The ninth edition of Youth Voices, a quarterly publication from the Khmer Khrom Youth, has just been released. An article by Maggie Murphy of the UNPO Secretariat appears on page 24.

To view the full pdf of this document please click here.

Below are excerpts from the publication:

Preface

The ninth edition of the Youth Voices magazine brings Khmer -Krom stories from diverse activities from our homeland Kampuchea-Krom (southern Vietnam), to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, to New York city at the United Nations Headquarters, to Villepinte city-France, to Bangkok city-Thailand and the many places in the world. With KKF leadership and objectives, Khmer-Krom people, in particular youths around the globe who have shown great solidarity and strength by joining the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation to demand Vietnam respect of human rights of the Indigenous Khmer-Krom Peoples.

On the Human Rights front, a homeland story of Mr. Huynh Ba’s disappearance, a Khmer-Krom farmer remains a major concern to Khmer-Krom community. In America, our Khmer-Krom youths attended the 8th Session of UNPFII. Our Khmer-Krom youths in collaboration with the KKF leaders and other international NGOs had organized the “Peaceful March in San Francisco” on the anniversary of UN’s Human Rights Charters.

In Europe, Khmer-Krom youths, led by KKF team demonstrated in front of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland during Vietnam’s Universal Periodic Review. Our Khmer-Krom youths also had the opportunity to attend a human rights training, offered by international NGOs, during the Geneva trip. Likewise in Asia, our youths attended the UN Day of Vesak in Bangkok, Thailand.

Khmer-Krom youths around the world have been very active and well involved with the community. The young activists have demonstrated their Khmer-Krom pride locally and internationally, by representing identity internationally and by attending Human Rights training offered by NGOs and the UN. Khmer-Krom youths also attended world conferences in order to educate themselves about what it is be a Khmer-Krom person and learn about ways in which they could help the Khmer-Krom in homeland who being marginalized by the repressive government of Vietnam.

In term of “News-from-Home”, the stories of young Khmer-Krom girls being trapped in women trafficking ring in Kramoun Sar (Rach Gia) show the actual reality of what lack of information and resources regarding the dangers can do to poor communities. Amongst the stories of pain and terror, there are stories of hope such as the case of the two monks who dedicate their time to help educate the illiterate Khmer-Krom children in Phum Thom, Toul Ta Mok (Binh Phuoc) province.

These are few headlines we would like to point out, but there are many more insightful and dire stories in the rest of the publication that are needed to be read by us all.

With the start of the new school year, Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation Youth Committee (KKFYC) would like to wish great success in everyone’s pursuit of higher education and future employment:
STUDY HARD — WORK HARD — SAVE A LOT OF MONEY — HELP KHMER-KROM!

With Khmer-Krom Pride, KKFYC team thank you for reading our youth publication!

Or kun (Thank You)!

Voice from UNPO by Maggie Murphy

At times I complain about inequality in pay between men and women in Europe. At times I complain about unfair access to good schools in the UK.

At times, I complain about British policy and politics. But at least I can complain. I have been lucky to grow up in a society where discrimination is less than in other nations across the world, but importantly, I am lucky because I have the opportunity to speak out about my concerns.

The idea that I could not voice my frustration were I to live in certain countries of the world, or the thought that were I to do so would land me in prison, or worse, tortured, or worse murdered, drives me to do the work I do.

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization speaks out on behalf of 57 different groups around the world who cannot speak for themselves and for me it
borders on duty to use my voice to assist those who need a voice most. And it is for that reason that we need active, enthusiastic, knowledgeable young people to pass
the message on.

You have gifts that others are restricted from using - so believe in a positive future, use your gifts and good luck!