a positive answer: (1) they will attempt to visit the 5 Khmer Krom monks who are currently jailed in Khleang province, and they will negotiate with the Yuon government so that it will think about the severe violations on Khmer Krom monks and laypeople, and they will insist that Vietnam must immediately release the 5 Khmer Krom monks in Khleang province, and release without condition Monk Tim Sakhorn and ordain him back according to Buddhist religious rites. Currently, the Yuon government has changed their tactics: they will start closing down the sole Khmer Krom superior religious school, and open another one north of there, in Prek Russei province, the former Kampuchea Krom territory. We are calling to all Khmer Krom monks and people to strengthen their courage. Now US government institution in charge of interfaith will provide help to seek justice.”
RFA talked to Venerable Thach Birong about the meeting of the KKF delegation, and their hopes after talking with the two US Congressmen.
Ven. Thach Birong said: “There were two main subjects: (1) we discussed about the severe violations perpetrated by the Vietnamese government which defrocked by force (Khmer Krom) monks, their killings of monks, their collusion with the Cambodian government to deport Monk Tim Sakhorn was a violation of the territorial integrity of Cambodia and its Constitution by kidnapping a Cambodian citizen, Monk Tim Sakhorn, and taking him to hide in Kampuchea Krom for almost 2 months, it’s only recently that this case was reported. Now, we are asking the US Congress to pay attention and to study about the violation of the freedom rights of the Kampuchea Krom people and monks. The office of Rep. Frank Wolf wrote a letter to the Hanoi regime telling them to study and review its rights violations, otherwise, punitions in the form of economic sanctions will be imposed.”
Ven. Thach Birong added: “after that our 4-member delegation visited high ranking officials in charge of interfaith … a 7-member committee met us and talked with us for 1 hour and 25 minutes on important issues, including the visit to Vietnam of this 7-member committee on the upcoming 23rd, to talk with the Vietnamese government about the violation of religious rights and human rights in South and North Vietnam. Nowadays, Kampuchea Krom counts several millions of (Khmer Krom) people and monks, but the Vietnamese government only opened one (Buddhist) religion school when the number of (Khmer Krom Buddhist) monks amounts to more than 10,000 for this higher religion school institution.”
At the end, Ven. Thach Birong talked the US officials about the plans fomented by the Vietnamese authority against Khmer Krom people.
Ven. Thach Birong added: “The trailing, the threats, and the frightening of monks and laypeople in the provinces of Preah Trapeang, Khleang, Motr Chrouk, etc… are very severe, we reported this to the US officials and showed them numerous proofs, pictures, and documents. The high ranking official in charge of interfaith provided us a positive answer: (1) they will attempt to visit the 5 Khmer Krom monks who are currently jailed in Khleang province, and they will negotiate with the Yuon government so that it will think about the severe violations on Khmer Krom monks and laypeople, and they will insist that Vietnam must immediately release the 5 Khmer Krom monks in Khleang province, and release without condition Monk Tim Sakhorn and ordain him back according to Buddhist religious rites. Currently, the Yuon government has changed their tactics: they will start closing down the sole Khmer Krom superior religious school, and open another one north of there, in Prek Russei province, the former Kampuchea Krom territory. We are calling to all Khmer Krom monks and people to strengthen their courage. Now US government institution in charge of interfaith will provide help to seek justice.”
