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Showing posts with label Illegal arrest and detention of Monk Tim Sakhorn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Illegal arrest and detention of Monk Tim Sakhorn. Show all posts
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Monday, November 02, 2009
The criminal Thaksin is a friend of Hun Xen, but he is no friend of the Cambodian people
Let me have a say!
30 October 2009
By Ly Diep
Angkor Borei – Khmer Voice Overseas
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer
30 October 2009
By Ly Diep
Angkor Borei – Khmer Voice Overseas
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer
- Up to now, nobody ever heard any explanation from the government regarding Hun Xen’s decision to defend Thaksin Shinawatra, a Thai citizen charged with corruption and removed from power, especially since Hun Xen returned back from the ASEAN meeting held in Hua Hin, Thailand. It sounds as if … Hun Xen and his government are just waking up (?!?!)
- As we already said it, defending Thaksin does not yield any benefit to the Cambodian people at all, not even an ounce. Quite to the contrary, it will only bring us additional heated problems instead.
- The criminal Thaksin is a friend of Hun Xen, but he is no friend of the Cambodian people. Therefore, Hun Xen has no right to use Cambodian territories to protect a foreign criminal. If Hun Xen really wants to know … let him hold a referendum to find out (!!).
- The comparison of Thaksin to Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi is ignorance. Such dumb words should not come out from the mouth of a Cambodian PM. Not only did these words bring mockery from other ASEAN leaders, they also brought the ire of the Thai people in general, and from the democracy-loving Burmese people in particular.
- We believe that: Hun Xen should use his abusive words in Cambodia only, because all the Cambodian people know that, currently, he is a “loud mouth” who uses his power to silence weak people and people who oppose him. His strong stance showoff overseas will certainly earn him a black eye (!!).
- If Hun Xen wants to use this issue to get the upper hand over the Siamese leaders in the Preah Vihear temple dispute, we believe that: his strategy is no different from that used by the “Bang Thom” gangsters in the thug community. “The Bang Thom gang” never cares about the law nor the moral code of conduct, they only defend thugs like themselves (!!)
- If we were to compare the case of former Venerable Tim Sakhorn to Thaksin Shinawatra’s case, we can see that Hun Xen loves the Thais more than his own Khmer people, this in spite of the fact that former Venerable Tim Sakhorn was born in Kampuchea Krom. Former Venerable Tim Sakhorn’s rights are protected by the Cambodian constitution (Article 33), but Hun Xen trampled his rights, force-defrocked him and sent him to Vietnam to be jailed there.
- In order to resolve the Preah Vihear temple issue, we do not agree with the idea advanced by Khieu Kanharith, the minister of Information and a “Cheung Khlang” spokesman for the government, who announced that “the Paris Peace Agreements is already dead” because the KR party pulled themselves out. We support the opinion advanced by senior minister Var Kim Hong who declared that: “When the Cambodian government can no longer take it, it will push this issue to the UN Security Council, The Hague International Court of Justice and the Paris Peace Conference on Cambodia to resolve this issue.”
- We believe that Var Kim Hon’s idea is far better than Hun Xen’s strategy of using Thaksin to pound on Abhisit’s head. In particular, the request for the [signatory countries] of the Paris Conference to hold a meeting to review the application of the agreements which were already ratified.
- Raising the Preah Vihear temple with the [signatories] of the Paris Peace Agreements will bring in double benefits to Cambodia, just like shooting two birds with one stone, the western borders can be resolved and similarly, the eastern borders will be demarcated appropriately, and, in particular, the foreign aggression forces (the Viet army and the illegal Vietnamese settlers) who are currently staying on Cambodian territories will be reviewed and be removed.
- The most important factors that the Cambodian people want to see are the review and annulment of the “Supplemental border treaty” [with Vietnam], as well as the annulment of the illegal 1979, 1982, 1983 and 1985 treaties [concluded when Vietnam was occupying Cambodia].
- We believe that Cambodia should retain this last strategy to fight the Siamese, this would be better than trying to protect Thaksin’s skin.
- As we already said it, defending Thaksin does not yield any benefit to the Cambodian people at all, not even an ounce. Quite to the contrary, it will only bring us additional heated problems instead.
- The criminal Thaksin is a friend of Hun Xen, but he is no friend of the Cambodian people. Therefore, Hun Xen has no right to use Cambodian territories to protect a foreign criminal. If Hun Xen really wants to know … let him hold a referendum to find out (!!).
- The comparison of Thaksin to Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi is ignorance. Such dumb words should not come out from the mouth of a Cambodian PM. Not only did these words bring mockery from other ASEAN leaders, they also brought the ire of the Thai people in general, and from the democracy-loving Burmese people in particular.
- We believe that: Hun Xen should use his abusive words in Cambodia only, because all the Cambodian people know that, currently, he is a “loud mouth” who uses his power to silence weak people and people who oppose him. His strong stance showoff overseas will certainly earn him a black eye (!!).
- If Hun Xen wants to use this issue to get the upper hand over the Siamese leaders in the Preah Vihear temple dispute, we believe that: his strategy is no different from that used by the “Bang Thom” gangsters in the thug community. “The Bang Thom gang” never cares about the law nor the moral code of conduct, they only defend thugs like themselves (!!)
- If we were to compare the case of former Venerable Tim Sakhorn to Thaksin Shinawatra’s case, we can see that Hun Xen loves the Thais more than his own Khmer people, this in spite of the fact that former Venerable Tim Sakhorn was born in Kampuchea Krom. Former Venerable Tim Sakhorn’s rights are protected by the Cambodian constitution (Article 33), but Hun Xen trampled his rights, force-defrocked him and sent him to Vietnam to be jailed there.
- In order to resolve the Preah Vihear temple issue, we do not agree with the idea advanced by Khieu Kanharith, the minister of Information and a “Cheung Khlang” spokesman for the government, who announced that “the Paris Peace Agreements is already dead” because the KR party pulled themselves out. We support the opinion advanced by senior minister Var Kim Hong who declared that: “When the Cambodian government can no longer take it, it will push this issue to the UN Security Council, The Hague International Court of Justice and the Paris Peace Conference on Cambodia to resolve this issue.”
- We believe that Var Kim Hon’s idea is far better than Hun Xen’s strategy of using Thaksin to pound on Abhisit’s head. In particular, the request for the [signatory countries] of the Paris Conference to hold a meeting to review the application of the agreements which were already ratified.
- Raising the Preah Vihear temple with the [signatories] of the Paris Peace Agreements will bring in double benefits to Cambodia, just like shooting two birds with one stone, the western borders can be resolved and similarly, the eastern borders will be demarcated appropriately, and, in particular, the foreign aggression forces (the Viet army and the illegal Vietnamese settlers) who are currently staying on Cambodian territories will be reviewed and be removed.
- The most important factors that the Cambodian people want to see are the review and annulment of the “Supplemental border treaty” [with Vietnam], as well as the annulment of the illegal 1979, 1982, 1983 and 1985 treaties [concluded when Vietnam was occupying Cambodia].
- We believe that Cambodia should retain this last strategy to fight the Siamese, this would be better than trying to protect Thaksin’s skin.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
KKF's Appeal to Stop Sponsoring and Issuing Visas for the Monks Who Violate Human Rights and Buddhism’s Principles
Cambodia's Eminences Grises from left to right: Tep Vong, Non Nget, Long Kim Leang and Sao Chanthol(An éminence grise (French for "grey eminence") is a powerful advisor or decision-maker who operates secretly or unofficially - Wikipedia)
KHMERS KAMPUCHEA-KROM FEDERATION
Asia – Australia – Europe – North America
A member of UNPO - IDBF
KKF P.O. Box 0193 • Pennsauken • NJ 08110 • Tel: (856) 655-2117 • Fax: (856) 583-1503
http://www.khmerkrom.org • Email: thach.thach@khmerkrom.org
Asia – Australia – Europe – North America
A member of UNPO - IDBF
KKF P.O. Box 0193 • Pennsauken • NJ 08110 • Tel: (856) 655-2117 • Fax: (856) 583-1503
http://www.khmerkrom.org • Email: thach.thach@khmerkrom.org
Office of the President
No: 314 /KKF/N/2009
Open Letter: Appeal to Stop Sponsoring and Issuing Visas for the Monks Who Violate Human Rights and Buddhism’s Principles
Dear Immigrant Officers of Foreign Embassies in Cambodia and Cambodian Community Leaders Abroad: A high profile Khmer-Krom activist, Tim Sakhorn, reported about how he was dramatically arrested, deported from Cambodia to be imprisoned in Vietnam by the monks in Cambodia.
On June 30, 2007, Venerable Cheas Om, who was a high-ranking Buddhist monk in Takeo province in Seyha Rattana Ram Temple, called Venerable Tim Sakhorn to visit him. When Venerable Tim Sakhorn arrived at his temple, Venerable Tim Sakhorn saw other Buddhist monks from Phnom Penh waiting for him there. Venerable Sao Chanthol took a defrocking ordered letter, which was signed and stamped by the Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong and Non Nget, and read it to accuse Venerable Tim Sakhorn for using his temple to undermine the relationship between Cambodia and Vietnam.
Venerable Tim Sakhorn denied the accusation and refused to be defrocked because he did not committed the crime as they accused him and he did not violate any Buddhism’s principles in order to be defrocked. Venerable Long Kim Leang directly stripped off Venerable Tim Sakhorn’s frock in front of everyone and threw him clothes that they already brought with them from Phnom Penh, dragged him to a car that was already parked outside of the room where they met, and pushed him into the car to deport him to Vietnam in the same day. Consequently, Tim Sakhorn, a Cambodian citizen, was thrown in Vietnamese prison for a year before being granted asylum to live in Sweden.
These are the monks who involved with defrocking Venerable Tim Sakhorn:
Name and Current Address
- Tep Vong at Wat Ona-Lom, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Non Nget at Wat Bo-Tum, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Om Lam Heng at Wat Champu Ka-Ek, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Long Kim Leang at Wat Khmer San Jose, California, USA
- Sao Chanthol at Wat Langka, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Noi Chruek at Wat Chan Bori Vong, Preuk Phnom Commune, Ponhea Leu District, Kandal
- Province, Cambodia
- Cheas Om at Wat Seyha Rattana Ram, Takeo city, Takeo Province, Cambodia
In this regards, I would like to:
- Urge the immigrant officers of foreign embassies in Cambodia to stop issuing Visa for these monks to travel to your countries because they violated Mr. Tim Sakhorn’s right to be a Buddhist monk, especially to send him from Cambodia to imprison injustice in Vietnam.
- Urge the Cambodian community leaders abroad to stop sponsoring these monks to visit your community or as religious workers because these monks violated the Buddhism’s principles and do not qualify to work as religious workers to educate our Cambodians about Buddhism.
Respectfully Yours,
Thach Ngoc Thach
President of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Interview with Tim Sakhorn
Tim Sakhorn giving an interview to RFA on 10th April.10th April, 2009
By Mr. Mundol Keo
Radio Free Asia
Translated From Khmer by Khmerization
Tim Sakhorn is an ex-abbot of Phnom Den North Pagoda in Takeo province. He was arrested by the Cambodian authority in June 2007, handed to Vietnamese authority and was jailed for one year in Vietnam on charges of involving in subversive activities against Vietnam. The Vietnamese authority released him on the conditions that he will not return to live permanently in Cambodia. On 4th of April he was given permission to visit relatives in Cambodia for the Khmer New Year festivities for 14 days. He has escaped to Thailand since 10th April, 2009. During his stay in Cambodia, he agrees to talk to Mr. Mondul Keo of RFA as follow:
Mundol Keo: Hello Mr. Tim Sakhorn. Do you intend to reside permanently in Cambodia?
Tim Sakhorn: I only got permission to come to visit Cambodia only. If I asked them to live here permanently they will not let me come.
MK: Do you have a house of your own in Vietnam?
TS: No, I haven’t got my own house yet. I live with relatives. It is very difficult to live in someone’s house, it is not the same as living in our own home.
MK: Up until today, they have not allowed you to come to live with your parents and siblings in Cambodia?
TS: No, not yet. They just give permission for me to visit them for 14 days only.
MK: Did they give any reasons why they didn’t let you come to live permanently in Cambodia?
TS: They gave the reasons that it is because I am a Vietnamese citizen.
MK: Could you tell us, on what reasons and charges did they arrest you for?
TS: Thank you for asking me this question. I would like to say that I was an abbot of Phnom Den North Pagoda. They charged that I was involved in political activities to destroy the Khmer-Vietnamese solidarity.
MK: Did they accused you of anything else?
TS: No, only that charge. That’s all. At that time Chea Orm telephoned to ask me to go to Takeo town and told me that I was involved in political activities that is destroying the Khmer-Vietnamese solidarity. That was one month before they arrested me. One month later, the security forces came to the temple with a letter signed by (Patriarch) Tep Vong and (Patriarch) Nuon Ngeth. The details of the letter state: “Tim Sakhorn, the abbot of Phnom Den North Pagoda, has engaged in improper activities by using the pagoda to conduct political activities for the purpose of destroying the Khmer-Vietnam solidarity and must be punished by laws, stamped and signed by Tep Vong and Nuon Ngeth.”
And after they finished reading the letter, they started to defrock me and arrested me on the spot.
MK: The policemen who arrested you, were they Cambodian or Vietnamese police?
TS: On that question I don’t know because they dressed in civilian clothes, but after I was defrocked the policemen drove the car to the gate of the pagoda. There were four policemen who were waiting for me. The car door was already open and they pushed me into the car with two policemen sitting in front of me and two sitting behind me and then drove away. They drove me along National Route Two toward the Vietnamese borders and they handed me over to the Vietnamese authority on the borders in An Giang province of Vietnam.
MK: When you got to Vietnam, did they interrogate you on anything?
TS: Yes, they asked me a lot of things and I admitted my guilt. The accusations were that, firstly, I distributed the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation’s bulletins to the people because when Khmer Krom people came to visit me I lent those bulletins/magazines to them to read. Secondly, they charged that I was inciting the Khmer Krom living in Vietnam to demand the returns of their lands confiscated by the Vietnamese authority without any compensation. They charged me on this issue as well. Thirdly, they accused me of inciting and instigating the Khmer Krom people to protest to demand for the returns of their rice fields and farmlands.
MK: Did they give you an opportunity to explain to them?
TS: Yes, but I told them that I did it because you (Vietnamese authority) did confiscate the lands from the Khmer Krom and even I myself lost of lots of lands through confiscations of these kinds. I told them ‘if you didn’t confiscate their lands, I won’t do like that’. I fled Vietnam to Cambodia because of wars, during the Pol Pot-Vietnamese wars. I have lands more than 10 (hectares?) and they all have been confiscated.
MK: When they arrested and detained you, did they torture you or anything?
TS: No, they didn’t torture or mistreat me, but other young prisoners did mistreat me in the prison. But you know, living in jail is not the same as living outside of jail.
MK: Did you remember how many months you stay in jail in Vietnam?
TS: Yes I remember. I stayed in jail for 12 months.
MK: When you asked permission to come to Cambodia, on what grounds did you asked them?
TS: They gave permission for me to come to hold a religious ceremony and they forbid me to from getting involved in any political activities. But since you asked I will answer you, but I just tell the truth only. They did not allow me to criticise anyone and if I criticised someone I will be accountable before the laws. That’s what they said to me.
MK: Did they give you a dateline of when you have to return back to Vietnam?
TS: Yes, they stated in my travel documents that I can only stay in Cambodia from 4th to 17th.
MK: Of April?
TS: Yes.
MK: You said that you are afraid and are concerned, what are you afraid and concerned of?
TS: Regarding my fears and my concerns, I am more feared and more concerned about my security in Cambodia than when I live in Vietnam. I fear for my personal safety.
MK: Can you elaborate more?
TS: About my personal safety means that I want to be safe and I don’t want to be free from danger to my life.
MK: Did the local Cambodian authority know that you are here in Cambodia?
TS: Yes, I assume they know because a lot of people come to visit me and they spread the news everywhere, even people in Phnom Penh they know about my coming. The people in here knew, so I assumed the authority knew as well.
MK: I want to ask about your feeling, did you ever wanted to come and live in Cambodia at all?
TS: I really wanted to come and live in Cambodia. I asked them to let me come to live in Cambodia since I was released from Hanoi jail, not just now. But they refused and they told me to get documents to live in Vietnam permanently. This does not mean that I wanted to live in Vietnam, but I agreed to live there because I wanted to save my life and live in peace, because life in prison is very difficult. I never wanted to live apart from my parents and my siblings because I don’t have any close relatives in Vietnam whom I can depend. I was able to survive because in the past the Vietnamese authority gave me a little pension, some money. But in the last few months, they stopped giving me any money. My father had to send rice and my brothers and sisters had to bring rice and money to me from Cambodia so I can buy food, because I don’t know how to do any business. They (Vietnamese authority) provided me with some lands but I don’t know how to farm because I never farmed before.
MK: Where did they give you the lands?
TS: In Dong Tor village, Bu Chuc commune in Sre Tong district of An Giang province.
MK: It looked like they forced you to live in Vietnam, did you ever think of what kind of business you will do to feed yourself?
TS: I don’t know how to do any business, I don’t know how I will feed myself because our Khmer Krom people in Vietnam normally work as coolies for the Vietnamese people and normally they only earn 40,000 dongs which is equivalent to 10,000 Riels ($2.50) per day. It is not enough and they work so hard. So, if I live there I have to work as a coolie for the Vietnamese, but I never worked as a coolie before and I will not agree to work as a coolie.
MK: Do you want to appeal to the government to help you in anything?
TS: Yes, I would like to appeal to the government and King Sihamoni and all international organisations around the world to do whatever they can so I can return to live in my Cambodian motherland in peace and in safety. Thanks.
MK: Lastly, do you like to add anything?
TS: Lastly, I hope that what I have just appealed will be successful. I would also like to thank all the Radio Free Asia staff as well as Khmers living in Cambodia and around the world who have participated in helping to relieve my sufferings (help in my release).
MK: Thank you for the interview with Radio Free Asia. Goodbye.
Mundol Keo: Hello Mr. Tim Sakhorn. Do you intend to reside permanently in Cambodia?
Tim Sakhorn: I only got permission to come to visit Cambodia only. If I asked them to live here permanently they will not let me come.
MK: Do you have a house of your own in Vietnam?
TS: No, I haven’t got my own house yet. I live with relatives. It is very difficult to live in someone’s house, it is not the same as living in our own home.
MK: Up until today, they have not allowed you to come to live with your parents and siblings in Cambodia?
TS: No, not yet. They just give permission for me to visit them for 14 days only.
MK: Did they give any reasons why they didn’t let you come to live permanently in Cambodia?
TS: They gave the reasons that it is because I am a Vietnamese citizen.
MK: Could you tell us, on what reasons and charges did they arrest you for?
TS: Thank you for asking me this question. I would like to say that I was an abbot of Phnom Den North Pagoda. They charged that I was involved in political activities to destroy the Khmer-Vietnamese solidarity.
MK: Did they accused you of anything else?
TS: No, only that charge. That’s all. At that time Chea Orm telephoned to ask me to go to Takeo town and told me that I was involved in political activities that is destroying the Khmer-Vietnamese solidarity. That was one month before they arrested me. One month later, the security forces came to the temple with a letter signed by (Patriarch) Tep Vong and (Patriarch) Nuon Ngeth. The details of the letter state: “Tim Sakhorn, the abbot of Phnom Den North Pagoda, has engaged in improper activities by using the pagoda to conduct political activities for the purpose of destroying the Khmer-Vietnam solidarity and must be punished by laws, stamped and signed by Tep Vong and Nuon Ngeth.”
And after they finished reading the letter, they started to defrock me and arrested me on the spot.
MK: The policemen who arrested you, were they Cambodian or Vietnamese police?
TS: On that question I don’t know because they dressed in civilian clothes, but after I was defrocked the policemen drove the car to the gate of the pagoda. There were four policemen who were waiting for me. The car door was already open and they pushed me into the car with two policemen sitting in front of me and two sitting behind me and then drove away. They drove me along National Route Two toward the Vietnamese borders and they handed me over to the Vietnamese authority on the borders in An Giang province of Vietnam.
MK: When you got to Vietnam, did they interrogate you on anything?
TS: Yes, they asked me a lot of things and I admitted my guilt. The accusations were that, firstly, I distributed the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation’s bulletins to the people because when Khmer Krom people came to visit me I lent those bulletins/magazines to them to read. Secondly, they charged that I was inciting the Khmer Krom living in Vietnam to demand the returns of their lands confiscated by the Vietnamese authority without any compensation. They charged me on this issue as well. Thirdly, they accused me of inciting and instigating the Khmer Krom people to protest to demand for the returns of their rice fields and farmlands.
MK: Did they give you an opportunity to explain to them?
TS: Yes, but I told them that I did it because you (Vietnamese authority) did confiscate the lands from the Khmer Krom and even I myself lost of lots of lands through confiscations of these kinds. I told them ‘if you didn’t confiscate their lands, I won’t do like that’. I fled Vietnam to Cambodia because of wars, during the Pol Pot-Vietnamese wars. I have lands more than 10 (hectares?) and they all have been confiscated.
MK: When they arrested and detained you, did they torture you or anything?
TS: No, they didn’t torture or mistreat me, but other young prisoners did mistreat me in the prison. But you know, living in jail is not the same as living outside of jail.
MK: Did you remember how many months you stay in jail in Vietnam?
TS: Yes I remember. I stayed in jail for 12 months.
MK: When you asked permission to come to Cambodia, on what grounds did you asked them?
TS: They gave permission for me to come to hold a religious ceremony and they forbid me to from getting involved in any political activities. But since you asked I will answer you, but I just tell the truth only. They did not allow me to criticise anyone and if I criticised someone I will be accountable before the laws. That’s what they said to me.
MK: Did they give you a dateline of when you have to return back to Vietnam?
TS: Yes, they stated in my travel documents that I can only stay in Cambodia from 4th to 17th.
MK: Of April?
TS: Yes.
MK: You said that you are afraid and are concerned, what are you afraid and concerned of?
TS: Regarding my fears and my concerns, I am more feared and more concerned about my security in Cambodia than when I live in Vietnam. I fear for my personal safety.
MK: Can you elaborate more?
TS: About my personal safety means that I want to be safe and I don’t want to be free from danger to my life.
MK: Did the local Cambodian authority know that you are here in Cambodia?
TS: Yes, I assume they know because a lot of people come to visit me and they spread the news everywhere, even people in Phnom Penh they know about my coming. The people in here knew, so I assumed the authority knew as well.
MK: I want to ask about your feeling, did you ever wanted to come and live in Cambodia at all?
TS: I really wanted to come and live in Cambodia. I asked them to let me come to live in Cambodia since I was released from Hanoi jail, not just now. But they refused and they told me to get documents to live in Vietnam permanently. This does not mean that I wanted to live in Vietnam, but I agreed to live there because I wanted to save my life and live in peace, because life in prison is very difficult. I never wanted to live apart from my parents and my siblings because I don’t have any close relatives in Vietnam whom I can depend. I was able to survive because in the past the Vietnamese authority gave me a little pension, some money. But in the last few months, they stopped giving me any money. My father had to send rice and my brothers and sisters had to bring rice and money to me from Cambodia so I can buy food, because I don’t know how to do any business. They (Vietnamese authority) provided me with some lands but I don’t know how to farm because I never farmed before.
MK: Where did they give you the lands?
TS: In Dong Tor village, Bu Chuc commune in Sre Tong district of An Giang province.
MK: It looked like they forced you to live in Vietnam, did you ever think of what kind of business you will do to feed yourself?
TS: I don’t know how to do any business, I don’t know how I will feed myself because our Khmer Krom people in Vietnam normally work as coolies for the Vietnamese people and normally they only earn 40,000 dongs which is equivalent to 10,000 Riels ($2.50) per day. It is not enough and they work so hard. So, if I live there I have to work as a coolie for the Vietnamese, but I never worked as a coolie before and I will not agree to work as a coolie.
MK: Do you want to appeal to the government to help you in anything?
TS: Yes, I would like to appeal to the government and King Sihamoni and all international organisations around the world to do whatever they can so I can return to live in my Cambodian motherland in peace and in safety. Thanks.
MK: Lastly, do you like to add anything?
TS: Lastly, I hope that what I have just appealed will be successful. I would also like to thank all the Radio Free Asia staff as well as Khmers living in Cambodia and around the world who have participated in helping to relieve my sufferings (help in my release).
MK: Thank you for the interview with Radio Free Asia. Goodbye.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Dissident to seek residence
Hochimonk Non Nget, supreme patriarch of the Buddhist Mohanikay sect - whom Tim Sakhorn claimed in Monday's interview was responsible for defrocking him after his arrest - told the Post he had little sympathy for the arrested monk.Wednesday, 08 April 2009
Written by Chrann Chamroeun and Sebastian Strangio
The Phnom Penh Post
During Khmer Krom activist Tim Sakhorn's temporary visit to Cambodia, rights groups say they will lobby the govt and UN in a bid to head off his return to Vietnam next week.
DESPITE being allowed to return to Cambodia after nearly two years of detention in Vietnam, former Buddhist monk Tim Sakhorn faces an uphill battle to extend his stay beyond the Khmer New Year.
The 41-year-old Khmer Krom activist arrived in Takeo province Saturday, where he attended a funeral ceremony for his mother and religious services at Wat Phnom Den in Kiri Vong district.
But his visa is only valid until April 17, and local and international rights groups are campaigning to head off his impending forced return to Vietnam.
"We are now trying to find ways to intervene and allow Tim Sakhorn to return to Cambodia to live with his relatives, since he is not willing to return to Vietnam," said Thach Setha, general director of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Association.
"It is a violation of human rights to separate him from his family and clamp down on his freedom of speech."
Thach Setha said also that the former activist has been under the close eye of the authorities since his arrival in Takeo and could risk further jail time if he speaks out against the Vietnamese or Cambodian governments.
"Tim Sakhorn feels scared for his safety and fears speaking openly now that police are patrolling around his house and [near the pagoda] during the ceremony," he said.
Ang Chanrith, executive director of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Organisation, said that Tim Sakhorn could not meet with reporters Tuesday due to fears for his security.
But in a Monday interview with Radio Free Asia, Tim Sakhorn said that he had been "forced" to live in Vietnam and said he wanted to return home to Cambodia.
"I want to stay with my father and my brother in my hometown and farm the land," he said during the interview.
"I am calling on the Royal Government, the King, the United Nations and other NGOs to help me stay in the country and guarantee my security."
"The state will do its best to guarantee his Cambodian citizenship," he said, but added that the fact that Tim Sakhorn holds a Vietnamese passport might complicate matters.
"This issue will be considered by the Royal Government and the King."
Christophe Peschoux, country representative of the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), confirmed UN officials would meet Tuesday with Tim Sakhorn to assess the nature of his situation and "how his rights should be best protected".
"Being a Cambodian national, Tim Sakhorn should be able to remain in Cambodia if he wishes so, and his citizen's rights and safety should be protected by the Royal Government," Peschoux said by email.
Secret extradition
Tim Sakhorn's fate after April 17 will likely hinge on perceptions about the legality of his arrest and extradition. On June 30, 2007, Tim Sakhorn, a leading activist for the rights of ethnic Khmers in southern Vietnam - also known as Khmer Krom - was arrested in Takeo by Cambodian police and defrocked by senior monks before being extradited to Vietnam.
In November, a People's Tribunal in Vietnam's An Giang province sentenced him to one year in prison on charges of violating national unity under Article 87 of the country's penal code.
One of the crimes under this article is that of "undermining the implementation of policies for international solidarity".
Non Nget, supreme patriarch of the Buddhist Mohanikay sect - whom Tim Sakhorn claimed in Monday's interview was responsible for defrocking him after his arrest - told the Post he had little sympathy for the arrested monk.
"I have not paid any interest to Tim Sakhorn's arrival in Cambodia," he said. "He broke Buddhist discipline when he incited people and attempted to destroy the friendship between Cambodia and Vietnam."
But activists say the extradition was illegal and that the government has a legal obligation to allow him to remain in Cambodia. Ang Chanrith said Tim Sakhorn was a Cambodian citizen under local laws, which also provide protections against unlawful deportation.
Article 2 of the Kingdom's 1996 Law on Nationality states that "any person who has Khmer nationality/citizenship is a Khmer citizen", and is therefore exempt from being "deprived of nationality, exiled or extradited to any foreign country unless upon [sic] there is mutual agreement".
Although a Kampuchea Krom native, Tim Sakhorn moved to Cambodia in 1979 and was a full Cambodian citizen by the time of his arrest. In a 2007 report, OHCHR argued that Tim Sakhorn's deportation was a "prima facie violation" of these prohibitions.
Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, described his condition in Vietnam in the past year as one of "illegal house arrest" and said the ex-monk also enjoyed protection under international refugee agreements to which the Kingdom is a party.
"The Cambodian government should abide by the [1951 UN] Refugee Convention by not deporting people to countries where they have a well-founded fear of persecution," he said.
"The Cambodian government - and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees - should provide protection to Khmer Krom fleeing persecution in Vietnam, allowing them to seek asylum in Cambodia if they want."
Vietnamese embassy spokesman Trinh Ba Cam could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
DESPITE being allowed to return to Cambodia after nearly two years of detention in Vietnam, former Buddhist monk Tim Sakhorn faces an uphill battle to extend his stay beyond the Khmer New Year.
The 41-year-old Khmer Krom activist arrived in Takeo province Saturday, where he attended a funeral ceremony for his mother and religious services at Wat Phnom Den in Kiri Vong district.
But his visa is only valid until April 17, and local and international rights groups are campaigning to head off his impending forced return to Vietnam.
"We are now trying to find ways to intervene and allow Tim Sakhorn to return to Cambodia to live with his relatives, since he is not willing to return to Vietnam," said Thach Setha, general director of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Association.
"It is a violation of human rights to separate him from his family and clamp down on his freedom of speech."
Thach Setha said also that the former activist has been under the close eye of the authorities since his arrival in Takeo and could risk further jail time if he speaks out against the Vietnamese or Cambodian governments.
"Tim Sakhorn feels scared for his safety and fears speaking openly now that police are patrolling around his house and [near the pagoda] during the ceremony," he said.
Ang Chanrith, executive director of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Organisation, said that Tim Sakhorn could not meet with reporters Tuesday due to fears for his security.
But in a Monday interview with Radio Free Asia, Tim Sakhorn said that he had been "forced" to live in Vietnam and said he wanted to return home to Cambodia.
"I want to stay with my father and my brother in my hometown and farm the land," he said during the interview.
"I am calling on the Royal Government, the King, the United Nations and other NGOs to help me stay in the country and guarantee my security."
"It is a violation of human rights to separate him from his family."Senior CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said the state would do its best to ensure a legal resolution to Tim Sakhorn's requests.
"The state will do its best to guarantee his Cambodian citizenship," he said, but added that the fact that Tim Sakhorn holds a Vietnamese passport might complicate matters.
"This issue will be considered by the Royal Government and the King."
Christophe Peschoux, country representative of the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), confirmed UN officials would meet Tuesday with Tim Sakhorn to assess the nature of his situation and "how his rights should be best protected".
"Being a Cambodian national, Tim Sakhorn should be able to remain in Cambodia if he wishes so, and his citizen's rights and safety should be protected by the Royal Government," Peschoux said by email.
Secret extradition
Tim Sakhorn's fate after April 17 will likely hinge on perceptions about the legality of his arrest and extradition. On June 30, 2007, Tim Sakhorn, a leading activist for the rights of ethnic Khmers in southern Vietnam - also known as Khmer Krom - was arrested in Takeo by Cambodian police and defrocked by senior monks before being extradited to Vietnam.
In November, a People's Tribunal in Vietnam's An Giang province sentenced him to one year in prison on charges of violating national unity under Article 87 of the country's penal code.
One of the crimes under this article is that of "undermining the implementation of policies for international solidarity".
Non Nget, supreme patriarch of the Buddhist Mohanikay sect - whom Tim Sakhorn claimed in Monday's interview was responsible for defrocking him after his arrest - told the Post he had little sympathy for the arrested monk.
"I have not paid any interest to Tim Sakhorn's arrival in Cambodia," he said. "He broke Buddhist discipline when he incited people and attempted to destroy the friendship between Cambodia and Vietnam."
But activists say the extradition was illegal and that the government has a legal obligation to allow him to remain in Cambodia. Ang Chanrith said Tim Sakhorn was a Cambodian citizen under local laws, which also provide protections against unlawful deportation.
Article 2 of the Kingdom's 1996 Law on Nationality states that "any person who has Khmer nationality/citizenship is a Khmer citizen", and is therefore exempt from being "deprived of nationality, exiled or extradited to any foreign country unless upon [sic] there is mutual agreement".
Although a Kampuchea Krom native, Tim Sakhorn moved to Cambodia in 1979 and was a full Cambodian citizen by the time of his arrest. In a 2007 report, OHCHR argued that Tim Sakhorn's deportation was a "prima facie violation" of these prohibitions.
Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, described his condition in Vietnam in the past year as one of "illegal house arrest" and said the ex-monk also enjoyed protection under international refugee agreements to which the Kingdom is a party.
"The Cambodian government should abide by the [1951 UN] Refugee Convention by not deporting people to countries where they have a well-founded fear of persecution," he said.
"The Cambodian government - and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees - should provide protection to Khmer Krom fleeing persecution in Vietnam, allowing them to seek asylum in Cambodia if they want."
Vietnamese embassy spokesman Trinh Ba Cam could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Former monk Tim Sakhorn returns to Phnom Den, seeks help to stay in Cambodia
Monday, April 06, 2009
KI-Media
Reporters from The Cambodia Daily indicated that they spoke with former monk Tim Sakhorn, the former abbot of Phnom Den North pagoda. Tim Sakhorn said that after he was defrocked by force on 30 June 2007, he was placed into a car that drove him all the way to An Giang province in Vietnam without stopping. He also spoke about the hardship of his stay in Vietnam and he insisted that he did not want to stay in Vietnam, but rather in Cambodia.
On Saturday 04 April 2009, Tim Sakhorn said that he was surprised that Vietnam allowed him to travel to Cambodia to participate in his mother’s funeral ceremony. However, he is now traveling with a Vietnamese passport as his Cambodian papers were confiscated from him. His visa allows him to stay in Cambodia until April 17. Prior to his departure from Vietnam, Tim Sakhorn indicated that Vietnamese police forced him to write a letter promising not to criticize the Vietnamese and Cambodian authorities during his stay in Cambodia.
The Cambodia Daily reported that, following his release from his one year jail in Vietnam, Tim Sakhorn has been placed under virtual house arrest with two Vietnamese police officers stationing at his home. He indicated also that after his release, Vietnamese authorities took him on a tour of Hanoi and other provinces, most likely to entice him to settle in Vietnam. Every time, the Vietnamese authorities asked if he wanted to stay in Vietnam, Tim Sakhorn would tell them “NO.”
While he claimed that he was not physically abused in Vietnam, he said that tacit intimidation is not uncommon and he was forced to write several letters promising that he would return back to Vietnam.
On Saturday night, The Cambodia Daily reported that Tim Sakhorn and his siblings observed Cambodian police patrolling their home. Tim Sakhorn called on rights group, foreign embassies and the UN to help intervene in this case so that he can stay in Cambodia. However, he indicated that when his options are exhausted, he will return back to Vietnam … with reluctance. “I have to go back. They will arrest me. I am so sad,” Tim Sakhorn was quoted by the Cambodia Daily as saying.
KI-Media
“I have to go back [to Vietnam]. They will arrest me. I am so sad.” - Former monk Tim Sakhorn
Reporters from The Cambodia Daily indicated that they spoke with former monk Tim Sakhorn, the former abbot of Phnom Den North pagoda. Tim Sakhorn said that after he was defrocked by force on 30 June 2007, he was placed into a car that drove him all the way to An Giang province in Vietnam without stopping. He also spoke about the hardship of his stay in Vietnam and he insisted that he did not want to stay in Vietnam, but rather in Cambodia.On Saturday 04 April 2009, Tim Sakhorn said that he was surprised that Vietnam allowed him to travel to Cambodia to participate in his mother’s funeral ceremony. However, he is now traveling with a Vietnamese passport as his Cambodian papers were confiscated from him. His visa allows him to stay in Cambodia until April 17. Prior to his departure from Vietnam, Tim Sakhorn indicated that Vietnamese police forced him to write a letter promising not to criticize the Vietnamese and Cambodian authorities during his stay in Cambodia.
The Cambodia Daily reported that, following his release from his one year jail in Vietnam, Tim Sakhorn has been placed under virtual house arrest with two Vietnamese police officers stationing at his home. He indicated also that after his release, Vietnamese authorities took him on a tour of Hanoi and other provinces, most likely to entice him to settle in Vietnam. Every time, the Vietnamese authorities asked if he wanted to stay in Vietnam, Tim Sakhorn would tell them “NO.”
While he claimed that he was not physically abused in Vietnam, he said that tacit intimidation is not uncommon and he was forced to write several letters promising that he would return back to Vietnam.
On Saturday night, The Cambodia Daily reported that Tim Sakhorn and his siblings observed Cambodian police patrolling their home. Tim Sakhorn called on rights group, foreign embassies and the UN to help intervene in this case so that he can stay in Cambodia. However, he indicated that when his options are exhausted, he will return back to Vietnam … with reluctance. “I have to go back. They will arrest me. I am so sad,” Tim Sakhorn was quoted by the Cambodia Daily as saying.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Breaking News: Former Monk Tim Sakhorn finally home in Cambodia!!!
05 April 2009
Source: Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community
Source: Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community
Former Buddhist monk and abbot of Wat Phnom Den North Tim Sakhorn finally arrived home in Takeo province, Cambodia, on April 4, 2009 after spending more than one years in the Vietnamese communist prison.
Mr. Tim Sakhorn, center, guards by Vietnamese security personnel in the 2007 hearing that did not allow him to have any defense attorney or witnesses.
In a communist country, Vietnam, a person is guilty before proven innocent.
In a democratic country, a person is innocent before proven guilty.
More informations to be udpated when available.
--------
Dear Readers: If you would like to send some assistance to former Monk Tim Sakhorn, please contact Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community at the following email address:
Thank you for helping our Khmer Krom Brothers and Sisters!
Could one person really break the one-sided VN-Cambodia friendship?
Mr. Tim Sakhorn, center, guards by Vietnamese security personnel in the 2007 hearing that did not allow him to have any defense attorney or witnesses.In a communist country, Vietnam, a person is guilty before proven innocent.
In a democratic country, a person is innocent before proven guilty.
More informations to be udpated when available.
--------
Dear Readers: If you would like to send some assistance to former Monk Tim Sakhorn, please contact Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community at the following email address:
kkcpressoffice@yahoo.com
Thank you for helping our Khmer Krom Brothers and Sisters!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
A Letter To FBI: Spy In Cambodia
Alleged Vietnamese spy Nguyen Cam Cong is accused of involvement in the kidnapping on Monk Tim Sakhorn to Vietnam, as well as the murder of a Khmer Krom monkDear Sir and Madam,
My name is undersigned here as THACH NHO a Khmer Krom refugee in Cambodia, born in 1949 in Soc Trang Province, Vietnam UNHCR IC # 820. I am writing today to notify FBI of a Vietnamese spy named Nguyen Cam Cong UNHCR IC # 241, granted refugee status by UNHCR in Cambodia, who has conducted many abductions and murders, whose victims are either Khmer Krom or Vietnamese asylum seekers and refugees in Cambodia. We are always at risk of being abducted by this Vietnamese refugee, who is not a genuine refugee but a Vietnamese spy, a Vietnamese secret agent acting in Cambodia on behalf of Vietnamese government and its interests here in Cambodia.
Dear Sir and Madam,
As far as we were concerned, Nguyen Cam Cong is a spy, graduating from the security institute of C 500 in Hanoi in 1987, after graduating from that institute, he was sent to Cambodia to act there. To begin with, he pretended to join the party or Freedom Vietnam, a political factor created by overseas Vietnamese to struggle against the government of communist Vietnam, as a spy, Nguyen Cam Cong and his people arrested most of the members of Freedom Vietnam Party, taking them to detention in Vietnam. After the party of Freedom Vietnam was completely destroyed in Cambodia, Nguyen Cam Cong joined another Vietnamese political party called People Action Party. Again, with his plot against this political opposition party was successful with an oppressing operation in 1996, all the members of the People Action Party were arrested and interdicted to Vietnam to be tortured and detained there. Some of them were tortured to death, some of them were executed and most of them are being detained in various prisons in Vietnam up to now.
In 1999, Nguyen Cam Cong came back to Cambodia with a fake document proving his being released from a prison. With that fake document, he deceived UNHCR staffs in Phnom Penh, as the result he was granted refugee status by UNHCR in Cambodia in the year 2000 and he has resumed his acting as a spy, kidnapping and murdering Vietnamese dissidents who had fled to Cambodia to seek asylum:
In 2002, Nguyen Cong Cam kidnapped Venerable Thich Tri Luc (Aka Pham Van Tuong) UNHCR IC # 610, who had been granted refugee status by UNHCR in Cambodia. Venerable Thich Tri Luc was then taken to Vietnam, where he was sentenced for 20 months imprisonment. In 2003, Nguyen Cam Cong kidnapped HO LONG DUC, who had also been granted refugee status by UNHCR in Cambodia. HO LONG DUC was then taken to Vietnam and was sentenced for 18 years imprisonment. In May 6, 2007 Nguyen Cam Cong kidnapped a young Vietnamese dissident named LE TRI TUE, UNHCR IC # 926 who was an asylum seeker pending to be granted refugee status by UNHCR, LE TRI TUE is still missing up to now and it is widely believed that it was NGUYEN CONG CAM who killed Le Tri Tue, chopping him to pieces and threw his corpse down the river of Mekong from Chba Oeum Peuv Bridge.
No sooner after his kidnapping LE TRI TUE, Nguyen Cam Cong murdered a Khmer Buddhist Monk in a temple at Ta Khmau area since this Buddhist Monk was the leader of demonstrations in front of the embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Phnom Penh condemning the government of Vietnam oppressing religions in Vietnam. In June 2007, Nguyen Cam Cong and his forces kidnapped a Khmer Krom Buddhist Monk, venerable Tim Sakhorn, taking him to detention in Vietnam In June 2006 Nguyen Cam Cong kidnapped Pastor A-DUNG, UNHCR IC # 901, a Montagnard asylum seeker, pending to be granted refugee status by UNHCR in Cambodia and took him to detention in Vietnam. Dear Sir and Madam We could hardly understand why UNHCR in Phnom Penh, Cambodia granted such a dangerous spy and secret agent as Nguyen Cam Cong refugee status so that he could approach other Vietnamese asylum seekers and refugees to harm them. For this reason, I am writing this letter to appeal to FBI for help. Please help us, stop this spy from kidnapping and killing us Vietnamese asylum seekers and refugees.
Tinh_bao Thank you for your co-operation and assistance
THACH NHO (UNHCR IC # 820, Phnom Penh, Cambodia)
PS: Please be informed that in the attachment is the photo of Nguyen Cam Cong in uniform, in the photo, he was just a captain, but after a series of abductions and murdering he has been promoted to be lieutenant General nowadays
Source: http://www.take2tango.com/?display=5800
My name is undersigned here as THACH NHO a Khmer Krom refugee in Cambodia, born in 1949 in Soc Trang Province, Vietnam UNHCR IC # 820. I am writing today to notify FBI of a Vietnamese spy named Nguyen Cam Cong UNHCR IC # 241, granted refugee status by UNHCR in Cambodia, who has conducted many abductions and murders, whose victims are either Khmer Krom or Vietnamese asylum seekers and refugees in Cambodia. We are always at risk of being abducted by this Vietnamese refugee, who is not a genuine refugee but a Vietnamese spy, a Vietnamese secret agent acting in Cambodia on behalf of Vietnamese government and its interests here in Cambodia.
Dear Sir and Madam,
As far as we were concerned, Nguyen Cam Cong is a spy, graduating from the security institute of C 500 in Hanoi in 1987, after graduating from that institute, he was sent to Cambodia to act there. To begin with, he pretended to join the party or Freedom Vietnam, a political factor created by overseas Vietnamese to struggle against the government of communist Vietnam, as a spy, Nguyen Cam Cong and his people arrested most of the members of Freedom Vietnam Party, taking them to detention in Vietnam. After the party of Freedom Vietnam was completely destroyed in Cambodia, Nguyen Cam Cong joined another Vietnamese political party called People Action Party. Again, with his plot against this political opposition party was successful with an oppressing operation in 1996, all the members of the People Action Party were arrested and interdicted to Vietnam to be tortured and detained there. Some of them were tortured to death, some of them were executed and most of them are being detained in various prisons in Vietnam up to now.
In 1999, Nguyen Cam Cong came back to Cambodia with a fake document proving his being released from a prison. With that fake document, he deceived UNHCR staffs in Phnom Penh, as the result he was granted refugee status by UNHCR in Cambodia in the year 2000 and he has resumed his acting as a spy, kidnapping and murdering Vietnamese dissidents who had fled to Cambodia to seek asylum:
In 2002, Nguyen Cong Cam kidnapped Venerable Thich Tri Luc (Aka Pham Van Tuong) UNHCR IC # 610, who had been granted refugee status by UNHCR in Cambodia. Venerable Thich Tri Luc was then taken to Vietnam, where he was sentenced for 20 months imprisonment. In 2003, Nguyen Cam Cong kidnapped HO LONG DUC, who had also been granted refugee status by UNHCR in Cambodia. HO LONG DUC was then taken to Vietnam and was sentenced for 18 years imprisonment. In May 6, 2007 Nguyen Cam Cong kidnapped a young Vietnamese dissident named LE TRI TUE, UNHCR IC # 926 who was an asylum seeker pending to be granted refugee status by UNHCR, LE TRI TUE is still missing up to now and it is widely believed that it was NGUYEN CONG CAM who killed Le Tri Tue, chopping him to pieces and threw his corpse down the river of Mekong from Chba Oeum Peuv Bridge.
No sooner after his kidnapping LE TRI TUE, Nguyen Cam Cong murdered a Khmer Buddhist Monk in a temple at Ta Khmau area since this Buddhist Monk was the leader of demonstrations in front of the embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Phnom Penh condemning the government of Vietnam oppressing religions in Vietnam. In June 2007, Nguyen Cam Cong and his forces kidnapped a Khmer Krom Buddhist Monk, venerable Tim Sakhorn, taking him to detention in Vietnam In June 2006 Nguyen Cam Cong kidnapped Pastor A-DUNG, UNHCR IC # 901, a Montagnard asylum seeker, pending to be granted refugee status by UNHCR in Cambodia and took him to detention in Vietnam. Dear Sir and Madam We could hardly understand why UNHCR in Phnom Penh, Cambodia granted such a dangerous spy and secret agent as Nguyen Cam Cong refugee status so that he could approach other Vietnamese asylum seekers and refugees to harm them. For this reason, I am writing this letter to appeal to FBI for help. Please help us, stop this spy from kidnapping and killing us Vietnamese asylum seekers and refugees.
Tinh_bao Thank you for your co-operation and assistance
THACH NHO (UNHCR IC # 820, Phnom Penh, Cambodia)
PS: Please be informed that in the attachment is the photo of Nguyen Cam Cong in uniform, in the photo, he was just a captain, but after a series of abductions and murdering he has been promoted to be lieutenant General nowadays
Source: http://www.take2tango.com/?display=5800
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
On the Margins: Rights Abuses of Ethnic Khmer in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta
January 21, 2009
Human Rights Watch
This report documents ongoing violations of the rights of the Khmer Krom in southern Vietnam and also abuses in Cambodia against Khmer Krom who have fled there for refuge. Wary about possible Khmer Krom nationalist aspirations, Vietnam has suppressed peaceful expressions of dissent and banned Khmer Krom human rights publications. It also tightly controls the Theravada Buddhism practiced by the Khmer Krom, who see this form of Buddhism as the foundation of their distinct culture and ethnic identity.
Get the Report:
- Download full report (PDF, 2.42 MB)
- Download full report with cover (PDF, 2.69 MB)
- Purchase a printed version of this report
Table of Contents
On the Margins
Map of Mekong Delta Region Provinces, Vietnam
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Crackdown on Protests in the Mekong Delta
IV. Other Rights Problems Faced by Ethnic Khmer in Vietnam
V. Cambodia Cracks Down on Khmer Krom Activists
VI. Recommendations
Acknowledgments
Appendix A: Indictment of the Five Monks[266]
Appendix B: Handwritten Appeals from Khmer Krom in Vietnam
Appendix C: Vietnamese State Press Coverage, Tim Sakhorn
Appendix D: Letter from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to Norodom Sihanouk Regarding Tim Sakhorn
Appendix E: Human Rights Watch Letter to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Appendix F: Vietnamese Embassy's Response to Human Rights Watch
Monday, January 12, 2009
Protests planned by Khmer Krom
Unfair trial of Monk Tim Sakhorn in VietnamMonday, 12 January 2009
Written by Neth Pheaktra
The Phnom Penh Post
KHMER Krom ethnic minority members are planning demonstrations in Cambodia and Vietnam to protest against the detention of former monk Tim Sakhorn by Vietnamese authorities, activists said Sunday.
Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Association's chief executive, Ang Chanrith, said the demonstration would be held in the near future but declined to give a date.
Yoeung Sin of the Khmer Krom Monks Association said he will join the protest, claiming the detention was a violation of human rights. Both activists said they weren't afraid to demonstrate, but will seek permission from the Interior Ministry for the rally.
Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Association's chief executive, Ang Chanrith, said the demonstration would be held in the near future but declined to give a date.
Yoeung Sin of the Khmer Krom Monks Association said he will join the protest, claiming the detention was a violation of human rights. Both activists said they weren't afraid to demonstrate, but will seek permission from the Interior Ministry for the rally.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Former Bikkhu Tim Sakhorn has no more land - A Khmer Poem by Yim Guechsè
Click on the poem to zoom inPoem by Yim Guechsè (on the web at http://kamnapyimguechse.blogspot.com)
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Tim Sakhorn's "Freedom"
Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)Tuesday, July 08, 2008
KKF Seeks Release and Return of Tim Sakhorn to Cambodia
Thu, 2008-07-03
Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) Press Release
Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) Press Release
The Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation, an indigenous organization representing millions of Khmer Krom people in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, as well as Human Rights Watch, a human rights organization are calling for the release and return of Tim Sakhorn to Cambodia without conditions or “probationary detention”.
According a report by Human Rights Watch dated 3 July 2008; Tim Sakhorn was last seen leaving with Vietnamese officials after serving prison on 28 June 2008 and has not been seen since.
Tim Sakhorn, Cambodian citizen and a Buddhist of Khmer Krom descendent was defrocked on 30 June 2007, deported by Cambodian authorities and later imprisoned in Vietnam for helping Khmer Krom people fleeing Vietnam and for advocating human rights.
“Tim Sakhorn’s arrest and deportation were totally unjustified,” Brad Adams said. “He should not have been imprisoned for simply promoting people’s rights or being in contact with an international advocacy organization. Now, ensuring that he is completely free is the priority.” - Extract from Human Rights Watch.
It is feared that Tim Sakhorn may be placed under further house arrest and police surveillance, forced to live a life without basic rights or freedom if no action is done to secure his safe return.
KKF is appealing to all governments and human rights group, including the government of Cambodia to help investigate the whereabouts of Tim Sakhorn and seek his safe return his family and relatives in Cambodia without any restrictions or conditions imposed by Vietnamese authorities.
Yours sincerely,
Thach Ngoc Thach
KKF President
Sources: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/07/02/vietna19244_txt.htm
According a report by Human Rights Watch dated 3 July 2008; Tim Sakhorn was last seen leaving with Vietnamese officials after serving prison on 28 June 2008 and has not been seen since.
Tim Sakhorn, Cambodian citizen and a Buddhist of Khmer Krom descendent was defrocked on 30 June 2007, deported by Cambodian authorities and later imprisoned in Vietnam for helping Khmer Krom people fleeing Vietnam and for advocating human rights.
“Tim Sakhorn’s arrest and deportation were totally unjustified,” Brad Adams said. “He should not have been imprisoned for simply promoting people’s rights or being in contact with an international advocacy organization. Now, ensuring that he is completely free is the priority.” - Extract from Human Rights Watch.
It is feared that Tim Sakhorn may be placed under further house arrest and police surveillance, forced to live a life without basic rights or freedom if no action is done to secure his safe return.
KKF is appealing to all governments and human rights group, including the government of Cambodia to help investigate the whereabouts of Tim Sakhorn and seek his safe return his family and relatives in Cambodia without any restrictions or conditions imposed by Vietnamese authorities.
Yours sincerely,
Thach Ngoc Thach
KKF President
Sources: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/07/02/vietna19244_txt.htm
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The proof of VN and Cambodia enjoying growing judicial cooperation: Monk Tim Sakhorn sent to be jailed in Vietnam by CPP Comrade Tep Vong
Cambodia's CPP Injustice Minister Ang Vong Vathana shook hand with Nguyen Tan Dung (above) while former Monk Tim Sakhorn (below) is still jailed by Vietnam after he was handed over to Vietnam by the subservient CPP regime, under the direct order of CPP Comrade Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong
Vietnam, Cambodia enjoy growing judicial cooperation13/05/2008
VNA
VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung says he was delighted at the increasing development of ties between Vietnam and Cambodia, particularly in judicial cooperation.
The Government leader made the comment while receiving in Hanoi on May 12 Cambodian Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana, who is on a visit to Vietnam from May 1-16.
Cambodian Minister Vathana brief his host of the results of the talks held earlier with his Vietnamese counterpart, Justice Minister Ha Hung Cuong, saying that the two sides vowed to accelerate the signing of a judicial agreement.
PM Dung commended the outcomes of the talks which was aimed at boosting cooperation between the two ministries in matters relating to citizenship, lawyers, exchanges of delegations, experts, legal documents and training.
The PM said he wished the two ministries would continue to share experiences and increase cooperation.
Earlier the same day, judicial ministers of the two countries held talks on cooperation possibilities in law and justice.
While in Vietnam, the Cambodian delegation met leaders of the People’s Supreme Court and the People’s Supreme Procuracy in a move to foster law and judicial cooperation between the two countries.
The delegation also worked with the Hanoi Law University, the Quang Ninh Judicial Academy and Judicial Department to inquire into these establishments’ training models, curricula and development strategy.
The Government leader made the comment while receiving in Hanoi on May 12 Cambodian Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana, who is on a visit to Vietnam from May 1-16.
Cambodian Minister Vathana brief his host of the results of the talks held earlier with his Vietnamese counterpart, Justice Minister Ha Hung Cuong, saying that the two sides vowed to accelerate the signing of a judicial agreement.
PM Dung commended the outcomes of the talks which was aimed at boosting cooperation between the two ministries in matters relating to citizenship, lawyers, exchanges of delegations, experts, legal documents and training.
The PM said he wished the two ministries would continue to share experiences and increase cooperation.
Earlier the same day, judicial ministers of the two countries held talks on cooperation possibilities in law and justice.
While in Vietnam, the Cambodian delegation met leaders of the People’s Supreme Court and the People’s Supreme Procuracy in a move to foster law and judicial cooperation between the two countries.
The delegation also worked with the Hanoi Law University, the Quang Ninh Judicial Academy and Judicial Department to inquire into these establishments’ training models, curricula and development strategy.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Khmer Krom Group Requests Visit to Detained Monk
By Heng Reaksmey, VOA KhmerOriginal report from Phnom Penh
25 April 2008
The Khmer Kampuchea Krom Human Rights Organization has requested from the Vietnamese government permission to see a monk that has been detained since May last year.
Tim Sakhorn, who was defrocked by Cambodia’s Buddhist leadership before his detention, for allegedly fomenting unrest between the countries, was reportedly taken from a Takeo province pagoda and transferred to Vietnam.
Vietnamese authorities have said he was arrested for traveling without proper documentation. He is being held in a prison in An Giang province, officials have said.
Ang Chanrith, executive director of the Khmer Krom advocacy group, said he had written a request to the Vietnamese Embassy to check on Tim Sakhorn’s condition, and to bring him some food.
Vietnamese Embassy officials could not be reached for comment Friday.
Tim Sakhorn, who was defrocked by Cambodia’s Buddhist leadership before his detention, for allegedly fomenting unrest between the countries, was reportedly taken from a Takeo province pagoda and transferred to Vietnam.
Vietnamese authorities have said he was arrested for traveling without proper documentation. He is being held in a prison in An Giang province, officials have said.
Ang Chanrith, executive director of the Khmer Krom advocacy group, said he had written a request to the Vietnamese Embassy to check on Tim Sakhorn’s condition, and to bring him some food.
Vietnamese Embassy officials could not be reached for comment Friday.
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