Son Chen Chon before (L) and after (R) he was forced to defrock by the Communist regime of Vietnam (Photo: Khmer Krom Network)Note: Son Chen Chon is currently seeking refuge in Cambodia. If you would like to send words of encouragement or help him please send your email to:
help@khmerkrom.org
help@khmerkrom.org
October 11th, 2007
By Sothy Kien
Khmer Krom Network Editor
As one reads through the report of Mr. Chon Son’s report, one cannot help but be broken hearted to see what he has gone through at the hands of the Vietnamese government.
At the United Nations Permanent Forum every year, Vietnam government representatives claim that all is well in the Mekong Delta. Like a series of missionary statements, their document to the Permanent Member describes the Khmer Krom as people who are more privileged than most others, receiving all the benefits of medical aid, health care and education.
And yet, testimonies by the victims of the oppression describe a more compelling and realistic reality which is disturbing different that the one that Vietnam attempts to portray to the outside world.
Is no news good news? With a one party communist system, Vietnam has attempted to use it power to control all media output. Even reports by independent journalist are rare and between and the struggle and oppression of Khmer Krom barely audible to the international community.
The Khmer Krom websites are blocked inside of Vietnam, access only by government officials from Hanoi. Daily reports from Radio Free Asia and Voice of America are prohibited, forcing thousands to listen secretly. Newsletter and detailing the human rights activities of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation are forbidden. If a monk is apprehended in possession of these articles, they will be disrobed and imprisoned. At least five Khmer Krom Buddhist monks are a prime example of that consequence.
Why is the Vietnam government denying these human rights oppression allegations?
Is it merely because it does actually believe that such things are not happening in Vietnam?
Is the fear of international attention forcing it to dig further into bed of lies by forcing Venerable Tim Sakhorn to admit to something that he did not do?
Is it merely playing dumb and wants to see if the international community has any real power to help these human rights activists?
Why has Vietnam not established a human rights organisation? Is it because there is so much violation that it would rather deny than accept the real issues?
With all the international attention now focused on former monk, Tim Sakhorn, Vietnam is resorting to its old tactics of using Khmer people against one another. Tim Sakhorn was supposedly an issue of Cambodia, why is Vietnam imprisoning him?
Why did Vietnam pay a visit to Cambodia last week and finally a late letter comes out from the Hun Sen government?
Working together to make life difficult for the Khmer Krom and to dampen any human rights activities is the sole purpose of the both countries.
With all the media attention on statements by Cambodian authorities and Vietnamese officials for the last fourth months, where is Tim Sakhorn’s say in all this?
At the United Nations Permanent Forum every year, Vietnam government representatives claim that all is well in the Mekong Delta. Like a series of missionary statements, their document to the Permanent Member describes the Khmer Krom as people who are more privileged than most others, receiving all the benefits of medical aid, health care and education.
And yet, testimonies by the victims of the oppression describe a more compelling and realistic reality which is disturbing different that the one that Vietnam attempts to portray to the outside world.
Is no news good news? With a one party communist system, Vietnam has attempted to use it power to control all media output. Even reports by independent journalist are rare and between and the struggle and oppression of Khmer Krom barely audible to the international community.
The Khmer Krom websites are blocked inside of Vietnam, access only by government officials from Hanoi. Daily reports from Radio Free Asia and Voice of America are prohibited, forcing thousands to listen secretly. Newsletter and detailing the human rights activities of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation are forbidden. If a monk is apprehended in possession of these articles, they will be disrobed and imprisoned. At least five Khmer Krom Buddhist monks are a prime example of that consequence.
Why is the Vietnam government denying these human rights oppression allegations?
Is it merely because it does actually believe that such things are not happening in Vietnam?
Is the fear of international attention forcing it to dig further into bed of lies by forcing Venerable Tim Sakhorn to admit to something that he did not do?
Is it merely playing dumb and wants to see if the international community has any real power to help these human rights activists?
Why has Vietnam not established a human rights organisation? Is it because there is so much violation that it would rather deny than accept the real issues?
With all the international attention now focused on former monk, Tim Sakhorn, Vietnam is resorting to its old tactics of using Khmer people against one another. Tim Sakhorn was supposedly an issue of Cambodia, why is Vietnam imprisoning him?
Why did Vietnam pay a visit to Cambodia last week and finally a late letter comes out from the Hun Sen government?
Working together to make life difficult for the Khmer Krom and to dampen any human rights activities is the sole purpose of the both countries.
With all the media attention on statements by Cambodian authorities and Vietnamese officials for the last fourth months, where is Tim Sakhorn’s say in all this?
