Cambodian authority negotiates with Vietnamese authority to allow Khmer Krom to listen to Khmer radio

By Khmerization
Source: Radio Free Asia

The Cambodian authority is seeking a resolution with the Vietnamese authority to enable Khmer Krom to be able to listen to Khmer radio or watch Khmer TVs, reports Radio Free Asia.

In February, there are reports (read article below) that the Vietnamese authority has forbidden ethnic Khmer Krom from listening to Khmer radio or watching Khmer TVs.

A senior Cambodian official told reporters that the Cambodian Ministry of Information is negotiating with the Vietnamese authority to include Khmer-language TVs and radio in the Vietnamese cable system so that millions of Khmer Krom living in Vietnam can listen to radio and TV broadcasting from Cambodia.

Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith denied that the Vietnamese authority had forbidden Khmer Krom from listening to Khmer radio or watch Khmer TVs. "In the past I heard people saying that they (the Vietnamese authority) did not allow Khmer Krom watching Khmer TVs. It is not true. Because, to watch Khmer TVs, people need to install the cable/satellite system. In their country (Vietnam), they do not allow cable system/satellite disc to be installed privately, only the state (authority) can install the system. Now, the Vietnamese government is having a joint venture with a French company similar to our Tejo Cable TV System. So, we are negotiating with them to include Khmer-language TVs in their system. When they agreed, everything will be OK", he said.

Many Khmer Krom families living in Tinh Bien district in Moat Chrouk (An Giang) province said at the moment they can only watch 3 Khmer TV stations, ie Bayon TV, CTN and Khmer-language South East Asia TV.

Civil society and Mr. Thach Setha (pictured), president of Khmer Krom Association in Cambodia, applaud the government's effort in the negotiation with the Vietnamese authority. However, he criticises the Vietnamese for not treating the Khmer Krom people the same as the Cambodian government accords good treatment to the Vietnamese immigrantsliving in Cambodia. "(There is Cambodia-Vietnam) friendship, but there is no equality. For Cambodia, we allow the Vietnamese authority to broadcast radio and TVs through out Cambodia, including the (creations of Vietnamese) organisations, including Khmer Krom associations as well. However, in Kampuchea Krom (Southern Vietnam) they cannot allow it. This is in complete contrast (to the Cambodian approach)", he said.

Mr. Thach Setha said in Cambodia, the Cambodian authority allow Vietnamese immigrants to form associations in all 24 provinces. But Khmer Krom living in Kampuchea Krom (South Vietnam) had their freedom restricted by the Vietnamese authority, he said.

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By Khmerization
Source: Radio Free Asia
17 Feb 2010

The Vietnamese authority has banned Khmer Krom from listening to Khmer radio or watching Khmer TVs broadcasting from Cambodia, reports Radio Free Asia.

Mr. Thach Setha, president of Khmer Kampuchea Krom Association in Cambodia, said the Vietnamese authority has issued written bans to all Khmer Krom from listening to Khmer radio or watching Khmer TVs. "Now we have another serious issue in Kampuchea Krom and that is they (Vietnamese authority) ban Khmer Krom from watching TVs and listening to radio broadcasting from Cambodia and if they continue to ignore the ban and continue watching or listening, they will be fined 10 million dongs ($850). And there is another directive from the
(Vietnamese) Prime Minister which bans us (Khmer Krom) completely from listening (radio and watching TVs)", he said.

A Khmer Krom from Tay Ninh (Rong Damrei) province who spoke on condition of anonymity, said currently the Vietnamese authority strictly ban all Khmer Krom fromlistening to Khmer radio or watching Khmer TVs. He said the bans are strictly enforced by the deployments of secret police during the day and night time to spy on them.

Mr. Thach Setha said the bans by the Vietnamese authoriy come at a time when there are news that 9 Khmer Krom associations in Cambodia had requested for air time from Cambodian National Radio to broadcast about events, history, culture and educational and news related to Khmer Krom andKampuchea Krom. He said the bans are particularly enforced in all Khmer Buddhist temples in Kampuchea Krom where Vietnamese authority has gone to all temples to forbid Khmer monks from listening to Khmer radio and watching Khmer TVs. "Recently, there are summons (by the Vietnamese authority) issued to Khmer monks and Khmer Krom people who have installed sattelite disc to watch Khmer TVs. They summoned them to tell them not to watch Khmer TVs any more. The Vietnamese authority forced them to sign a letter promising not to listen to Khmer radio and Khmer TVs. They really strictly enforce the bans. These people (Vietnamese authority) really mean business!", he said.

The Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh cannot be reached for comments. However, NGOs and civil society in Cambodia said the Vietnamese bans are racist and are contrary to the Cambodian authority who allow all Vietnamese immigrants living in Cambodia to listen to Vietnamese radio or watch Vietnamese TVs freely without any restrictions.

According to Mr. Thach Setha, currently, there are approximately 10 million Khmer Krom people living in the former Cambodian territories in southern Vietnam.