The Khmer-Krom Journey to Self-Determination

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Sereivuth Prak
P.O.Box 193
Pennsauken, NJ 08110
Phone: 562-209-1790
http://kkjsd.blogspot.com
kkbook@khmerkrom.org

Pennsauken, NJ - April 19, 2010 - Prior to April 1975, people around the world knew about the Vietnam War. Today, people know about the fertile land of the Mekong Delta that helps Vietnam to be ranked as the second leading exporter of rice in the world. However, there are very few people who know the true history of the Mekong Delta and its surrounding regions. Therefore, people don’t know about the indigenous Khmer-Krom peoples.

The Khmer-Krom are the indigenous peoples of Kampuchea-Krom. Kampuchea-Krom means “Cambodia Below” or “South Cambodia”. Kampuchea-Krom was the southernmost territory of the Khmer Empire. The territory was renamed Cochinchina during the French colonization of Indochina. After the French government illegally transferred its colony, Cochinchina, to Vietnam on June 4, 1949, without the plebiscite or the consent of the Khmer-Krom, Cochinchina (Kampuchea-Krom) became lower half of the Republic of South Vietnam. Since April 30, 1975, Kampuchea-Krom has been known as the Southern part of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Living under the control of the Vietnamese government, the indigenous Khmer-Krom peoples have suffered tremendous human rights violations, confiscation of ancestral lands, and economic and social deprivations. The Indigenous Khmer-Krom peoples are not allowed to learn their own language and history in public schools or to freely practice their Theravada Buddhism without the interference of the Vietnamese government.

As an effort to bring awareness of the voiceless Khmer-Krom in Kampuchea-Krom to the world, the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) is proud to present this book about the Khmer-Krom, entitled "The Khmer-Krom Journey to Self-Determination". This is the first time this subject has been presented in this level of detail in the English language.

This book contains material produced by the KKF reflecting the true accounts of the Khmer-Krom regarding their history, culture, religion, and land. This information was produce by the combined efforts of KKF contributors, living in Kampuchea-Krom and from countries around the world. This book also consists of a collection of articles and essays about the Khmer-Krom that are written by academics and Human Rights advocates.

In his review of this book, Madev Mohan, the International Law representing Khmer-Krom Survivors at Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (Khmer Rouge Tribunal) wrote, “this book should be read by all activists, scholars, jurists and policy makers in the fields of international development and humanitarianism with a view to identifying fresh measures to preserve the Khmer Krom social memory and culture, protect the human rights of the Khmer Krom people and, importantly, tell the Khmer Krom story.”

New Year Greeting form the Khmer-Krom Journey to Self-Determination

Click here for additional information about The Khmer-Krom Journey to Self-Determination

Please hep sign the online petition for the right of self-determnation for Khmer Krom people

The right to self-determination of the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples
(United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1541(XV) of 15 December 1960 and United Nations General Assembly Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of 13 September 2007 )

By virtue of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1541(XV) of 15 December 1960, the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples have three options to choose for their right of self-determination or self-government as follows:

1. Free association with Viet Nam, the administering Power that means to self-govern in free association with Viet Nam and thus to become Vietnamese citizens;
2. Integration with Viet Nam, the administering Power that means to integrate into Viet Nam and thus to become also Vietnamese citizens; and
3. Independence that means want to become fully sovereign and fully independent people from Viet Nam.

And by virtue of article 3 of the United Nations General Assembly Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of 13 September 2007, the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples have the right to freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

Now, Therefore the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples who are the legitimate and rightful owners of their ancestral homeland, Kampuchea Krom territory or southern Vietnam, formerly French Cochin China, have their full and legitimate right to freely choose one of the above forms or models of self-determination for their self-government in accordance with the international laws.

This petition will serve as taking a survey of all Khmer Krom people’s political status or models of self-determination or forms of self-government where all Khmer Krom people inside Kampuchea Krom territory, all overseas Khmer Krom people, all Khmer Krom people in Cambodia and everywhere around the world, and all Khmer people in general can vote for either option number 1, option number 2 or option number 3(independence) for their self-government in strict conformity with the above UN GA Resolution of 15 December 1960 and UN GA Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of 13 September 2007. This petition-survey will be sent to the United Nations to urge them to honor the will of the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples regarding their free choice for their self-government option in accordance with the international laws.

We urge all Khmer Krom people everywhere in the world to sign this petition-survey with their full name accompanied by either option number 1, option number 2 or option number 3 at their own freewill without external compulsion.

Made in Saint Paul, the Capital of the State of Minnesota this 28th day of October in the year of our Lord, two thousand nine.

Sincerely,

Click here to sign the petition online

Khmer Krom Federation met officials from the U.S State Department

Source: Radio Free Asia
Reported in English by Khmerization
Originally posted at: www.khmerization.blogspot.com

Members of the Khmer Krom Federation have met with the U.S State Department officials to discuss about the human right situations of Khmer Krom people living in Vietnam, reports radio Free Asia.

The Khmer Krom delegation comprising of 5 members was led by Mr. Thach Ngoc Thach, president of Khmer Krom Federation. They met with a group of 8 U.S State Department officials led by Mr. Bratt Blackshaw, head of the Vietnam Affairs at the State Department.

Mr. Thach Ngoc Thach said: "There were 8 officials from the State Department who met us. They come from the Religious Affairs, Refugee Affairs, Educational Affairs and the Human Right Affairs of the State Department."

Mr. Thach Ngoc Thach said that the meeting resulted in three positive outcomes which give hope to the Khmer Krom's non-violent struggle for self-determination. He said: "We achieved three important outcomes from the meeting. First, all officials are committed to our proposals that the Khmer Krom Buddhist affairs be separated from and independent of the control of the Vietnamese authority. They said that they will continue their efforts to address this issue. Secondly, they are committed to helping Khmer Krom refugees/asylum-seekers. We want them to help Mr. Tim Sakhorn and other 6 Buddhist monks to come to America. The U.S pays more attention to those regugees/asylum-seekers who are recognised by UNHCR and Thai auhtority and they said that when the status of those asylum-seekers are clearer, they are happy to help facilitate their cases. Thirdly, we proposed that America provides scholarships to Khmer Krom students, even a few of them per year is enough, because we wanted to encourage Khmer Krom students to study harder."