20 Oct 07By Thach Yat
Samleng Yuveakchon KhmerTranslated from Khmer and Posted onlineA Khmer Krom [Cambodian in southern Vietnam] association called the Khmer Krom Coordinating Committee [KKCC] announced that it would work shoulder-to-shoulder with the Cambodian People's Party [CPP] and the ceremony welcoming it into the CPP would be held at the end of this month. Kim Van-chheng, the association's chairman, said that four other Khmer Krom associations and organizations also would join the CPP and that hundreds of Khmer Krom people have supported this decision.
He praised the CPP for being a party with good leadership, disparaged other parties, and said that he hope the CPP would become a sanctuary for other Khmer Krom people.
"With The top leadership of the CPP allowing our organizations and associations to become its members we hope that our joining the CPP would give our Khmer Krom brethren living in the provinces and cities throughout Cambodia greater warmth and more assurances," he said.
CPP senior official Khieu Kanharith welcomed this pieced of good news and reiterated the stance of the CPP, which is not to exploit the Khmer Krom people like other parties. "If those who want votes by undermining the Khmer in Kampuchea Krom [former Khmer territory in southern Vietnam] or the Khmer in Thailand, then let them be. The CPP does not have that kind of idea. To the CPP, Khmer are Khmer. We do not seek votes through the sufferings of follow Khmer either in Kampuchea Krom or in Thailand," said Khieu Kanharith.
The KKCC's giving up its status as an independent association in order to merge with a political party, according to Khmer Krom Community leader Thach Settha, was only for personal gains. This act has set a bad precedent for other organizations and associations, which are making demands to the Vietnamese authorities without having to become political entities.
"This association conducted activities against the others to these days. That is why it joins those who have persecuted us, meaning that it supports those who have been against us. This is a regrettable occurrence for our Khmer Krom brethren. It is something that betrays the cause that we are fighting for in defense of the Khmer Krom interests," he said.
It should be noted that the KKCC in the past used to join other Khmer Krom associations in denouncing and criticizing the Cambodian Government headed by the CPP for ignoring the Khmer Krom issue, such as the case about the deportation of Khmer Krom monk Tim Sakhorn to be jailed in Vietnam. Now, this association has instead turned toward the CPP.
Concerning the KKCC's support for the CPP, Executive Director of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation in the world, Thach Ngoc Thach, appealed to the leader of the KKCC to resign from his post since he has become a political party member.
"I would like to appeal to the chairmen of the 12 associations in Cambodia, in particular to Kim Van-chheng, who used to appeal to other people to reconsider. Now I do not want him to reconsider but I ask him in private that since he has joined a political party he should resign from the post of chairman of an NGO so that he would not confuse other Khmer Krom brethren and those in other associations. This, in the long run, could only cause conflict among the Khmer Krom and the benefit would go to the Vietnamese. If you join the CPP you should properly respect regulations. You said you want to help, but help what? Even the CPP has not been able to help bring Guru Tim Sakhorn back to Cambodia. You said you want to help but what else can you help?"
