UNPO Presidency Member Thach Ngoc Thach has issued an appeal seeking immediate attention and support for ending the persecution of Khmer Krom Buddhist monks by Vietnamese authorities.

Below is a statement issued by UNPO Presidency Member Thach Ngoc Thach on 19 April 2007:

To Whom It May Concern:

On behalf of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) representing the indigenous Khmer-Krom people of the Mekong Delta (South Vietnam) and the Khmer Krom diasporas around the world, I would like to seek your immediate attention and support in ending the unjust prosecution of Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks, in Soc Trang province in South Vietnam, for the alleged crime of organizing and participating in a peaceful demonstration partaking with 200 Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks on 8th February 2007 to request for religious freedom.

On 22nd February 2007, nine Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks were forced to disrobe:

1. Thach Do, aged 27 from Wat Ta Sek, Vinh Hoa commune, Vinh Chau district, Kleang (Soc Trang) province.
2. Ly Hoang, aged 22 from Wat Sam Rong, Phuong 5, Kleang (Soc Trang) province.
3. Ly Tang Thong aged 23 from Wat Sam Rong, Phuong 5, Kleang (Soc Trang) province.
4. Ly Thanh Suoi, aged 28 from Wat Teok Praiy, Long Phu district, Kleang (Soc Trang) province.
5. Thach Xuan Hien, aged 21 from Wat Ta Meon, Vinh Binh commune, My Xuyen district, Kleang (Soc Trang) province.
6. Tang Phien, aged 22 from Wat Ta Meon, Vinh Binh commune, My Xuyen district, Kleang (Soc Trang) province.
7. Ly Suong, aged 21 from Wat Teok Praiy, Long Phu district, Kleang (Soc Trang) province.
8. Kim Muon, from Wat Ta Sek, Vinh Hoa commune, Vinh Chau district, Kleang (Soc Trang) province.
9. Thach Thuong, aged 28 from Wat Teok Praiy, Long Phu district, Kleang (Soc Trang) province.

Currently, three disrobed monks (Kim Muon, Ly Suong, and Thach Thuong) are still imprisoned in the unknown location. The other six disrobed monks have been released. Some of them already escaped to Cambodia because they felt their lives were being threatened.

Unfortunately, on April 19, 2007, another two Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks were forced to disrobe and now being held in their temples:

1. Ly Nau, aged 32, the Abbot of Wat Peam Buon, Long Phu district, Kleang (Soc Trang) province.
2. Son Thanh Phia, aged 29, the Abbot of Wat Dom Po, Long Phu district, Kleang (Soc Trang) province.

Furthermore, three Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks residing in separate Khmer temples in Tra Vinh province are currently facing forced disrobement and imprisonment for the alleged crime of being caught in possession of published human rights materials and documentation. They have been held under temple arrest since January 2007 and incoming reports have highlighted the increasing pressure by Vietnamese authorities to force the Head Monk of each temple to defrock their own monks.

The three Buddhist monks are:

1. Venerable Son Lum An, aged 21, Kanchoung Kampong Leiv temple, Tra Vinh province.
2. Venerable Son Cheng Cheon, aged 24, Trok Kurt temple, Tra Vinh province.
3. Venerable Thach Phun, aged 26, Pho Sathireach temple, Tra Vinh province.

Since Vietnam was removed from the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list by the United States and officially became a member of WTO, Vietnamese Communist government has been increasing the Human Rights and religious violations against the Khmer-Krom people. In this regards, I would like to urgently appeal for your assistance to:

- Demand the Vietnamese Communist government to immediately release three disrobed Khmer-Krom who are still imprisoned without any condition.

- Demand the Vietnamese Communist government to stop disrobing our Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks.

- Pressure the Vietnamese Communist government to oblige in accordance to their constitution and United Nations treaties, in particular to the International Freedom of Religion Act.

If Vietnam continues to deny such acts of human right abuses despite the overwhelming evidences and testimonies by the monks themselves just prior to their arrest and disrobement, I would like to call for your assistance in reinstating Vietnam onto the CPC list.

Respectfully Yours,

Thach Ngoc Thach
President of Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation

 
Source: Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation