Khmer Krom Network
On the web at http://www.khmerkrom.net
According a source from Kampuchea-Krom, Vietnam authorities have ordered Khmer Krom musicians of Chey-En Temple in Chau Lang village, Swai Ton (Tri Ton) district, An Giang province to bring their traditional instruments (Khmer term “Pinpeat”) to play in Hanoi.
The Vietnam authorities claimed it was a good opportunity to display the talents of its ethnic minorities, including the Khmer Krom people.
Unfortunately it was double agenda set by the Vietnamese authorities in which the Khmer Krom people were once again manipulated.
Upon arriving back at the village after the show in Hanoi, an order was apparently issued from the communist government to its local representatives to take away the traditional instruments from the original owners and placed it in a museum in Swai Ton district.
While it seemed like a good initiative to display these unique instruments, the Khmer Krom musicians found themselves without a means to play Khmer music.
More disturbing is the allegations that the musicians have to “rent” their own instruments if they wanted use it for traditional ceremonies.
Are Vietnam authorities attempting to take profits from the Khmer Krom culture? Does it have a deeper motivation other than to confiscate these instruments and rent them out to their traditional owners?
It is in a similar style to the Hanoi government confiscating the Khmer Krom lands and rice fields and then rents it out to the Khmer Krom without recognizing that they are the traditional owners of the Mekong Delta.
It is apparent that Vietnamese authorities does not realize or if it does, care that by taking away these traditional instruments, the Khmer Krom musicians have no means to play or pass on their teaching to the younger generation.
The elderly musicians have expressed their concern with this latest action by the local authorities, another prime example of cultural genocide hidden behind of what appears to be a good initiative.
The Vietnam authorities claimed it was a good opportunity to display the talents of its ethnic minorities, including the Khmer Krom people.
Unfortunately it was double agenda set by the Vietnamese authorities in which the Khmer Krom people were once again manipulated.
Upon arriving back at the village after the show in Hanoi, an order was apparently issued from the communist government to its local representatives to take away the traditional instruments from the original owners and placed it in a museum in Swai Ton district.
While it seemed like a good initiative to display these unique instruments, the Khmer Krom musicians found themselves without a means to play Khmer music.
More disturbing is the allegations that the musicians have to “rent” their own instruments if they wanted use it for traditional ceremonies.
Are Vietnam authorities attempting to take profits from the Khmer Krom culture? Does it have a deeper motivation other than to confiscate these instruments and rent them out to their traditional owners?
It is in a similar style to the Hanoi government confiscating the Khmer Krom lands and rice fields and then rents it out to the Khmer Krom without recognizing that they are the traditional owners of the Mekong Delta.
It is apparent that Vietnamese authorities does not realize or if it does, care that by taking away these traditional instruments, the Khmer Krom musicians have no means to play or pass on their teaching to the younger generation.
The elderly musicians have expressed their concern with this latest action by the local authorities, another prime example of cultural genocide hidden behind of what appears to be a good initiative.
