Oct 23, 2003

Khmer Krom Representatives will prepare a mass non-violent demonstration


Statement from Khmer Kampuchea Krom Coordination Committee
Earlier October 2003, Khmer Kampuchea Krom Coordination Committee (KKKCC) has separately forwarded three letters to the Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Cambodia in order to request a meeting. The meaning of each letter has stated clearly the committee’s purpose to the Ambassador that fellow Khmer Kampuchea Krom people living in Cambodia have desired to support Khmer Buddhism with 570 pagodas in southern part of Vietnam (Kampuchea Krom) the places where they formerly used to depend on living and learning, and at present those are still the places for their relatives and descendants depending on for learning and holding various Buddhist celebrations.

The 3 letters with the same meaning, which had been sent to the Vietnamese Ambassador in Cambodia, were denied to reply to the committee.

Indeed, we have been very regretful for the lack of morality, dignity and trying to harbor racism discrimination and reprisal that Vietnamese leaders used to commit on Khmer Kampuchea Krom people. At the same time, it is revealed definitely by Vietnamese Embassy in attempting to bar development for Khmer people in Kampuchea Krom, which is under the control of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

On behalf of Khmer Kampuchea Krom people, we have purpose to meet Vietnamese Ambassador not only to confirm our subject and to ask for advisory, opinion for carrying Buddhist Bibles to Kampuchea Krom, but also to establish good relation towards reconciliation and abolish the old trauma that the Vietnamese leaders used to commit on Khmer Kampuchea Krom people there.

The Vietnamese Ambassador’s attitude towards Khmer Kampuchea Krom Organizations/Associations at this time has violated the principle affirming that Vietnam is comprehensively opening to facilitate for all the people who had previously held Vietnamese nationality have the rights to return and take part in building freely their country.

Khmer Kampuchea Krom Coordination Committee declares against arrogant behaviors and discrimination of Vietnamese Embassy against fellow Khmer Krom people by taking following actions:

1- to hold press conference in Phnom Penh city in order to certify clearly about discrimination of Vietnamese embassy towards Khmer Krom people.

2- to request intervention from UN center for human rights and various embassies to Cambodia to compel this embassy to provide justice for Khmer Krom people like Kinh people (Yuon) in Cambodia who have the rights to go in and out their country freely.

3- In the necessary case, KKKCC will prepare mass non-violent demonstration demanding until succeeding our purpose.

Kim Vanncheng
KKKCC Coordinator