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I would like to share the activities at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 2011. The link below is a broadcast of World Khmer Radio regarding our KKF and KKFYC at the UN in New York City, New York. I know some of you who listen to WRK daily already listen to the broadcast on 5/27/2011 but the youtube link shows interesting pictures before, during and after the UNPFII.
Members of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation and the general Khmer community in Philadelphia, USA are today celebrating the arrival of Khmer Krom latest heroes and human rights activists, Tim Sakhorn, Danh Ton and Kim Mouen.
On 8th February 2007, two hundred Khmer Krom Buddhist monks from Khleang (renamed Soc Trang) conducted a peaceful demonstration demanding religious freedom. Five monks, amongst them Danh Tol and Kim Mouen were forced to disrobed by Vietnamese authorities and sent to prison for 2 to 5 years.
Nabbed as the “Khmer Krom hero that rose from the delta”, Tim Sakhorn was a Khmer ‐Krom Buddhist monk and also an Abbot of North Phnom‐Denh temple in Phnom‐Denh village, Karivong District, Takeo province, Cambodia. On June 2007, he was defrocked and then deported to Vietnam by the Cambodian government for an alleged crime of undermining the relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia.
In 2009, Kim Moeun and Danh Ton fled Vietnam after being released from prison and made the perilous journey through Cambodia to Thailand seeking asylum. When Tim Sakhorn was allowed to visit Cambodia for his mother’s funeral in April, 2009, he too fled to Thailand on a motorbike. They were accepted by the Sweden government later the same year.
Today, they are celebrating their survival and sharing their stories to the world. The former monks are expected to attend the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues this coming week, travel to Washington DC and visit Khmer and Khmer Krom community around the USA to testify against the Vietnam government and tell the world the reality in Kampuchea-Krom.
Somalin Thach’s emotional speech at the UNPFII attracts the attention to Khmer Krom plight
29 May 2009 By San Suwith Radio Free Asia Translated from Khmer by Socheata
In a speech given at the forum for Indigenous People held at the UN headquarters in New York City yesterday, a Khmer Krom woman indicated that all that Khmer Krom people want is to be able to live with their Khmer identity preserved and be able to practice their cultural Khmer heritage.
Somalin Thach, a representative of the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF), broke down with emotion during her speech given at the United Nation of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in New York yesterday, while reminiscing about her parents’ flight from Kampuchea Krom (current South Vietnam) because of the discrimination of Khmer Krom people by the Hanoi regime, and also because of their unique Khmer cultural heritage.
Somalin Thach told the audience, that in her name as a Khmer Krom people, her hope is to live in her homeland and to practice her unique cultural heritage. It was time for Viet Nam to move beyond preventing her people from speaking at this Forum. She declared: “I want nothing more but to live in my homeland, as my ancestors have been speaking our indigenous language and practicing our cultural heritage. Madam Chair, we strongly believe that it is time that Vietnam move beyond the denial of our rights to speak at this permanent forum and put into practice our rights to freedom of expression as guaranteed by the very own constitution of the UN…”
RFA was not able to obtain Ms. Somalin Thach’s comment on her speech because she is currently flying back to her home in Seattle, Washington.
Nevertheless, Mr. Thach Ngoc Thach, KKF executive director who is still leading the Khmer Krom delegation in the meeting in New York, indicated that Ms. Somalin Thach’s speech caught the attention of the foreign forum participants.
Mr. Thach Ngoc Thach said: “The chairwoman of the forum was attracted [by the speech] and she shared Khmer Krom sufferings. She said that the identity of each nationality is very important around the world, and this is the reason why security of indigenous people is protected here. Furthermore, we noted that a number of countries also got the attention and they came to shake hand and encourage Ms. Somalin Thach, even NGOs came to ask for copies of her speech. Therefore, I am calling on all Khmer Krom people who live outside of the country, as well as all Khmer Krom people who now live in countries with freedom, to join in. Only us who live overseas have a voice to represent our voiceless people who are victimized both in Kampuchea Krom and in Cambodia.”
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Discuss Ways to More Effectively Promote Countries Implementation of Declaration on Rights
Delegates Underscore Need for National Governments to Protect People over Profits
Monday 28 April 2008
ROMY THACH, speaking for the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation and the Montagnard Foundation, said the district of Svay Tong in the province of Mouat Chrouk had recently been the scene of acts of terror targeting indigenous peoples. Even as the target date for achieving the Millennium Development Goals approached, the rights of Viet Nam’s indigenous peoples were being neglected. Viet Nam must realize that the implementation of the Declaration was imperative if the Goals were to be achieved. The Permanent Forum should lead a collaborative initiative that would include exact deadlines to foster Viet Nam’s recognition of indigenous peoples such as the Khmer Krom and the Montagnards. The Forum should insist that Viet Nam, as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, cooperate more fully with United Nations human rights mechanisms. It should also address inquiries by the United Nations special rapporteurs on issues of religious intolerance, torture, indigenous peoples and arbitrary detention.
PHAM HAI ANH ( Viet Nam) said his delegation respected the work of the Permanent Forum and had participated actively in its work by providing all relevant information about its efforts to achieve equality of life for every citizen. However, the Forum’s work should be based on accurate and credible information. Unfortunately, it had not always been provided with that type of information. Viet Nam strongly rejected the participation of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation and the Montagnard Foundation, both of which operated outside Viet Nam and pursued a separatist agenda. Their participation wasted precious time that could be better spent helping indigenous peoples around the world. Viet Nam also strongly supported implementation of the Millennium Development Goals in the Montagnard districts and the United Nations had recognized its work in doing so.
In response, the Chairperson stressed the reality that some indigenous peoples were in exile from their countries, and suggested that the Special Rapporteur investigate that situation as the Permanent Forum lacked the capacity to do so at present. The Chair welcomed, however, the rights of individual countries to appear before the Forum to raise issues about the veracity of any statement or report. That was, of course, part of the important dialogue on the situation of indigenous peoples, which was the role and entire point of the Forum.
Closing Statement
RODOLFO STAVENHAGEN, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, expressed solidarity with and best wishes for success to his successor, James Anaya, noting that the intense activity brought to the Forum’s dialogue would bear fruit for the indigenous peoples of the world. The mechanisms of United Nations agencies, including the Forum, the office of the Special Rapporteur and the Human Rights Council, would be more effectively used to promote the rights of indigenous communities.
One of the most important mechanisms that could be employed to that end would be the presentation of complaints, accusations and statements about the situation of indigenous peoples, he said. Without that opportunity, the international community had no way of really finding out what was going on. There were too many filters that did not allow such information to circulate. Both in the Forum and in the Human Rights Council, when some Government delegations were directly confronted with an accusation, they completely rejected the groups making the accusations. Nonetheless, the Forum was a place where those types of groups could meet together.
He said that, over the years, he had sent out more than 200 communiqués to different Governments on the basis of documents, complaints and statements. Unfortunately, some Governments had not responded, while others had simply stated that they had received the information. Very few investigated each situation and complaint, much less dealt with them. While the Forum and the Office of the Special Rapporteur were not legal mechanisms, they provided opportunities for dialogue. It was to be hoped that the Forum would continue to be a place to meet and discuss the issues of indigenous populations, perhaps becoming a joint quest for a solution to the problems raised.
Concluding today’s dialogue, the Chair thanked Mr. Stavenhagen for his service as Special Rapporteur and offered best wishes to his successor, Mr. Anaya, while also thanking Mr. Littlechild and Ms. Nicolaisen for their active involvement in preparing the documents for the current session. Mr. Littlechild presented a token of appreciation to Mr. Stavenhagen in the form of a traditional vest from the Cree Nation.
United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Seventh Session Thursday, April 25, 2008 Speaker: Sothy Kien Collective Statement by Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation and the Montagnard Foundation
Madame Chair,
We would like to say thank you to Vietnam and the other countries for taking the positive step of supporting the 13 September 2007 adoption of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. However, unlike many of our indigenous Native American and Native Canadian brothers and sisters, our people from Asia are not recognized at all.
We believe unless such recognition occurs, our people will continue to be denied our basic fundamental freedoms as guaranteed under the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples. Already our rights are not realized. Future work will become irrelevant at the international level and for each individual Khmer if we are not recognized.
Taking advantage of the recent adoption of the UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples, we would like to request the help the Permanent Forum and governments around the world to help set up an appropriate timeframe for which countries who has not yet recognized its indigenous people to do so. The adoption must not only be superficial but substantive in the daily lives of indigenous peoples.
During Human Rights Council meeting last March, Vietnam announced that it was ready for human rights dialogue. For the last four years, we have affirmed the need of an open dialogue between Vietnam and the KKF on human rights at the Permanent Forum. Let us make a historic moment and start a human rights dialogue here today.
We would to contribute the following recommendation to the Permanent Forum in regards to this item:
• Request the aid of the Permanent Forum to set up an open dialogue between Vietnam and KKF during a session on the Permanent Forum.
• Through such interactions, we can begin to look at ways in which we can initiate the process of recognizing the Khmer Krom people and the Montagnard as indigenous peoples and explore effective mechanisms to ensure that they are included in free and informed decision making processes affecting Khmer communities.
• Ask that Vietnam provides a detailed summary of specific policies or programs targeting Indigenous Peoples that are currently taking place or proposed in their Five Year Socio-Economic Development Plan.
• That a national education campaign is established in Khmer language about the MDGs as well as international human rights instruments such as CEDAW, so our Khmer-Krom people are aware of their basic rights and able to be active participants.
• That the consultation and implementation of such national plans are conducted under the principles of free, prior and informed consent with indigenous groups and local people to ensure that such programs do not destroy the ancestral lands and compromise our traditions
• Request that the aid from the World Bank and IMF to allocate specific funds donated to Vietnam to create vocational programs in the local areas where millions of the indigenous Khmer Krom people who are living in the Mekong Delta.
• Ask that Vietnam work in close collaboration in genuine partnership with specialized agencies and KKF and the Montagnard Foundation to meet mutual objectives.
• Seek a reversal of current trend of urbanization and Vietnamization. KKF ask that victims of the State’s failure or disastrous projects that result in contaminating land be immediately compensated to provide the basic living essentials and to halt the influx of Khmer Krom people being forced to move to other provinces to find employment.
• Request the aid of FAO, ILO and Vietnam to help provide employment opportunities for many local Khmer Krom people who are now finding themselves landless as result of land confiscation by corporations and the country of Vietnam.
• Ask that all special inter-agencies be open to workshops in Kampuchea Krom and where our people live in large diaspora around the world to allow for more effective partnership from indigenous organizations about policies and programs taking place in our homelands
• Ask that Vietnam allows independent organizations to be formed to enable further social and cultural development of indigenous peoples.
• Ask for projects that will integrate the indigenous peoples into mainstream society be culturally appropriate and sensitive to their distinctive culture without eroding their sense of identity.
• While Vietnam is recognized as Asia’s second fastest growing economy in recent years with GDP annually increasing over 8% and making 138.6 Billion USD in 2005, the rural areas where Khmer Krom people are living, does not have a proportional share of Vietnam’s social and economic progress. The KKF remain behind as we are deemed backward by the Vietnam government. We demand to be equal partners for the economic and social development of our homeland.
We are particularly concern that the MDGs for indigenous peoples will not be met if Vietnam continues to undermine the positive contribution of our work at the Permanent Forum.
Wednesday 30th April 2008 - Mrs. Somalin Thach's intervention on Vietnam government speech at the Seventh Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
In response to joint statement made by Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) and the Montagnard Foundation, Permanent Mission of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam representative has given a speech to the Permanent Forum on Monday 28th April 2008 during the special item on Human rights: dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people and other special rapporteurs.
“The work of the PFII should be based on accurate information. Unfortunately, it has not been provided,” stated the Vietnam government representative.
“We strongly object to the participation of the KKF who are based outside Vietnam and try to claim representation. The information provided cannot be seen as objective and relevant.”
“The participation [of KKF and the Montagnard Foundation] only creates distraction that could have been offered to indigenous peoples around the world, PFII members,” says Vietnam government representative.
For over 4 years, Vietnam government has reaffirmed that KKF and the Montagnard Foundation should not be given the right to speak about Vietnam, claiming that the above indigenous organisation bring false information to the Permanent Forum.
This year, Vietnam states that such organisations are only creating a distraction to the Permanent Members.
If KKF does not bring the issue of Khmer Krom to the Permanent Forum, will Vietnam really do so?
Full speech by Vietnam representative is currently unavailable. It does not openly distribute its statement like most democratic governments however; KKN will endeavour to obtain the full speech in the next few days.
On Thursday 24th April 2008, Miss. Sothy Kien representative of the Khmers Kampuchea Krom Federation gave a speech to the members of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
“We would like to say thank you to Vietnam and the other countries for taking the positive step of supporting the 13 September 2007 adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights,” she began.
“However unlike many of our indigenous Native American and Native Canadian brothers and sisters, our people from Asia are not recognized at all.”
She reaffirmed the need of recognition for the Khmer Krom people of the Mekong Delta by the government of Vietnam otherwise the indigenous peoples will continue to be denied the basic fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
“We request the help of the Permanent Forum and governments around the world to help set up an appropriate time for which countries who has not yet recognized its indigenous people to do so.”
During the Human Rights Council meeting in March 2008, Vietnam announced it was right for human rights dialogue
In the past four years, members of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation reaffirmed the need for such a dialogue at the Permanent Forum.
“Let us make a historic moment and start a human rights dialogue today.”
Vietnam has yet to make a response statement to the request of KKF.
The conference will continue next week focusing on human rights dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples and other special Rapporteur as well as ongoing priorities and themes and follow up.
An annual conference attracting over 3000 participants, it provides an opportunity for indigenous peoples, non government organizations (NGOs) and government to make constructive dialogue in regards to indigenous issues.
Indigenous peoples, interagencies and governments meet to discuss indigenous issues
Khmer Krom youth work with Dr. Cooper at United Nations Headquarters
Friday, May 18 2007 Khmer Krom Network
Over twenty delegations from the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation are currently attending the Sixth Session on the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
The Permanent Forum was officially opened on Monday 14th May 2007 with over 2,500 indigenous peoples representatives, inter-agencies as well as governments across the world attending.
The Permanent Forum provides a unique opportunity for members of the KKF to bring the issues of Khmer Krom and have dialogue with world experts, agencies and governments including Vietnam.
Participating for the fourth time for this year, the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation delegation and issues relating to Khmer Krom are widely known amongst the participants of the Forum.
Members of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation Youth Committee have also gathered in full force in New York City to prepare and give speeches to the Permanent Forum.
