Showing posts with label Thach Ngoc Thach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thach Ngoc Thach. Show all posts
Monday, September 03, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Khmer Krom Group Seeks Better Means of Rights Advocacy in Vietnam
About 200 participants attended from Cambodia, Canada, France, Europe, the US and other Asian nations, says Thach Ngoc Thach.
Khemara, VOA Khmer
16 August 2012
WASHINGTON DC - Members of the Khmer Krom Federation have concluded an annual convention, vowing to work harder on rights issues faced by Khmer minorities in Vietnam.
Thach Ngoc Thach, president of the group, said they discussed non-violent means of protest to avoid accusations by Vietnamese authorities. They also discussed how to “allow the world to see that KKF is a fair organization and seeking means for which the Khmer Krom people in Vietnam are free of human rights abuses,” he said.
Thursday, August 09, 2012
VOKK សម្ភាសន៍លោក ថាច់ ង៉ុក ថាច់ ប្រធានប្រតិបត្តិ KKF បន្ទាប់ពីកិច្ចជំនួបក្រសួងការបរទេសកាណាដា
Click on the control below to listen or download the audio program:
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
KKF មិនបានចូលជាសមាជិក ECOSOC តែបានគំាទ្រពី ១៤ ប្រទេសធំៗ ជាជោគជ័យ
សូមស្តាប់បទសម្ភាសន៍ លោក ថាច់ ង៉ុក ថាច់ ស្ដីអំពីសហព័ន្ធខ្មែរកម្ពុជាក្រោម មិនបានទទួលជាសមាជិកភាពនៃ UN-ECOSOC:
Friday, July 20, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
កិច្ចប្រជុំជូនដំណឹង អំពីសកម្មភាព និងប្ចុប្បន្ន នយោបាយ
កិច្ចប្រជុំជូនដំណឹង អំពីសកម្មភាព និងប្ចុប្បន្ន នយោបាយ សហពន័្ធខ្មែរកម្ពុជាក្រោមប្រចាំទ្វីបអ៊ីរ៉ុប ក្នុង ឱកាសដែលគណប្រតិភូសហព័ន្ធខ្មែរកម្ពុជាក្រោមដឹកនាំដោយលោក ថាច់-ងុកថាច់ មានសកម្មភាព ផ្នែក សិទ្ធិមនុស្សនៅ Genève & Bruxelles ខ្ញុំនិងរៀបចំ ធ្វើកិច្ចប្រជុំ ជូនដំណឹង មួយដើម្បី ជំរាប មិត្ត និងបងប្អូន រួមជាតិ អំពីនយោបាយ និងកិច្ចការ ដែលសហព័ន្ធ បានធ្វើ និងពិភាក្សាគ្នា អំពីបច្ចុប្បន្នភាព នយោបាយនៅ ក្នុងស្រុកយើង និងនៅ តំបន្ត អាស៊ី ភាគអគ្នេយ៍ ដែលទាក់ទង និងស្រុក យើង ហើយដែល កំពុងតែ មានការ ប្រែប្រួល ជារៀងរាល់ថ្ងែ គួរជា ទីព្រួយ បារម្មណ៏ ។ ក្នុងឱកាសនោះក៏មានវត្ថមានលោក អាង-ច័ន្ទរិទ្ធ ជាអ្នកទទួល ខុសត្រូវ អង្គការ ក្រៅ រដ្ឋាភិបាល ផ្នែកសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស នៅកម្ពុជា មកចូល រួមផងដែរ ។
M. Thach Ngoc-THACH
M. Vien Thach
M. Hang Chanrith
M. Meach Sovanara
នៅ Chatillon ទីក្រុង ប៉ារីស Photo : Suon Chhayphorn
M. Thach Ngoc-THACH
M. Vien Thach
M. Hang Chanrith
M. Meach Sovanara
នៅ Chatillon ទីក្រុង ប៉ារីស Photo : Suon Chhayphorn
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| (All Photos: Suon Chhayphorn) |
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Khmer Group Says It Shares Goals of Other Minorities in Vietnam
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| Thach Ngoc Thach, left and newly re-ordained monk Tim Sakhorn, middle, drops by VOA Khmer while on a visit in the US, file photo. (Photo: VOA Khmer) |
Friday, 20 April 2012
Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer | Washington, DC
“The government of Vietnam has always accused us of being a terrorist group, a group to break up the country.”
Members of the Khmer minority in Vietnam recently met with State Department officials and are now looking for ways to unite with other minorities like the Hmong and Montagnards to protect themselves from persecution, a leading advocate says.
Thach Ngoc Thach, president of the US-based Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation, told VOA Khmer the main goals of these minorities are the same.
Khmer groups in Vietnam face persecution for their religion and separate culture, activists say, including land seizures and arbitrary arrest.
“Khmer Krom, Montagnards, and Hmong face similar social and economic issues,” a US State Department official said. “We continue to encourage Vietnam to implement policy that will encourage greater economic and social opportunities for all ethnic minorities.”
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Mr. Thach Ngoc Thach's speech in front of the UN Head Office in New York
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw9_KkgOHjs
Friday, February 03, 2012
Vietnam violates the rights of Khmer Kampuchea Krom - Interview with Mr. Thach Ngoc Thach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK9HSFch2aE
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Kon Chhoeu Nas Me - "Mother, I am so hurt": A Poem in Khmer dedicated to Chau Net, a Khmer Krom youth killed by Viet mob
Click on the poem to zoom in the poem in Khmer by Thach Ngoc Thach, KKF PresidentClick here to listen to the audio (WMA) reading of the peom by Ms. Thach Socheata
Friday, June 04, 2010
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Khmer Krom Group Urges More Government Support
By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
21 December 2009
Original report from Washington
21 December 2009
An overseas group of advocates has requested the government improve its support for the Khmer Kampuchea Krom in both Cambodia and Vietnam.
“They should send professional teachers and books from Cambodia to teach our Khmer Krom in Vietnam,” said Thach Ngoc Thach, head of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation, which is based in New Jersey.
“They should celebrate Buddhist ceremonies for our Khmer Krom, so that they learn about Cambodian culture, civilization and religion, because we are the same nation,” he told VOA Khmer at the end of the organization’s annual meeting, in California.
“The Cambodian government has made it easy for the Vietnamese government to support their people in Cambodia,” he said. “Such as building schools and some other things.”
Khmer Krom in Vietnam do not learn their native Khmer in school, but instead must learn at pagodas during holidays, advocates say.
“They haven’t received enough Cambodian literature training,” said Thach Prey Chea Koeun, a 29-year-old monk from Vietnam, who now lives in Phnom Penh. “I think in the future, the younger generation of Khmer Krom people could forget the Cambodian national literature. They won’t know about their roots and the basics of Khmer. I’m afraid that the Khmer Krom youth can easily become Vietnamese.”
The Khmer Krom live in today’s southern Vietnam, which once belonged to Cambodia.
Vietnam has an estimated 456 Khmer Krom pagodas, each playing a role in supporting Cambodian culture and literature. As many as 8 million Khmer Krom live in southern Vietnam, with up to 300,000 more living in Cambodia, according to the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation.
A lawmaker for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, Ngoun Nhel, who is also the vice president of the National Assembly, said the government would likely review a formal request to aid the Khmer Krom.
The Khmer Kampuchia Krom Federation was established in 1999 in the US and has worked to promote issues for the group with the UN and US.
Thach Ngoc Thach said a main goal of the organization is to assure the “Cambodian people and the Cambodian government” that the group is not a danger to the country. In addition, he said, “we want the Khmer Krom people in Vietnam to know that they are the owners of the land, and they have full rights to live on their lands.”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Kuy Kuong told VOA Khmer that the government afforded the Khmer Krom the same rights and freedoms as the general public.
“Our government considers Khmer Krom people who have moved to live in Cambodia as Cambodian,” he said. “They have the same protection, the same rights and the same equality before the law as Cambodian citizens.”
“They should send professional teachers and books from Cambodia to teach our Khmer Krom in Vietnam,” said Thach Ngoc Thach, head of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation, which is based in New Jersey.
“They should celebrate Buddhist ceremonies for our Khmer Krom, so that they learn about Cambodian culture, civilization and religion, because we are the same nation,” he told VOA Khmer at the end of the organization’s annual meeting, in California.
“The Cambodian government has made it easy for the Vietnamese government to support their people in Cambodia,” he said. “Such as building schools and some other things.”
Khmer Krom in Vietnam do not learn their native Khmer in school, but instead must learn at pagodas during holidays, advocates say.
“They haven’t received enough Cambodian literature training,” said Thach Prey Chea Koeun, a 29-year-old monk from Vietnam, who now lives in Phnom Penh. “I think in the future, the younger generation of Khmer Krom people could forget the Cambodian national literature. They won’t know about their roots and the basics of Khmer. I’m afraid that the Khmer Krom youth can easily become Vietnamese.”
The Khmer Krom live in today’s southern Vietnam, which once belonged to Cambodia.
Vietnam has an estimated 456 Khmer Krom pagodas, each playing a role in supporting Cambodian culture and literature. As many as 8 million Khmer Krom live in southern Vietnam, with up to 300,000 more living in Cambodia, according to the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation.
A lawmaker for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, Ngoun Nhel, who is also the vice president of the National Assembly, said the government would likely review a formal request to aid the Khmer Krom.
The Khmer Kampuchia Krom Federation was established in 1999 in the US and has worked to promote issues for the group with the UN and US.
Thach Ngoc Thach said a main goal of the organization is to assure the “Cambodian people and the Cambodian government” that the group is not a danger to the country. In addition, he said, “we want the Khmer Krom people in Vietnam to know that they are the owners of the land, and they have full rights to live on their lands.”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Kuy Kuong told VOA Khmer that the government afforded the Khmer Krom the same rights and freedoms as the general public.
“Our government considers Khmer Krom people who have moved to live in Cambodia as Cambodian,” he said. “They have the same protection, the same rights and the same equality before the law as Cambodian citizens.”
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Sambok Khmum radio will broadcast the commemoration ceremony of the loss of Kampuchea Krom live from France
Source: Radio Free Asia
Reported in English by Khmerization
Radio Sambok Khmum has indicated that it will broadcast the commemoration ceremony of the loss of Kampuchea Krom live from France on the 13th of June, reports Radio Free Asia.
Mr. Mam Sonando, director and owner of Radio Sombok Khmum, said that this live broadcast is purely a Khmer issue and he doesn't believe that it will affect the relations between Hanoi and Phnom Penh.
He said: "I am only fufilling my duty. My duty is to broadcast the activities of the Khmer Krom people to in the defence of their freedom, this is the first point. Secondly, I believe that the Khmer krom issue is 100% a Cambodian issue. Thirdly, this is relating to the history of Kampuchea Krom which we need to let all Khmers know clearly about the Khmer Krom issues. Why Kampuchea Krom was put under the Vietnamese control and why do we have the issue of Kampuchea Krom? Why did I say that it is an issue for all Khmers? Because France was the one who ceded the Kampuchea Krom territories to Vietnam, but France never ceded the Khmer Krom people to the Vietnamese rule?"
Mr. Thach Ngoc Thach, president of the Khmer Krom Federation, said that the commemoration ceremony was held as a way to ask the EU to put pressures on Vietnam to respect the human rights of Khmer Krom people and to give self-determination to Khmer Krom people.
He said of the reason why the commemoration service is being held in France: "First, this is important because it is the 60th anniversary of the loss of Kampuchea Krom. Secondly, France is a country that ceded the territory of Kampuchea Krom to Vietnam. We came here because we have a cooperation from the UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and Peoples' Organisation), the cooperation of the Centre for Human Rights of Hawaii and we have invited the representatives of the EU and the UN and a number of international legal experts to attend the ceremony. So, we would like to use this 60th anniversary as an event to launch our protest through legal channels, to make a protest through the 21 committees in order to reverse the Vietnamese colonisation of Kampuchea Krom. Thirdly, we urge the UN Human Right Council in Geneva to take up the issues of human right abuses in Kampuchea Krom. Fourthly, we will push for the issues (above) to be resolved through judicial channels."
Kampuchea Krom is a former Khmer territory consisting of 21 provinces inhabited by about 12 million Khmer Krom people. It was ceded to Vietnam by the French colonial authority on the 4th of June, 1949.
Reported in English by Khmerization
Radio Sambok Khmum has indicated that it will broadcast the commemoration ceremony of the loss of Kampuchea Krom live from France on the 13th of June, reports Radio Free Asia.
Mr. Mam Sonando, director and owner of Radio Sombok Khmum, said that this live broadcast is purely a Khmer issue and he doesn't believe that it will affect the relations between Hanoi and Phnom Penh.
He said: "I am only fufilling my duty. My duty is to broadcast the activities of the Khmer Krom people to in the defence of their freedom, this is the first point. Secondly, I believe that the Khmer krom issue is 100% a Cambodian issue. Thirdly, this is relating to the history of Kampuchea Krom which we need to let all Khmers know clearly about the Khmer Krom issues. Why Kampuchea Krom was put under the Vietnamese control and why do we have the issue of Kampuchea Krom? Why did I say that it is an issue for all Khmers? Because France was the one who ceded the Kampuchea Krom territories to Vietnam, but France never ceded the Khmer Krom people to the Vietnamese rule?"
Mr. Thach Ngoc Thach, president of the Khmer Krom Federation, said that the commemoration ceremony was held as a way to ask the EU to put pressures on Vietnam to respect the human rights of Khmer Krom people and to give self-determination to Khmer Krom people.
He said of the reason why the commemoration service is being held in France: "First, this is important because it is the 60th anniversary of the loss of Kampuchea Krom. Secondly, France is a country that ceded the territory of Kampuchea Krom to Vietnam. We came here because we have a cooperation from the UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and Peoples' Organisation), the cooperation of the Centre for Human Rights of Hawaii and we have invited the representatives of the EU and the UN and a number of international legal experts to attend the ceremony. So, we would like to use this 60th anniversary as an event to launch our protest through legal channels, to make a protest through the 21 committees in order to reverse the Vietnamese colonisation of Kampuchea Krom. Thirdly, we urge the UN Human Right Council in Geneva to take up the issues of human right abuses in Kampuchea Krom. Fourthly, we will push for the issues (above) to be resolved through judicial channels."
Kampuchea Krom is a former Khmer territory consisting of 21 provinces inhabited by about 12 million Khmer Krom people. It was ceded to Vietnam by the French colonial authority on the 4th of June, 1949.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
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."
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."
Friday, May 29, 2009
Khmer Krom Group Meets With US State Officials
By Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
28 May 2009
Original report from Phnom Penh
28 May 2009
Representatives of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom community in the United States met Tuesday with officials at the US State Department Wednesday to report on rights violations of ethnic Khmer living in southern Vietnam.
The group is also seeking intervention for a number of refugees, including Tim Sakorn, the former head monk of a Takeo province pagoda who has fled to Thailand after being forcibly defrocked in Cambodia and jailed in Vietnam.
Many Cambodians still refer to the Mekong Delta of southern Vietnam as Kampuchea Krom, or Lower Cambodia, which once belonged to a former Cambodian regime.
“We informed [the State Department] that Buddhism in Kampuchea Krom is being controlled by the Vietnamese government, and we want its independence from this communist control,” Thach Ngoc Thach, president of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation told VOA Khmer after the meeting.
The group also discussed “land eviction by the government via sending Khmer Krom people away and replacing them with the Vietnamese…and refugees in Thailand now being taken care of by the UN High Commissioner for Refugee so that they can be resettled to the US once they pass the interview,” he said.
Thach Ngoc Thach added that the meeting also discussed how to encourage Khmer Krom students from poor families to have better chances to study overseas.
No official at the State Department was available for comment about the meeting on Wednesday.
Former monk Tim Sakhorn is now living under UN protection in Thailand. His application to resettle in a third country, possibly the United State, is being processed and the result is expected in June 20, he said by phone from Bangkok.
Tim Sakhorn fled to Thailand earlier this year. He spent nearly one year in a Vietnamese jail after he was defrocked in Takeo province, for allegedly fomenting unrest between the two countries.
He spent time in Cambodia in April to attend a death ceremony for his mother, but refuses to return to Vietnam, where he claims he is under constant surveillance and virtual house arrest.
“I would like to make an appeal to international organizations and UNHCR to please process my case as soon as possible so that I can get away from fear and live in peace,” he said by phone. “This is the same with many Khmer Krom people and monks who have escaped from Cambodia to stay here. There are a number of them and they live in fear, so please process their cases as soon as possible.”
The group is also seeking intervention for a number of refugees, including Tim Sakorn, the former head monk of a Takeo province pagoda who has fled to Thailand after being forcibly defrocked in Cambodia and jailed in Vietnam.
Many Cambodians still refer to the Mekong Delta of southern Vietnam as Kampuchea Krom, or Lower Cambodia, which once belonged to a former Cambodian regime.
“We informed [the State Department] that Buddhism in Kampuchea Krom is being controlled by the Vietnamese government, and we want its independence from this communist control,” Thach Ngoc Thach, president of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation told VOA Khmer after the meeting.
The group also discussed “land eviction by the government via sending Khmer Krom people away and replacing them with the Vietnamese…and refugees in Thailand now being taken care of by the UN High Commissioner for Refugee so that they can be resettled to the US once they pass the interview,” he said.
Thach Ngoc Thach added that the meeting also discussed how to encourage Khmer Krom students from poor families to have better chances to study overseas.
No official at the State Department was available for comment about the meeting on Wednesday.
Former monk Tim Sakhorn is now living under UN protection in Thailand. His application to resettle in a third country, possibly the United State, is being processed and the result is expected in June 20, he said by phone from Bangkok.
Tim Sakhorn fled to Thailand earlier this year. He spent nearly one year in a Vietnamese jail after he was defrocked in Takeo province, for allegedly fomenting unrest between the two countries.
He spent time in Cambodia in April to attend a death ceremony for his mother, but refuses to return to Vietnam, where he claims he is under constant surveillance and virtual house arrest.
“I would like to make an appeal to international organizations and UNHCR to please process my case as soon as possible so that I can get away from fear and live in peace,” he said by phone. “This is the same with many Khmer Krom people and monks who have escaped from Cambodia to stay here. There are a number of them and they live in fear, so please process their cases as soon as possible.”
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Vietnam Assailed Over Khmer Krom Rights
By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
08 April 2009
Original report from Washington
08 April 2009
A US-based advocacy group for the Khmer ethnic group in Vietnam has prepared questions to send to the UN’s Human Rights Council, criticizing the Vietnamese government over its treatment of the minority group.
The Khmer Kampuchea Krom live in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, in areas that once belonged to a former Cambodian state. Their treatment under Vietnamese authorities has come under scrutiny in recent months, with the release of a Khmer Krom monk from a Vietnamese prison and a recent report on their persecution by Human Rights Watch.
The New Jersey-based Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation says it will forward its own criticism of Vietnam to Geneva for an upcoming Rights Council meeting May 8, outlining the limited freedom of religion and expression Vietnam allows for its Khmers.
The questions were prepared for the council, comprised of 47 countries and 192 representatives, for Vietnam’s presentation on its human rights report, Thach Ngoc Thach, president of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation, told VOA Khmer.
Khmer Kampuchea Krom organizations from Europe will hold a rally in front of the Rights Council’s office as the Vietnamese delegation presents its case, he said, adding that his group had recently participated in an international religious freedom meeting in Washington and had established good rapport with some members of the Rights Council.
“Our hope is to see more attention brought to the Khmer Kampuchea Krom issue by the international community and liberal countries that love democracy,” he said.
Vietnam is signatory to international conventions on civil, political, economic and cultural rights, but the country is widely criticized for rights violations and restrictions of political freedoms. Vietnamese officials say the country’s rights record is improving.
“The Khmer Kampuchea Krom people come at a real disadvantage, in that they are quite vulnerable,” Sophie Richardson, Asia advocacy director for Human Rights Watch, told VOA Khmer by phone. “We apparently see that the Vietnamese government treats certain ethnic groups with real either skepticism or hostility.”
Human Rights Watch reported in January that Khmer Krom were being jailed for political expression and suffered other rights suppression.
Khmer Kampuchea Krom issues came under a spotlight in 2007, following the arrest of one of its former monks, Tim Sakhorn, who was running a pagoda in Cambodia’s Takeo province. He was defrocked by Cambodian Buddhist authorities, for allegedly fomenting unrest against Vietnam and claims he was taken by Cambodian authorities to Vietnam, where he was imprisoned until July 2008.
Tim Sakhorn returned for a visit to Cambodia this week but will have to return to Vietnam by April 17, according to local media reports. Rights groups say at least five Kampuchea Krom monks remain in Vietnamese detention.
The Khmer Kampuchea Krom live in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, in areas that once belonged to a former Cambodian state. Their treatment under Vietnamese authorities has come under scrutiny in recent months, with the release of a Khmer Krom monk from a Vietnamese prison and a recent report on their persecution by Human Rights Watch.
The New Jersey-based Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation says it will forward its own criticism of Vietnam to Geneva for an upcoming Rights Council meeting May 8, outlining the limited freedom of religion and expression Vietnam allows for its Khmers.
The questions were prepared for the council, comprised of 47 countries and 192 representatives, for Vietnam’s presentation on its human rights report, Thach Ngoc Thach, president of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Federation, told VOA Khmer.
Khmer Kampuchea Krom organizations from Europe will hold a rally in front of the Rights Council’s office as the Vietnamese delegation presents its case, he said, adding that his group had recently participated in an international religious freedom meeting in Washington and had established good rapport with some members of the Rights Council.
“Our hope is to see more attention brought to the Khmer Kampuchea Krom issue by the international community and liberal countries that love democracy,” he said.
Vietnam is signatory to international conventions on civil, political, economic and cultural rights, but the country is widely criticized for rights violations and restrictions of political freedoms. Vietnamese officials say the country’s rights record is improving.
“The Khmer Kampuchea Krom people come at a real disadvantage, in that they are quite vulnerable,” Sophie Richardson, Asia advocacy director for Human Rights Watch, told VOA Khmer by phone. “We apparently see that the Vietnamese government treats certain ethnic groups with real either skepticism or hostility.”
Human Rights Watch reported in January that Khmer Krom were being jailed for political expression and suffered other rights suppression.
Khmer Kampuchea Krom issues came under a spotlight in 2007, following the arrest of one of its former monks, Tim Sakhorn, who was running a pagoda in Cambodia’s Takeo province. He was defrocked by Cambodian Buddhist authorities, for allegedly fomenting unrest against Vietnam and claims he was taken by Cambodian authorities to Vietnam, where he was imprisoned until July 2008.
Tim Sakhorn returned for a visit to Cambodia this week but will have to return to Vietnam by April 17, according to local media reports. Rights groups say at least five Kampuchea Krom monks remain in Vietnamese detention.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Khmer Krom: Tim Sakhorn Remains Under Detention
Wednesday, 13 August 2008
Source: UNPO
Vietnamese authorities have prevented the Khmer Krom monk from uniting with his family in Cambodia.
Below is an appeal published by the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation:
Venerable Tim Sakhorn, a former Khmer Krom Buddhist monk at North Phnom Denh pagoda, Takeo province, in Cambodia, still remains under detention at his relative’s house in Don-To commune, Ba Chuc Village, Tri Ton district, An Giang province.
On June 30, 2007, Venerable Tim Sakhorn was arrested, defrocked and deported by Cambodia authorities to Vietnam. On November 8, 2007, a criminal court in An Giang province sentenced Venerable Tim Sakhorn to one year imprisonment under Article 87 of Vietnam’s panel code on the charges of “Undermining National Unity”.
On June 28, 2008, Venerable Tim Sakhorn was seen leaving prison in the company of Vietnamese authorities. His whereabouts was unknown until just last week.
New information has revealed that Venerable Tim Sakhorn is currently living with his uncle under the tight surveillance of two Vietnamese officers. The officers are residing at the same place as Venerable Tim Sakhorn and are monitoring his movement 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
According to the sentence by the Vietnam Court on November 8, 2007, Venerable Tim Sakhorn should have been given the option to return to Cambodia to unite with his family, especially to see his aged and ailing father.
This latest action by Vietnamese authorities clearly shows that they are violating the Vietnam’s Court order and taking the law into their own hands.
Today, Venerable Tim Sakhorn remains a helpless and voiceless victim and continues to be restricted in his basic freedom and movement.
In this regard, I would like to urgently appeal for your assistance to:
Respectfully Yours,
Thach Ngoc Thach
President of Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation
Below is an appeal published by the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation:
Venerable Tim Sakhorn, a former Khmer Krom Buddhist monk at North Phnom Denh pagoda, Takeo province, in Cambodia, still remains under detention at his relative’s house in Don-To commune, Ba Chuc Village, Tri Ton district, An Giang province.
On June 30, 2007, Venerable Tim Sakhorn was arrested, defrocked and deported by Cambodia authorities to Vietnam. On November 8, 2007, a criminal court in An Giang province sentenced Venerable Tim Sakhorn to one year imprisonment under Article 87 of Vietnam’s panel code on the charges of “Undermining National Unity”.
On June 28, 2008, Venerable Tim Sakhorn was seen leaving prison in the company of Vietnamese authorities. His whereabouts was unknown until just last week.
New information has revealed that Venerable Tim Sakhorn is currently living with his uncle under the tight surveillance of two Vietnamese officers. The officers are residing at the same place as Venerable Tim Sakhorn and are monitoring his movement 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
According to the sentence by the Vietnam Court on November 8, 2007, Venerable Tim Sakhorn should have been given the option to return to Cambodia to unite with his family, especially to see his aged and ailing father.
This latest action by Vietnamese authorities clearly shows that they are violating the Vietnam’s Court order and taking the law into their own hands.
Today, Venerable Tim Sakhorn remains a helpless and voiceless victim and continues to be restricted in his basic freedom and movement.
In this regard, I would like to urgently appeal for your assistance to:
- Urge Vietnam to obey its own national law by removing the Vietnamese officers who have been employed to intimidate and monitor Venerable Tim Sakhorn 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Urge Vietnam to return Venerable Tim Sakhorn safely to live with his family in Cambodia. Thanks for your help in advance and I am looking forward to hear from you.
Respectfully Yours,
Thach Ngoc Thach
President of Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation
Friday, May 23, 2008
KKF Appeal for Religious Freedom in Vietnam
From Left to Right:Kim Muon (born 1985), Danh Tol (born 1981), Ly Suong (born 1975), Ly Hoang (born 1986), and Thach Thuong (born 1982). There are former Buddhist monks participated in peaceful demonstration to demand religious rights in Soc Trang province.
Tim Sakhorn, former Abbot of North Phnom Denh temple, Phnom Denh Village, Kirivong District, Takeo Province, Cambodia faces trial in Vietnam.Originally posted at KhmerKrom.org
United Nations Day of Vesak Appeal by KKF
To whom it may concern,
On behalf of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation, we would like to bring to your attention the issue of our Khmer Krom Buddhist monks Venerable TT Dhammo,from Ontario, Canada and Venerable Rong Be, from California, USA. were denied entry to participate at the United Nations Day of Vesak which falls on 13 May to 17 May in Hanoi, Vietnam.
For the last five years, our Khmer Krom Buddhist monks residing in USA have been actively participating at this event. However, this year, we are not given such an opportunity.
The Mekong Delta is home to over 25,000 Khmer Krom Buddhist monks. The teaching of Buddhism plays an important role in the lives of our Khmer Krom people. Buddhism teaches and guides our very way of life and our moral beliefs. It lays the foundation of our culture and society, to be fair, honest and truthful in everything we do.
Since Vietnam's accession into the World Trade Organisation on 11 January 2007, its government has arbitatily arrested and imprisoned several Khmer Krom Buddhist monks for organising and participating in peaceful demonstrations. Currently, there are six former Khmer Krom Buddhist monks imprisoned in Vietnam.
The religious congregations of Khmer Krom indigenous people suffer severe abuses because of actions by Vietnam , which have included forced renunciations of faith, identifying our monk as having no religion on identification card, the arrest and harassment of abbots, the withholding of social programs provided for the general population, confiscation and destruction of properties, and subjection of severe beatings.
The Khmer Krom Buddhists suffer persecutions as the Government of Vietnam continues to restrict contacts and movement of senior monks for refusing to join the state-sponsored Buddhist organizations. Vietnam continues to place Khmer Krom leaders under `pagoda' and house arrest, destroy temple property and harass, threaten and intimidate local Khmer Krom Buddhist monks.
On behalf of our defendless Khmer Krom Buddhist monks, we appeal for your support to urge the Vietnamese government to unconditionally release all the Khmer Krom political and religious prisoners, including the five Buddhist monks at a prison in Soc Trang Province and Abbot Tim Sakhorn who was arrested from Cambodia and now imprisoned in An Giang Province of Vietnam.
Yours sincerely,
Thach Ngoc Thach
Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation President
For the last five years, our Khmer Krom Buddhist monks residing in USA have been actively participating at this event. However, this year, we are not given such an opportunity.
The Mekong Delta is home to over 25,000 Khmer Krom Buddhist monks. The teaching of Buddhism plays an important role in the lives of our Khmer Krom people. Buddhism teaches and guides our very way of life and our moral beliefs. It lays the foundation of our culture and society, to be fair, honest and truthful in everything we do.
Since Vietnam's accession into the World Trade Organisation on 11 January 2007, its government has arbitatily arrested and imprisoned several Khmer Krom Buddhist monks for organising and participating in peaceful demonstrations. Currently, there are six former Khmer Krom Buddhist monks imprisoned in Vietnam.
The religious congregations of Khmer Krom indigenous people suffer severe abuses because of actions by Vietnam , which have included forced renunciations of faith, identifying our monk as having no religion on identification card, the arrest and harassment of abbots, the withholding of social programs provided for the general population, confiscation and destruction of properties, and subjection of severe beatings.
The Khmer Krom Buddhists suffer persecutions as the Government of Vietnam continues to restrict contacts and movement of senior monks for refusing to join the state-sponsored Buddhist organizations. Vietnam continues to place Khmer Krom leaders under `pagoda' and house arrest, destroy temple property and harass, threaten and intimidate local Khmer Krom Buddhist monks.
On behalf of our defendless Khmer Krom Buddhist monks, we appeal for your support to urge the Vietnamese government to unconditionally release all the Khmer Krom political and religious prisoners, including the five Buddhist monks at a prison in Soc Trang Province and Abbot Tim Sakhorn who was arrested from Cambodia and now imprisoned in An Giang Province of Vietnam.
Yours sincerely,
Thach Ngoc Thach
Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation President
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Thach Ngoc Thach reacts against the Vietnamese authority
By Mao SotheanyRadio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Thach Ngoc Thach, President of the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) in the world, reacted to the fact that the Vietnamese government did not allow Khmer Kampuchea Krom representatives to participate in the Visak Bochea (Visakha) celebration in Hanoi.
Thach Ngoc Thach, President of the US-based KKF, expressed his reaction on Sunday to the fact that the Vietnamese government did not authorize Khmer Kampuchea Krom representatives to participate in the Visak Bochea celebration in Hanoi between 13 and 17 May. It is expected that 3,500 people from 80 countries will participate in this Buddhist celebration.
Thach Ngoc Thach told RFA’s Mao Sotheany about the reason why Khmer Kampuchea Krom representative could participate in this celebration.
Thach Ngoc Thach (KKF): This is different from the celebration in New York where several nations, including Khmer Krom people used to participate very year, and Khmer Krom monks always receive the honor to start the religious praying at the Untied Nations. However, this year, the (UN) celebration is held in Hanoi instead. A number of ethnic people do not have a country of their own, this is one issue. The second issue, for countries that do not have close relationship with the Vietnamese government, they are not allowed to participate in the celebration, unlike the previous years, therefore, these people did not receive an invitation. Furthermore, even Vietnamese Buddhists from overseas are not invited to attend the celebration either. Tibetan monks who always participated every year, this year, they were not invited either. Therefore, we see here a discrimination made through the invitation denial, Vietnam invited only who they please.
Mao Sotheany (RFA): In your name as the KKF president in the US, what else will you do, because I am really puzzled that the UN could not intervene so that the KKF can participate.
KKF: For this issue, we met with the Religious affair of the US Department of State two weeks ago already. We informed them, this is why we saw the US Department of State issuing a declaration, as well as the Human Rights Watch, in order to pressure the Vietnamese government, this is one thing. Secondly, we prepared a letter to send to (UN) religious affair department in Geneva, to inform them. Furthermore, we are cooperating with other nations, such as Buddhist Tibetans, overseas Vietnamese, to protest about this issue. Therefore, I foresee that there will be pushes made from all directions: one to push the UN to find a venue location where all Buddhists in the world can participate in.
RFA: I want to ask you: what is the benefit of participating in the Visak Bochea celebration in Hanoi where a large number of Buddhists in the world cannot join in, what is its importance?
KKF: First, this is very important for Buddhists. Secondly, the other importance is that we are protesting about the religious pressure imposed by the Vietnamese government on religious belief. At that occasion, we and the international committee will see clearly that the Vietnamese government action, based on (international) convention or based on its own declaration to allow freedom rights, in fact, the Vietnamese government only talked about them, but in reality, it is the opposite. There, the international community will clearly sees it. Another issue, is the fact that this is a Vietnamese government’s trick to hide itself by claiming that it is a country fully opened, that was why this International celebration is allowed to take place next week. I believe that, now, the International community and the UN, in particular, will clearly see the Vietnamese government treachery. I also received information from Kampuchea Krom that police officers are conducting surveillance in every pagoda because they are afraid that Khmer Krom and Vietnamese monks may demonstrate during this celebration in Hanoi next week.
RFA: I want to ask you also about the Visak Bochea celebration, which earlier you said that it was held at the UN office in New York. Since when such celebration was held?
KKF: I do not remember when it started, but the KKF participated in this celebration in the past 5 years.
RFA: From the US, is there any group participating in this celebration in Hanoi?
KKF: By what I understand, the US religion department asked to participate, but even for them, they were not invited either. Human Rights Watch also asked to join in, they were denied also, and Khmer Krom monks asked to join also, but we didn’t receive any invitation.
Thach Ngoc Thach, President of the US-based KKF, expressed his reaction on Sunday to the fact that the Vietnamese government did not authorize Khmer Kampuchea Krom representatives to participate in the Visak Bochea celebration in Hanoi between 13 and 17 May. It is expected that 3,500 people from 80 countries will participate in this Buddhist celebration.
Thach Ngoc Thach told RFA’s Mao Sotheany about the reason why Khmer Kampuchea Krom representative could participate in this celebration.
Thach Ngoc Thach (KKF): This is different from the celebration in New York where several nations, including Khmer Krom people used to participate very year, and Khmer Krom monks always receive the honor to start the religious praying at the Untied Nations. However, this year, the (UN) celebration is held in Hanoi instead. A number of ethnic people do not have a country of their own, this is one issue. The second issue, for countries that do not have close relationship with the Vietnamese government, they are not allowed to participate in the celebration, unlike the previous years, therefore, these people did not receive an invitation. Furthermore, even Vietnamese Buddhists from overseas are not invited to attend the celebration either. Tibetan monks who always participated every year, this year, they were not invited either. Therefore, we see here a discrimination made through the invitation denial, Vietnam invited only who they please.
Mao Sotheany (RFA): In your name as the KKF president in the US, what else will you do, because I am really puzzled that the UN could not intervene so that the KKF can participate.
KKF: For this issue, we met with the Religious affair of the US Department of State two weeks ago already. We informed them, this is why we saw the US Department of State issuing a declaration, as well as the Human Rights Watch, in order to pressure the Vietnamese government, this is one thing. Secondly, we prepared a letter to send to (UN) religious affair department in Geneva, to inform them. Furthermore, we are cooperating with other nations, such as Buddhist Tibetans, overseas Vietnamese, to protest about this issue. Therefore, I foresee that there will be pushes made from all directions: one to push the UN to find a venue location where all Buddhists in the world can participate in.
RFA: I want to ask you: what is the benefit of participating in the Visak Bochea celebration in Hanoi where a large number of Buddhists in the world cannot join in, what is its importance?
KKF: First, this is very important for Buddhists. Secondly, the other importance is that we are protesting about the religious pressure imposed by the Vietnamese government on religious belief. At that occasion, we and the international committee will see clearly that the Vietnamese government action, based on (international) convention or based on its own declaration to allow freedom rights, in fact, the Vietnamese government only talked about them, but in reality, it is the opposite. There, the international community will clearly sees it. Another issue, is the fact that this is a Vietnamese government’s trick to hide itself by claiming that it is a country fully opened, that was why this International celebration is allowed to take place next week. I believe that, now, the International community and the UN, in particular, will clearly see the Vietnamese government treachery. I also received information from Kampuchea Krom that police officers are conducting surveillance in every pagoda because they are afraid that Khmer Krom and Vietnamese monks may demonstrate during this celebration in Hanoi next week.
RFA: I want to ask you also about the Visak Bochea celebration, which earlier you said that it was held at the UN office in New York. Since when such celebration was held?
KKF: I do not remember when it started, but the KKF participated in this celebration in the past 5 years.
RFA: From the US, is there any group participating in this celebration in Hanoi?
KKF: By what I understand, the US religion department asked to participate, but even for them, they were not invited either. Human Rights Watch also asked to join in, they were denied also, and Khmer Krom monks asked to join also, but we didn’t receive any invitation.
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