Showing posts with label Thach Vien. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thach Vien. Show all posts
Monday, July 11, 2011
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
SRP branches plan to form a party union in Europe
SRP party congress in Phnom Penh in 2009 (Photo: SRP)Tuesday 07 September 2010
By Tim Ravy
Free Press Magazine Online
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer
A reliable source indicated that the SRP party in France plans to organize a congress dubbed: “The SRP congress in Europe” which will take place at the end of September. If there is no plan change, this new congress will take place on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 September 2010 in Paris, France, under the leadership of Sam Rainsy. Participants to the congress will include SRP MPs from Phnom Penh, party branch representatives from various countries in Europe and several guests of honor from various associations, as well as various experts.
A source indicated that several representatives from various EU countries, such as Germany, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Italia, have sent in the names of their representatives who will officially attend the party congress. In addition, SRP representatives from various provinces, such as Rhone-Alps, Mulhouse, Grenoble, Montpellier, Marseille, Amiens, Lille, Tour, Troye, Angers etc… will also come to share their work activities with other members of the congress.
The draft of the schedule that we received, the congress organizers have also invited several guests of honor, including:
The SRP is the largest opposition party in Cambodia, it also includes the most numerous party branches overseas. In Europe, the party is represented in almost every single country where Cambodian people reside. Furthermore, in France, the SRP also counts branches in various provinces and in the US and Australia, the SRP counts branches in numerous states and cities. A large portion of the party’s funding comes from contributions received by these party branches from donations from party supporters who are concerned about the situation in Cambodia.
The Human Rights Party (HRP) and the CPP are also trying to exert their influence overseas as well, and these 2 parties are seen as trying to attract away SRP supporters to come to support them. The CPP was able to attract some opposition activists to support them in exchange for [government] positions and money. The people used by the CPP to attract new members are no other than Cambodian embassy officials who abuse their government duty to serve the party interest instead. As for the Funcinpec party which used to have branches overseas also, it does not receive any support anymore, unlike what it used to be. The Nationalist party (formerly the Ranariddh party) does not have any branches at all.
No source can confirm if the congress will announce the alliance of democrats formed from the fusion of the SRP and the HRP, however, HRP party representatives will be invited to attend the congress also. It appears that SRP branch leaders seem to be hesitant to form an alliance with the HRP, however, the final decision will rest with Sam Rainsy and SRP leaders in Phnom Penh only.
A source indicated that several representatives from various EU countries, such as Germany, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Italia, have sent in the names of their representatives who will officially attend the party congress. In addition, SRP representatives from various provinces, such as Rhone-Alps, Mulhouse, Grenoble, Montpellier, Marseille, Amiens, Lille, Tour, Troye, Angers etc… will also come to share their work activities with other members of the congress.
The draft of the schedule that we received, the congress organizers have also invited several guests of honor, including:
- Mr. Sean Pengse, a former government minister and the current president of the Cambodia Borders Committee, will be invited to talk on the current border disputes.
- Mr. Thach Vien, president of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation in Europe (KKFE), will talk about the Khmer Krom people living in Vietnam and the rights violations of the indigenous people.
- Venerable Tim Sakhorn will talk about the sentence handed down on Khmer Krom monks in Cambodia and Vietnam.
- Professor Vandy Kaon and Mr. Sakou Samuth will talk about the fate of Cambodian intellectuals who are currently fighting in the Cambodian political arena.
- Prof. Prum Thuch, a professor at the university of pharmacy in Montpellier, who will talk about: “Are the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements for Cambodia in full application or not?”
- Mr. Pin Yathay, an engineer who penned the book “Your life is precious, son, you must survive”, will talk about the possibility of a union of democrats for Cambodia.
The SRP is the largest opposition party in Cambodia, it also includes the most numerous party branches overseas. In Europe, the party is represented in almost every single country where Cambodian people reside. Furthermore, in France, the SRP also counts branches in various provinces and in the US and Australia, the SRP counts branches in numerous states and cities. A large portion of the party’s funding comes from contributions received by these party branches from donations from party supporters who are concerned about the situation in Cambodia.
The Human Rights Party (HRP) and the CPP are also trying to exert their influence overseas as well, and these 2 parties are seen as trying to attract away SRP supporters to come to support them. The CPP was able to attract some opposition activists to support them in exchange for [government] positions and money. The people used by the CPP to attract new members are no other than Cambodian embassy officials who abuse their government duty to serve the party interest instead. As for the Funcinpec party which used to have branches overseas also, it does not receive any support anymore, unlike what it used to be. The Nationalist party (formerly the Ranariddh party) does not have any branches at all.
No source can confirm if the congress will announce the alliance of democrats formed from the fusion of the SRP and the HRP, however, HRP party representatives will be invited to attend the congress also. It appears that SRP branch leaders seem to be hesitant to form an alliance with the HRP, however, the final decision will rest with Sam Rainsy and SRP leaders in Phnom Penh only.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Cambodians in France [and the surrounding area] met to understand Cambodia’s social problems
14 March 2010
By Moeung Tum
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Komping Puoy
Click here to read the article in Khmer
Hundreds citizens of Cambodian origin living in France met to discuss and seek to understand the major social problems face by Cambodia, as well as trying to help peacefully resolve these issues from afar.
The topic of the meeting is “Seeking the Truth to Defend our Territorial Integrity” and it was held at Wat Buddharaingsey Pagoda on Saturday 13 March 2010, in Lyon, about 500-km south of Paris, France.
Chhit Samlot, the organizer of the event, talked to RFA over the phone about the meeting: “The goal of the meeting is to seek the truth. We want to know about the truth in Cambodia, in particular about oru territorial integrity. We are lucky that Mr. Sam Rainsy, a Cambodian MP, met with Cambodian villagers in [Wat Ang] Romdenh pagoda who were victimized. Sam Rainsy was a live witness, that is why we invited him to explain about the truth. At the same time, we are also lucky to have Mr. Sean Pengse who is an expert and who knows very well about geography, history and maps, to come to explain to us so that we all unite our force to protect our territorial integrity. For this, we all need to understand clearly. This is our goal to set up this meeting.”
The organizers also indicated that two other guests of honor were also invited to explain Cambodia’s social problems: Mr. Thach Vien, President of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation (KKF) in Europe, and Mr. Sok Sophat, SRP President in France. About 200 people attended the meeting.
Chhit Samlot said: “It’s not just people from Lyon or Rhone-Alp region who attended the meeting, there are also people from Austria, Switzerland, as well as from Mulhouse, from Tour, Marseille, Montpelier as well.”
The topic of the meeting is “Seeking the Truth to Defend our Territorial Integrity” and it was held at Wat Buddharaingsey Pagoda on Saturday 13 March 2010, in Lyon, about 500-km south of Paris, France.
Chhit Samlot, the organizer of the event, talked to RFA over the phone about the meeting: “The goal of the meeting is to seek the truth. We want to know about the truth in Cambodia, in particular about oru territorial integrity. We are lucky that Mr. Sam Rainsy, a Cambodian MP, met with Cambodian villagers in [Wat Ang] Romdenh pagoda who were victimized. Sam Rainsy was a live witness, that is why we invited him to explain about the truth. At the same time, we are also lucky to have Mr. Sean Pengse who is an expert and who knows very well about geography, history and maps, to come to explain to us so that we all unite our force to protect our territorial integrity. For this, we all need to understand clearly. This is our goal to set up this meeting.”
The organizers also indicated that two other guests of honor were also invited to explain Cambodia’s social problems: Mr. Thach Vien, President of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation (KKF) in Europe, and Mr. Sok Sophat, SRP President in France. About 200 people attended the meeting.
Chhit Samlot said: “It’s not just people from Lyon or Rhone-Alp region who attended the meeting, there are also people from Austria, Switzerland, as well as from Mulhouse, from Tour, Marseille, Montpelier as well.”
Thursday, March 04, 2010
"Our country or the Yuons' country?" A conference-debate in France
Click on the flyer in Khmer zoom inOur country or the Yuons’ country?
Based on the heated situation in Cambodia today, such as problems related to human rights, border and political situation that involved neighboring countries, we, who are living in the Rhone-Alp region, are inviting all our Compatriots to attend a conference debate which will be held on Saturday 13 March 2010 at the following address:
Special guests to the conference include:
1- Mr. Sam Rainsy, SRP President
2- Mr. Sean Pengse, President of the Cambodia’s Border Committee
3- Mr. Thach Vien, President of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation (KKF) in Europe
4- Mr. Sok Sophat, SRP President in France.
For additional information, please contact:
Wat Buddharaingsey Pagoda
124 Route Nationale
69330 Pusignan
France
Tel. 0472027469
124 Route Nationale
69330 Pusignan
France
Tel. 0472027469
Special guests to the conference include:
1- Mr. Sam Rainsy, SRP President
2- Mr. Sean Pengse, President of the Cambodia’s Border Committee
3- Mr. Thach Vien, President of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation (KKF) in Europe
4- Mr. Sok Sophat, SRP President in France.
Program:
- 10:00AM: Blessing and Buddhist commemoration for our heroes to sacrificed their life for the nation.
- 11:00AM: Meal offering for the monks
- 12:00PM: Lunch
- 12:30PM – 5:00PM: Conference Debate
For additional information, please contact:
- Kim Banha Kunthy
- Kim Sang
- Khuon Naka
- Chan Tuon
- Thai Makara
- Pok Sophal
- Peng Chheang Kunhuor (Tel: 0620888450)
- Mom Bunchhoeun
- Ly Sophal
- Suon Kimnuor (Tel: 0610424304)
- Tan Thy (Tel: 0667503849)
Monday, May 11, 2009
Khmer Krom make themselves heard on the United Nations doorstep [-Good job, KK Brothers and Sisters!]
Place des Nations (Geneva, Switzerland). Vien Thach, president of the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation in Europe, co-organiser of the demonstration attended by Khmer Krom who came from all over the world to make themselves heard (Photo: Laurent Le Gouanvic)09-05-2009
By Laurent le Gouanvic
Ka-set
Coming from Switzerland, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, New Zealand or Australia, among others, over 200 natives of Kampuchea Krom, a region located in the Mekong delta, in Southern Vietnam, and once Cambodian territory, gathered on Friday May 8th in front of the United Nations Palace, in Geneva, Switzerland. The exceptional event was organised by the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) on the occasion of the very first hearing of the Vietnamese government by the United Nations Human Rights Council, under the Universal Periodic Review, a new mechanism meant to assess the human rights situation in each of the 192 member states of the United Nations. Interview, at the heart of the demonstration, with one of the main organisers, the president of the KKF in Europe, Vien Thach, who rejoices at a “historic day”.
On the morning of May 8th, the sky was favourable to the Khmer Krom cause, with an exceptionally sunny day in Geneva, Switzerland, and just enough wind for the blue-yellow-red flags of Kampuchea Krom to flap, along with the banners demanding the “right to self-determination”, “freedom of religion, expression and the press”, and the end of persecutions by Vietnam against “the indigenous Khmer Krom people”. The weather was also ideal to lay out mats on the Place des Nations, just in front of the eponymous palace, and make the demonstration a friendly gathering, with noum pang (sandwiches) being distributed and traditional dance shows. If some bemoaned having had to share the enormous square with another group of demonstrators, Vietnamese also calling for the respect of human rights and freedom of religion in Vietnam, the co-organisers – U.S. president of the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) Thach Thach, his counterpart for the European representation of the KKF Vien Tach, and representatives of NGO UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization) rejoiced that they were able to bring their message to this international stage. Before going to the Palace of Nations, to attend Vietnam's hearing before the Human Rights Council, Vien Thach explained to Ka-set his expectations and the goal of the demonstration.
Ka-set: What are the violations of Khmer Krom's human rights you want to denounce with the United Nations?
Vien Thach: To give you the gist: First, the persecutions against Khmer Theravada Buddhism [practised by Khmer Krom as well as in Cambodia, Thailand and Laos most notably]; secondly, the grabbing of land belonging to Khmer Krom farmers; and thirdly, the falsification of Khmer Krom history by Vietnam. Our goal is to raise awareness in the international public on these issues and support the NGOs who support us, such as Human Rights Watch, whose [January 2009 report http://cambodia.ka-set.info/powers/news-hrw-human-rights-watch-khmer-krom-vietnam-090122.html Ka-set: Vietnam: Human Rights Watch analysts denounce violations of Khmer Krom rights] on Vietnam focuses largely on this issue.
K7: What do you mean by “falsification of history”?
VT: The Vietnamese government refuses to acknowledge that we are an indigenous people in this territory. They write in official documents and manuals that we are refugees who came from Cambodia and settled in Vietnam, whereas we have been there and occupied these lands for a long time, even before the Vietnamese. The Khmer Krom are indigenous people. You must not forget that 21 provinces in Southern Vietnam actually used to be Khmer territory. But in 1949, France gave our territory to Vietnam instead of returning it to Cambodia. From then on, we have been persecuted because Vietnam has a culture that is very different from ours, different religious practices... We have a lot of trouble living with the Vietnamese.
K7: The demonstrators gathered today live in Europe, North America, Australia or New Zealand... Where does the information you report on persecutions and human rights violations against Khmer Krom come from?
VT: Our correspondents, compatriots who live there [Editor's note: in the Mekong delta], communicate information to us. That is one of the reasons why Vietnam does not dare to do us as much harm now. They have signed international human rights conventions, but that was first to receive money from donors... Until 2001, the Vietnamese government was not concerned in the least about Khmer Krom's fate. But the community of Khmer Krom throughout the world asked the international community to react and help these poor populations.
K7: Then, are you hoping to attract the attention of Vietnam's donors by demonstrating on the Place des Nations?
VT: Yes. Governments giving aid to Vietnam as well as international institutions, like the World Bank, must pressure the government of Hanoi. We are pursuing our efforts in that direction. The European Parliament, for instance, knows the situation quite well now. The deputies have even voted with a very large majority to condemn human rights violations in Vietnam.
K7: You have mentioned the period when Kampuchea Krom was officially part of Cambodia. This historic reference features heavily on the banners and signs brandished during this demonstration. Does that mean you are hoping for this region to be integrated back to Cambodia?
VT: No, that is not really the issue today. Cambodia has never supported us. So, we want to manage by ourselves. Khmer Krom monk Tim Sakhorn, although he was the head of a pagoda, had taken refuge in Cambodia... And the Cambodian government defrocked him and sent him back to Vietnam, while it is absolutely contrary to the Cambodian Constitution to extradite a compatriot. We do not count on Cambodia. Our fellow citizens cannot take refuge in Cambodia without fearing to be sent back to Vietnam, to the police, in the conditions you can imagine...
K7: Would you be ready to call for the independence of Kampuchea Krom?
VT: It is a very important question. But there are still many things to do before thinking about it. We do not want to get ahead of ourselves. Our compatriots are poor and most of them live in the countryside. First, we have to give them education, improve their living conditions, ensure that they know human rights.
-----------------------------
The Universal Periodic Review
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a new mechanism established in 2006 with the creation of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The UPR is meant to review the human rights situation in the 192 member states of the United Nations every four years. The ongoing process, under which Vietnam is currently being reviewed, is scheduled for completion by 2011. Ultimately, the goal is to equip the Human Rights Council with a universal mechanism recognised by member states, which will give it extra weight to enforce respect for human rights.
On the morning of May 8th, the sky was favourable to the Khmer Krom cause, with an exceptionally sunny day in Geneva, Switzerland, and just enough wind for the blue-yellow-red flags of Kampuchea Krom to flap, along with the banners demanding the “right to self-determination”, “freedom of religion, expression and the press”, and the end of persecutions by Vietnam against “the indigenous Khmer Krom people”. The weather was also ideal to lay out mats on the Place des Nations, just in front of the eponymous palace, and make the demonstration a friendly gathering, with noum pang (sandwiches) being distributed and traditional dance shows. If some bemoaned having had to share the enormous square with another group of demonstrators, Vietnamese also calling for the respect of human rights and freedom of religion in Vietnam, the co-organisers – U.S. president of the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) Thach Thach, his counterpart for the European representation of the KKF Vien Tach, and representatives of NGO UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization) rejoiced that they were able to bring their message to this international stage. Before going to the Palace of Nations, to attend Vietnam's hearing before the Human Rights Council, Vien Thach explained to Ka-set his expectations and the goal of the demonstration.
Ka-set: What are the violations of Khmer Krom's human rights you want to denounce with the United Nations?
Vien Thach: To give you the gist: First, the persecutions against Khmer Theravada Buddhism [practised by Khmer Krom as well as in Cambodia, Thailand and Laos most notably]; secondly, the grabbing of land belonging to Khmer Krom farmers; and thirdly, the falsification of Khmer Krom history by Vietnam. Our goal is to raise awareness in the international public on these issues and support the NGOs who support us, such as Human Rights Watch, whose [January 2009 report http://cambodia.ka-set.info/powers/news-hrw-human-rights-watch-khmer-krom-vietnam-090122.html Ka-set: Vietnam: Human Rights Watch analysts denounce violations of Khmer Krom rights] on Vietnam focuses largely on this issue.
K7: What do you mean by “falsification of history”?
VT: The Vietnamese government refuses to acknowledge that we are an indigenous people in this territory. They write in official documents and manuals that we are refugees who came from Cambodia and settled in Vietnam, whereas we have been there and occupied these lands for a long time, even before the Vietnamese. The Khmer Krom are indigenous people. You must not forget that 21 provinces in Southern Vietnam actually used to be Khmer territory. But in 1949, France gave our territory to Vietnam instead of returning it to Cambodia. From then on, we have been persecuted because Vietnam has a culture that is very different from ours, different religious practices... We have a lot of trouble living with the Vietnamese.
K7: The demonstrators gathered today live in Europe, North America, Australia or New Zealand... Where does the information you report on persecutions and human rights violations against Khmer Krom come from?
VT: Our correspondents, compatriots who live there [Editor's note: in the Mekong delta], communicate information to us. That is one of the reasons why Vietnam does not dare to do us as much harm now. They have signed international human rights conventions, but that was first to receive money from donors... Until 2001, the Vietnamese government was not concerned in the least about Khmer Krom's fate. But the community of Khmer Krom throughout the world asked the international community to react and help these poor populations.
K7: Then, are you hoping to attract the attention of Vietnam's donors by demonstrating on the Place des Nations?
VT: Yes. Governments giving aid to Vietnam as well as international institutions, like the World Bank, must pressure the government of Hanoi. We are pursuing our efforts in that direction. The European Parliament, for instance, knows the situation quite well now. The deputies have even voted with a very large majority to condemn human rights violations in Vietnam.
K7: You have mentioned the period when Kampuchea Krom was officially part of Cambodia. This historic reference features heavily on the banners and signs brandished during this demonstration. Does that mean you are hoping for this region to be integrated back to Cambodia?
VT: No, that is not really the issue today. Cambodia has never supported us. So, we want to manage by ourselves. Khmer Krom monk Tim Sakhorn, although he was the head of a pagoda, had taken refuge in Cambodia... And the Cambodian government defrocked him and sent him back to Vietnam, while it is absolutely contrary to the Cambodian Constitution to extradite a compatriot. We do not count on Cambodia. Our fellow citizens cannot take refuge in Cambodia without fearing to be sent back to Vietnam, to the police, in the conditions you can imagine...
K7: Would you be ready to call for the independence of Kampuchea Krom?
VT: It is a very important question. But there are still many things to do before thinking about it. We do not want to get ahead of ourselves. Our compatriots are poor and most of them live in the countryside. First, we have to give them education, improve their living conditions, ensure that they know human rights.
-----------------------------
The Universal Periodic Review
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a new mechanism established in 2006 with the creation of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The UPR is meant to review the human rights situation in the 192 member states of the United Nations every four years. The ongoing process, under which Vietnam is currently being reviewed, is scheduled for completion by 2011. Ultimately, the goal is to equip the Human Rights Council with a universal mechanism recognised by member states, which will give it extra weight to enforce respect for human rights.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Khmer Krom in Europe are demonstrating in Geneva
24 September 2007
By Sam Borin
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
By Sam Borin
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The leader of the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom community in Europe, along with about 400 Khmer Krom and Cambodian people coming from various countries and who are representing their respective groups in different European countries, held a demonstration against Vietnam in Geneva for 5 hours on Sunday, from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, Cambodia time.
Thach Vien, the Vice-President of the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) in Europe, indicated that in addition to the Khmer Krom and Cambodian people, there are about 100 other foreign activists members of the UNPO who have also participated in the demonstration.
Thach Ngoc Thach, KKF Worldwide President, who is scheduled to meet with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights tomorrow, indicated that he will raise the issue of rights violation against a number of Khmer Krom people (in Vietnam), as well as the violations of Khmer Krom people’s rights in Cambodia and in Thailand.
Thach Vien, the Vice-President of the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) in Europe, indicated that in addition to the Khmer Krom and Cambodian people, there are about 100 other foreign activists members of the UNPO who have also participated in the demonstration.
Thach Ngoc Thach, KKF Worldwide President, who is scheduled to meet with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights tomorrow, indicated that he will raise the issue of rights violation against a number of Khmer Krom people (in Vietnam), as well as the violations of Khmer Krom people’s rights in Cambodia and in Thailand.
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