Khmer Krom community in Cambodia request for air time on National Radio

15 Feb 2010
By Khmerization
Source: RFA

Nine Khmer Krom associations in Cambodia had written to Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith requesting him to allocate air time for Khmer Krom communities to broadcast events and information about Kampuchea Krom and Khmer Krom on National Radio AM 815KHz and FM 96​MHz, reports Radio Free Asia.

Mr. Thach Setha (pictured), president of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Association in Cambodia, said he had received a letter from Minister Kanharith advising him to write directly to National Radio about his request. He said he hopes to broadcast educational programs and events relating to Khmer Krom. "We will broadcast information about Khmer Krom people living in Kampuchea Krom (South Vietnam) for all Khmer people to know that Khmer Krom people still practise Khmer traditions, [Khmer Buddhist] religion and about the history etc. so that Khmer people will know about the Khmer Krom community who are still living in our birth country", he said.

Mr. Thach Setha said he is optimistic that the management of National Radio will allocate his community air time, but he is not yet sure.

Mr. Ton Yan, representative from National Radio, said up to now he hasn't received an intervention letter from Minister Kanharith yet.

Mr. Taing Sarak, chairman of World Khmer Krom Federation in Cambodia, said he hopes Khmer Krom will be given an opportunity to broadcast about their history. "At least we must be given an opportunity to broadcast about the activities of the leaders of Khmer Krom community, information related to history and geography and the traditions of the Khmer Krom people", he said.

Mr. Thach Setha said the radio program will be called "The Voices of Khmer Kampuchea Krom" and will broadcast about the every life of Khmer Krom living under oppression from the Vietnamese authority in Vietnam.