Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Community criticizes the Vietnamese embassy27 August 2007
By San Suwith Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Community (KKKC) issued a statement in reply to the press conference conducted the Vietnamese embassy last Friday, in which, the Vietnamese ambassador to Cambodia claimed that Monk Tim Sakhorn, the former abbot of the Phnom Den north pagoda, was jailed in Vietnam because he undermined the religion between the two countries.
In its statement issued on Monday, Thach Setha, KKKC director, considered the declaration made by Nguyen Chien Thang, the ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Cambodia, does not reflect the truth, and that the latter does not dare accept the responsibility of the Vietnamese (oppression) actions perpetrated against Khmer Krom people and monks.
Thach Setha said also the undermining or the rupture of the Khmer Buddhism relationships between Cambodia and Kampuchea Krom, was not perpetrated by former Monk Tim Sakhorn, but that it was through the action perpetrated by the Vietnamese colonialist regime which must bear the responsibility, for example, in the closing of the branch of the Buddhism Institute located in Khleang village (Soc Trang in Vietnamese) until now.
On Monday also, Phnom Penh SRP MP Son Chhay sent a letter to Nguyen Chien Thang requesting a working meeting with him, and an authorization to personally meet with Monk Tim Sakhorn who was defrocked by force, and recently sent to Vietnam.
Son Chhay demanded that the Vietnamese ambassador provides him and a number of his colleagues the ability to visit Monk Tim Sakhorn, and allow him to visit on his own the actual living condition of the million of Khmer (Krom ) people. Son Chhay said that he is concerned that Monk Tim Sakhorn is being tortured or killed while in jail.
In its statement issued on Monday, Thach Setha, KKKC director, considered the declaration made by Nguyen Chien Thang, the ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Cambodia, does not reflect the truth, and that the latter does not dare accept the responsibility of the Vietnamese (oppression) actions perpetrated against Khmer Krom people and monks.
Thach Setha said also the undermining or the rupture of the Khmer Buddhism relationships between Cambodia and Kampuchea Krom, was not perpetrated by former Monk Tim Sakhorn, but that it was through the action perpetrated by the Vietnamese colonialist regime which must bear the responsibility, for example, in the closing of the branch of the Buddhism Institute located in Khleang village (Soc Trang in Vietnamese) until now.
On Monday also, Phnom Penh SRP MP Son Chhay sent a letter to Nguyen Chien Thang requesting a working meeting with him, and an authorization to personally meet with Monk Tim Sakhorn who was defrocked by force, and recently sent to Vietnam.
Son Chhay demanded that the Vietnamese ambassador provides him and a number of his colleagues the ability to visit Monk Tim Sakhorn, and allow him to visit on his own the actual living condition of the million of Khmer (Krom ) people. Son Chhay said that he is concerned that Monk Tim Sakhorn is being tortured or killed while in jail.
