Khmer Krom protesters forced into buses as VN authorities Attempts to stop peaceful demonstration

Khmer Krom demonstrators in Prey Nokor (HCMC) (Photo: Khmer Krom Network)

Khmer Krom people protest about land disputes in Prey Nokor (HCMC)

17 December 2007
By Mondul Keo Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

About 200 families of Khmer Krom people came to demonstrate in front of the Vietnamese Assembly in Prey Nokor (Ho Chi Minh City) to demand that the Vietnamese authority returns back their lands which were confiscated by the authority in 1978-1979. The authority forced the protesters into trucks and took them all home as of 16 December morning.

Chau In, a representative of the Khmer Krom people, told RFA by phone that, at 03:00 PM on the same day, the Vietnamese brought in several trucks, forced them to get into the trucks and took them home while promising that the resolution will be provided at the local level.

Chau In said that his group plans to continue the demonstration in front of their individual commune offices on Monday morning: “They broke us up, they forced us into the vehicles, and took us back to our villages. Tomorrow, my group will demonstrate in front of the An Ty commune office, because district and provincial officials will come to meet there.”

Vin Ba, a representative of the demonstrators, said that when they reached home, they were under the surveillance of the local police, and they cannot move freely anymore.

Vin Ba said: “Now, (where) I live in Khleang province (An Giang in Vietnamese), it’s full of cops who came to watch us, wherever we go, they follow us.”

Trinh Ba Cam, Hanoi’s mouthpiece in Cambodia, said that he does not know about this issue, therefore, he cannot provide any comment.

Nevertheless, Venerable Yoeung Sin, a representatice of the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Association in Cambodia, said that Khmer Krom people living in Cambodia and overseas, always support the demands made by Khmer Krom brothers and sisters who are currently living on their native lands (Kampuchea Krom), however, the venerable asked for Khmer Krom people to avoid using violence during the resolution of the disputes, and during their demands and protests.

Venerable Yoeung Sin said: “We decide to support (Khmer Krom people), we cannot remain still, and we are calling to the national and international communities to provide help to the victims. We cannot remain idle with all these issues.”

Up to now, 7 Khmer Krom laymen and 6 Khmer Krom monks disrobed by force the Vietnamese authority, are currently being jailed, and a number of other Khmer Krom people were stopped for questioning simply because they demand religious freedom rights to observe the Cambodian Buddhism faith according to Cambodian customs, and they are also demanding for a resolution in these land disputes.

Khmer Krom people protest about land disputes in Prey Nokor (HCMC)

15 December 2007
By Mayarith
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A source from Kampuchea Krom (South Vietnam) indicated that numerous Khmer Krom people are facing the stopping and the arrest by the Vietnamese authority, as they were gathering to demand their lands back in front of the office of Vietnamese MPs in Prey Nokor (Ho Chi Minh City).

Last night’s land protest demonstration by Khmer Krom people is considered as a renewal of demonstration activities in this month of December, in spite of the fact that numerous Khmer Krom monks were sent to jail by the Vietnamese authority.

“…right now, the police are pushing people in my group into a truck. These people are resisting and they are refusing to climb into the truck. They all want to die together in Prey Nokor…” this call for help by Khmer Krom people took place last night, when a group of about 150 Khmer Krom demonstrators were prevented by the Vietnamese police (from holding their demonstration) in front of the MPs office in Prey Nokor.

There is no report indicating how many Khmer Krom people were arrested or faced oppression because of their demands to get their farmlands back.

The protesters claimed that the Vietnamese authority refused to return several hectares of their farmlands after displacing these Khmer Krom people out of their villages and their lands in 1979.

The displacements of Khmer Krom people took place during the war between former Khmer Rouge soldiers and Vietnamese soldiers in Motr Chrouk province, Kampuchea Krom, and at that time, the Vietnamese army forced the population to move out. However, several years after the Khmer Krom people returned to their lands, the Vietnamese still refuse to return their lands back.

Chau In, the leader of last night demonstrators, yelled out his demand: “Right now, our Khmer Krom brothers and sisters have no freedom rights at all, look at it, they (the Vietnamese) do anything they want on us, they oppress us anyway they like. Therefore, I am calling to international organizations in the world to help resolve the problem for Khmer Krom people who are losing their lands, we demand that our lands be returned back to us, the rightful owners.”

Phy Ny, a Khmer Krom woman, yelled out: “Please help us, the Vietnamese police is squeezing us, they oppress us very strongly, they have electric baton, knives, guns, they threaten us and force us to enter the truck (for arrest). We refuse to go, my group would rather die, we’d rather die than leave if the communist cadres do not resolve our farmlands issue for us. If I leave, I won’t have anything to eat, everyday, I have to work as a laborer for others, and a large plot of my rice field land was lost…”

The Vietnamese authority could not be reached last night.

Khmer Krom people are protesting land issues in Prey Nokor (HCMC)

02 October 2007
By Hassan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

On Monday, Khmer Krom people indicated that about 100 Khmer Krom people from Khleang and Motr Chrouk provinces (Chau Doc and An Giang in Vietnamese), and from Kramuon Sar province (Rach Gia and Kien Giang in Vietnamese), have gathered to protest in front the (Communist Vietnamese) Party headquarters in Prey Nokor (Ho Chi Minh City) because they lost their lands which provided them a living.

Chev In, a representative of the Khmer Krom people from Motr Chrouk province told RFA that the reason they can no longer tolerate (the situation), and must hold their demonstration, is because the Vietnamese government didn’t live up to its promises.

Chev In said: “Right now, they (the Vietnamese) do not want to resolve the problem for our people. They are still delaying it, we ask them also, they told us to wait for a resolution, we didn’t see any resolution. Like me for example, they took away almost 1-hectare of my land to build a market. I went to the higher level authority, they told me to go to the commune office, when I went there, they told me to go to the district office for a resolution. People are fed up, they came to protest at the commune office also. Now, if they don’t resolve it for us, we will go further, we are fed up with it now. Yesterday, more than 100 people came from Srok Traing and Svay Tong also, we are going to Prey Nokor today.”

Regarding the case of Monk Tim Sakhorn, the former abbot of the Phnom Den pagoda in Takeo province, the Vietnamese authority announced that he will be released, however, nothing has been done since then,

A Khmer Krom monk said: “Regarding the case of Monk Tim Sakhorn, they (the Vietnamese authority) said that this Saturday, they will release him, that’s what they claim. They told the people and the village chief that this Saturday, they will release Monk Tim Sakhorm. I was waiting to see this, but now we didn’t see him released yet, we don’t know the time of his release, I’m not sure if they’ll let us see him or not. But, based on what I heard, maybe they will release him in secret, these people (the Vietnamese) never release people in public.”

UNPO Demonstrates with Khmer Krom in Paris

2007-08-20
UNPO

UNPO has joined demonstrations organized by the Khmer-Kampuchea Krom Federation (KKF) in Paris, aiming to raise awareness of human rights violations in the Mekong Delta and the recent arrest of the Ven. Tim Sakhorn.

The Hague, 20 August 2007 – After Australia and the United States of America, it was France’s turn to stage a Khmer Krom demonstration. Organised by the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) numerous members of the Khmer Krom Diaspora, Buddhist Monks, and supporters filled Paris’ “Esplanade de Droits des l’Homme” (Human Rights Plaza) on Sunday 19 August 2007, raising awareness of the human rights violations from which their communities continue to suffer.

The Khmer Krom are the indigenous people of the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, and became a UNPO Member in 2001 where they are represented by the KKF. Since this time they have been actively involved in the organisation’s nonviolent struggle for the betterment of the human right situation in their region. As part of a broader assimilation policy, Khmer Krom Buddhists Monks have in particular been targeted for persecution. Breaches of their basic human rights have become increasingly common as they are identified as the primary bearers of the distinct language and cultural identity of the Khmer Krom people. Particular concern has been expressed most recently at the growing infringement upon the right to religious freedom, the right to freedom of speech, and the right to freedom of assembly.

The recent defrocking and subsequent disappearance of the Ven. Tim Sakhorn, a Khmer Krom Buddhist Monk living in Cambodia, has also raised concern amongst Khmer Krom communities. As the religious leader of a temple which assisted Khmer Krom refugees fleeing persecution in Vietnam, many viewed the Ven. Tim Sakhorn as an important defender of both refugees and human rights. Recent reports suggest however that he has been returned to Vietnam by Cambodian authorities, where he is now under detention and charged with “undermining national unity.” The KKF and UNPO have both appealed extensively for his release, as well as for greater protection for the region’s human rights defenders. The well attended demonstration in Paris represented a further opportunity to bring his case to international attention, ensuring above all that he is not forgotten.

[Further information about the Ven. Tim Sakhorn]

[Read the UNPO appeal]

In light of these recent developments the KKF has organized a number of demonstrations around the world. In Paris, Khmer Krom Buddhists, both from France and beyond, gathered across from the Eiffel Tower at the Esplanade des Droits de l’Homme, protesting human rights violations and calling for the safe return of the Ven. Tim Sakhorn. Colourful and lively protests were interrupted only by a moment of prayer, led by attending Khmer Krom Buddhist Monks, and remembering those who have suffered, and who still suffer, from human rights violations and persecution. Signatures were collected for a series of petitions, with the general public educated also about the ongoing situation in the Mekong Delta and the rich history of the Khmer Krom.

Amongst the many speakers were representatives from the Khmer Krom in the Netherlands, Lyon (France) and Grenoble (France), as well as representatives from the Cambodian Associated League for Human Rights in France, and the Association for the Victims of the Khmer Rouge Genocide. Later in the afternoon a delegation, which included a UNPO representative, marched to the Cambodian Embassy, delivering an appeal to the Cambodian government, urging further support for the Khmer Krom and in particular for the Ven. Tim Sakhorn.

UNPO delivered also an appeal, urging the Cambodian government to pressure its Vietnamese neighbours to respect international human rights standards, and to remember their own obligations to protect human rights defenders and those who seeking refuge within their borders.

[Read the UNPO appeal to his Excellency the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the Republic of France]

Against the backdrop of the peaceful prayers of an ancient culture, the Buddhist Monks and the many old and young gathered in the name of peaceful manifestation, it is hard to understand the justification of Vietnamese authorities for the continued severe repression of the Khmer Krom.

Khmer Krom in the US are demonstrating about Monk Tim Sakhorn’s case

18 August 2007
By Mayarith
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

More than 100 Khmer Krom people, including Khmer Krom monks, coming from 24 different states in the US have gathered in front of the Cambodian embassy in Washington DC to demand that the Cambodian government and supreme patriarch Tep Vong take responsibility on the fate of former Khmer Krom Monk Tim Sakhorn who is currently jailed in Vietnam.

Recently, a Vietnamese embassy representative in Phnom Penh declared that former Monk Tim Sakhorn is currently jailed in Vietnam and he is facing a sentencing stemming from a criminal accusation of involvement with the activities of the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) – an organization currently involved in the legal liberation of the Kampuchea Krom lands.

Venerable Rong By, the leader of the demonstrators, said about the protest in front of the Cambodian embassy: “The main goal of more than 100 Khmer Krom people and Khmer Krom monks coming from all over the US, is to demand that the Cambodian government conducts an investigation into the disappearance of former Abbot Tim Sakhorn, and into his incarceration by the Vietnamese authority until now. Our second goal is to demand that the Cambodian government be responsible should Monk Tim Sakhorn be tortured or killed by the authoritarian Vietnamese government, and to demand that the Cambodian government intervene and be unconditionally responsible.”

Kim Vanny, a representative of the demonstrators from the US State of Virginia, said that he wants to push the Cambodian ambassador to help intervene. “We want to ask the embassy to send our demands to the Cambodian government so that it will help resolve in the case of a Khmer monk who is jailed by the Yuons (Vietnamese)…”

The protest in front of the Cambodian embassy on Friday took place after another demonstration was held in Australia to make the same demands to both the Cambodian and Vietnamese ambassadors.

On Friday, 2 representatives of the Cambodian embassy came out to receive the petition handed by the protesters. They promised to the Khmer Krom people that they will send the petition of the government leader.

Khmer Krom Meeting in Samaky Raingsey Pagoda in Phnom Penh on 17 August

When: 17 August 2007

Time: 8:00 AM to Noon

Where: Wat Samaky Raingsey
located in Stung Meanchey commune,
Khan Meanchey, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

City allows Khmer Krom to hold a meeting

Thursday, August 16, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The Phnom Penh city authority agreed to allow the Khmer Kampuchea Krom community to hold a meeting to express their concerns regarding the former Abbot of the Phnom Den North pagoda who is currently jailed in Vietnam. Kim Van Chheng, President of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Coordination Committee (KKKCC), told the Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper, on Wednesday that the Phnom Penh city authority consented to his request to allow his group to meet peacefully without police harassment. KKKCC plans to hold a meeting of Khmer Krom people living in Cambodia on 17 August 2007 from 8:00 AM to Noon time at the Samaky Raingsey Pagoda located in Stung Meanchey commune, Khan Meanchey, Phnom Penh city, to express their concerns on the torture imposed on Monk Tim Sakhorn, the former Abbot of the Phnom Den North pagoda who is currently being jailed in Vietnam.

Australian-Cambodians Demand Return of Defrocked Monk

Tue, 2007-08-14
PRESS RELEASE

Khmer Krom Demonstration in Australia details

When: Thursday 16 August, 2007
Time: 12pm
Where: In front of Parliament House, Canberra

Cambodian Buddhist monks and over fifty protesters will be conducting a demonstration in front of Parliament House in Canberra on 16 August 2007 to appeal for Australia's intervention to help secure the release a defrocked monk jailed by Vietnamese authorities in Vietnam for a crime allegedly committed in Cambodia.

Former Abbot of the Phnom Den temple, Takeo province, Venerable Tim Sakhorn was effectively disrobed on 30 June 2007 by Cambodia’s Head monk, Tep Vong and the Hun Sen government. He was deported to Vietnam for alleged crime of undermining the relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Human rights groups attempting to halt the defrocking were baffled by his disappearance and it was only a month later that Vietnamese borders official claim to have captured the ‘disappeared monk’.

Initially the Government of Vietnam accuses the former monk of entering Vietnam illegally while at the same time claiming Tim Sakhorn is a Vietnamese citizen. He is now are highly likely to face prison for allegedly stirring unrest in Cambodia and Vietnam.

The protestors are requesting intervention of the Australian government to help return the defrocked Cambodian monk, Tim Sakhorn back to Cambodia to face trials.

The Australian Government, through its national organisation, AUSAID has contributed to over $81 and $33 million dollars to Vietnam and Cambodia respectively to help establish trade links and improve the standard of living between the countries. The human rights situation in Vietnam and Cambodia, however, appears to have improved little despite the significant contributions.

Reports of recent religious oppression, in particular against indigenous minorities such as the Khmer Krom and the Montagnards, displays a sharp contradiction to the human rights and religious freedom Vietnam attempts to portray to the world.

Recently, five former Khmer Krom Buddhist monks from the Mekong Delta region were sentenced to between two to four years imprisonment for organising a peaceful demonstration in Soc Trang province, Vietnam.

The Khmer Krom people are the indigenous peoples residing in the rich fertile lands of the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, but are ranked amongst the poorest people of Vietnam by the World Health Organisation.

Protestors from Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne will be appealing to the Australian government to bring human rights and religious freedom issues to the forefront in its future consultation with Cambodia and Vietnam.

They also urge the Australian government to exert pressure on Cambodia and Vietnam to adhere to its international obligations and treaties.

The protest in Canberra is the first of a series of global demonstrations expected to be held in various cities across Cambodia, Europe, Canada and United States of America on the same day.

Contacts
Media officer: Miss. Sothy Kien. Email sothy.kien@khmerkrom.org

Persons for interview

Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation Delegations, an indigenous organisation representing the Khmer Krom people.

Thach Ngoc Thach - President
Giap Tran - Treasurer

Dr. Joshua Cooper, Director of the Hawaiian Institute of Human Rights

Protest details

Thursday 12pm. In front of Parliament House, Canberra

For more information on the situation, please visit:

Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation Website
www.khmerkrom.org

Khmer Krom Network
www.khmerkrom.net

Khmer Krom protest to demand a resolution on land dispute

Kampuchea Krom Buddhist monks from southern Vietnam hold a Buddhist flag during a protest in front of the royal palace in Phnom Penh April 20, 2007. Around fifty monks protested outside the Vietnamese embassy on Friday, calling on the communist-run nation to allow greater freedom of religion. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

18 June 2007
By Sok Serei
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

On Monday, a group of 120 Khmer Kampuchea Krom people representing more than 400 families held a protest demonstration in Mort Chrouk province (An Giang province in Vietnamese) to demand from the local Vietnamese authority for a resolution in their land problems, and for the return of more than 500-hectare of lands confiscated from them.

Following an unsuccessful demonstration, the demonstrators traveled by several cars from Motr Chrouk province to Prey Nokor city (Ho Chi Minh city) to hand over their demand petition to the Vietnamese authority.

A source indicated that the demonstrators were not arrested by the Vietnamese authority, but a large number of Vietnamese cops forced the Khmer Krom people out of their cars and told them to travel to Prey Nokor by foot – a 300-kilometer trip that will take several days to reach by marching.

Chau Soeun, a 55-year Khmer Krom from Nha Bang village, Motr Chrouk province, who is one of the 120 Khmer Krom representatives, told RFA over the phone: “We are protesting the land issue, the Vietnamese authority would not return back the land to the people, and now the people are protesting. But now, they do not even allow us to travel (to go to Prey Nokor) by car. We are walking under the hot sun.”

Neang Sophea, a Khmer Krom woman from Motr Chrouk province discussed about the protest by saying: “The Viets do not allow our Khmer people to bring their protest to the higher authorities, what do the higher (Viet) authorities have to say?”

Khmer Krom Monk Thach Pin, an aid to the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) in Cambodia, said that KKF representatives in the US will hand over a petition to Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet during his visit in the US, to demand for the release of 5 Khmer Krom monks from jail, and to oppose the violations of Khmer Krom human rights.

On Monday, the Vietnamese embassy in Cambodia cannot be contacted to obtain its reaction about the protest of Khmer Krom people in this land problem.

A Khmer Krom man representing the protesters said the protesters count 120 people who have decided to stop all their work in order to travel to present their demands, even if the travel by foot for the more than 300-kilometer distance will take them several days. They are determined to endure the scorching sun, and one woman passed out and could not continue the march.

In February of this year, the Vietnamese authority arrested 5 Khmer Krom monks and threw them in jail after they defrocked 16 Khmer Krom monks in total. The action taken by the Vietnamese authority was in response to Khmer Krom monks demand for their open freedom to practice their Cambodian religious belief, their Cambodian customs, and the right to celebrate Cambodian religious festivals.

Cambodian government officials, including Heng Samrin (the former president of the Vietnamese-installed puppet regime), considered the Khmer Krom problem as an internal issue of Vietnam. Several petition pleas sent by Khmer Krom people to Heng Samrin asking him to broach this issue with Nguyen Phu Trong, the Vietnamese Assembly President who was then visiting Cambodia, were all dismissed by Heng Samrin.

Vietnam promised that minority people can freely travel to the US embassy in Hanoi

Several reports from various sources indicated that Vietnam is accused and condemned of human rights violations not only against Khmer Krom people, but also aginst all other minority people living in Vietnam, including the Montagnard people.

In February 2007, the Vietnamese government promised to Ellen Sauerbrey, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, that minority people can freely travel to US embassy in Hanoi.