Reclining Buddha newly built in Preah Trapeang (renamed Tra Vinh) province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam
An ID Card given to Khmer Krom Buddhist monks stating that they had no religion (Eliminated Without Bleeding)Khmer Krom Network
As millions of Buddhist followers and practising Buddhist gear up for the celebration of Vesak Day, six former Khmer Krom Buddhist monks, savagely defrocked by Vietnam authorities sit in a dark cell, forgotten by the world.
Vietnam often boasts that it is a country that celebrates diversity; in fact it claims to have over 53 ethnic groups within its borders.
Every time that it attends a UN conference, Vietnam maintains that it respects all people regardless of its ethnic background and that their rights are guaranteed under its constitution.
Vietnam may be convincing the world but for the indigenous Khmer Krom people of the Mekong Delta and the indigenous peoples of Central Highlands, the Montagnard, they are no where near convinced.
In fact, if one digs beyond Vietnam’s first line of defence which reassures the world that everything is fine, one will start to see a governmental system that only works for its ethnic Kinh.
This year, Vietnam was granted the right to host the United Nations Day of Vesak on its soil between 13 May and 17 May 2008.
Vesak Day is an annual event to celebrate the birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautama Buddha by practising Buddhists.
The Mekong Delta of Vietnam, referred as Kampuchea-Krom by the indigenous Khmer Krom is home to over 25, 000 Theravada Buddhist monks.
Ironically, Vesak Day is not hosted on these very lands where over 450 temples are erected in respect for Buddhism but in a place where there are little respect for Buddhism or practising Buddhist monks.
Vietnam’s disrespect for Theravada Buddhism is well known especially in the recent case of the Khmer Krom Buddhist monks.
Early last year, over a dozen Buddhist monks from Khleang (renamed Soc Trang) were forcefully defrocked for participating in a peaceful demonstration.
Despite the monks’ protest that a politically motivated defrocking was against their religion, that they could only be defrocked for violating Buddhism rules, they were still defrocked.
Few managed to flee the borders seeking refuge, abandoning their home, family and way of life.
Five of the defrocked monks are currently serving 2- 5 years imprisonment accused of organising the protest. Five of whom that were used to the peaceful life of temple were commanded to change to civilian clothes without ceremony and then thrown in jail and tortured.
Venerable Tim Sakhorn, a monk of Khmer Krom descendent and resident of Cambodia was defrocked, deported and trialled in Vietnam for helping Khmer Krom people fleeing Vietnam – Cambodia border.
Vietnam’s contempt and disrespect towards Khmer Krom Buddhist monks is so obvious that it even hands out Identification Cards which stated that they had no religion.
One monk, who has fled Vietnam and currently seeks refugee protection in Thailand, carries such evidence in the award wining film called Eliminated without Bleeding.
Such evidences suggest that not all is right in Vietnam. In fact, things are going very wrong especially if one is of Khmer Krom descendent and a practicing Buddhist monk.
According to the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation, it has participated in this annual event for five years now, held previously at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. This year, their register of interest to attend was declined by the authorities in Hanoi.
“At that occasion, we and the international committee will see clearly that the Vietnamese government action, based on (international) convention or based on its own declaration to allow freedom rights, in fact, the Vietnamese government only talked about them, but in reality, it is the opposite,” says Mr. Thach Ngoc Thach, KKF President in interview with Khmer Radio Free Asia on Monday.
As we speak, there incoming reports of armed Vietnamese police patrolling the local temples in the Mekong Delta in a massive operation to subdue any protest.
The lack of invitation for practising Khmer Krom and Vietnam Buddhist monks abroad as well as Human Rights Watch to attend Vesak Day clearly shows that Vietnam is not an open country and that it has very little respect for Buddhism, a sharp and disturbing contrast to the image it attempts portray to the world.
Given the opportunity to host such a significant event in Vietnam, perhaps Vietnam should take to heart the teachings of Buddhism, to practice morality, simplicity and humility for all beings and not for just its own Kinh people.
More information on the upcoming Vesak Day:
http://www.vesakday2008.com/
Vietnam often boasts that it is a country that celebrates diversity; in fact it claims to have over 53 ethnic groups within its borders.
Every time that it attends a UN conference, Vietnam maintains that it respects all people regardless of its ethnic background and that their rights are guaranteed under its constitution.
Vietnam may be convincing the world but for the indigenous Khmer Krom people of the Mekong Delta and the indigenous peoples of Central Highlands, the Montagnard, they are no where near convinced.
In fact, if one digs beyond Vietnam’s first line of defence which reassures the world that everything is fine, one will start to see a governmental system that only works for its ethnic Kinh.
This year, Vietnam was granted the right to host the United Nations Day of Vesak on its soil between 13 May and 17 May 2008.
Vesak Day is an annual event to celebrate the birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautama Buddha by practising Buddhists.
The Mekong Delta of Vietnam, referred as Kampuchea-Krom by the indigenous Khmer Krom is home to over 25, 000 Theravada Buddhist monks.
Ironically, Vesak Day is not hosted on these very lands where over 450 temples are erected in respect for Buddhism but in a place where there are little respect for Buddhism or practising Buddhist monks.
Vietnam’s disrespect for Theravada Buddhism is well known especially in the recent case of the Khmer Krom Buddhist monks.
Early last year, over a dozen Buddhist monks from Khleang (renamed Soc Trang) were forcefully defrocked for participating in a peaceful demonstration.
Despite the monks’ protest that a politically motivated defrocking was against their religion, that they could only be defrocked for violating Buddhism rules, they were still defrocked.
Few managed to flee the borders seeking refuge, abandoning their home, family and way of life.
Five of the defrocked monks are currently serving 2- 5 years imprisonment accused of organising the protest. Five of whom that were used to the peaceful life of temple were commanded to change to civilian clothes without ceremony and then thrown in jail and tortured.
Venerable Tim Sakhorn, a monk of Khmer Krom descendent and resident of Cambodia was defrocked, deported and trialled in Vietnam for helping Khmer Krom people fleeing Vietnam – Cambodia border.
Vietnam’s contempt and disrespect towards Khmer Krom Buddhist monks is so obvious that it even hands out Identification Cards which stated that they had no religion.
One monk, who has fled Vietnam and currently seeks refugee protection in Thailand, carries such evidence in the award wining film called Eliminated without Bleeding.
Such evidences suggest that not all is right in Vietnam. In fact, things are going very wrong especially if one is of Khmer Krom descendent and a practicing Buddhist monk.
According to the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation, it has participated in this annual event for five years now, held previously at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. This year, their register of interest to attend was declined by the authorities in Hanoi.
“At that occasion, we and the international committee will see clearly that the Vietnamese government action, based on (international) convention or based on its own declaration to allow freedom rights, in fact, the Vietnamese government only talked about them, but in reality, it is the opposite,” says Mr. Thach Ngoc Thach, KKF President in interview with Khmer Radio Free Asia on Monday.
As we speak, there incoming reports of armed Vietnamese police patrolling the local temples in the Mekong Delta in a massive operation to subdue any protest.
The lack of invitation for practising Khmer Krom and Vietnam Buddhist monks abroad as well as Human Rights Watch to attend Vesak Day clearly shows that Vietnam is not an open country and that it has very little respect for Buddhism, a sharp and disturbing contrast to the image it attempts portray to the world.
Given the opportunity to host such a significant event in Vietnam, perhaps Vietnam should take to heart the teachings of Buddhism, to practice morality, simplicity and humility for all beings and not for just its own Kinh people.
More information on the upcoming Vesak Day:
http://www.vesakday2008.com/
