The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) expressed concern over the recent sentencing of Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks and activists by a Vietnamese court, marking yet another example of the systematic suppression of the indigenous Khmer-Krom community. On November 26, 2024, following eight months of unjust detention, denial of legal counsel and forced confessions, the Vietnamese court issued severe and unwarranted sentences for these individuals under charges of “abusing democratic freedoms”.
The persecution and unjust sentencing of the Khmer-Krom for peacefully practicing their Theravada Buddhism is part of a broader effort of the Vietnamese government to marginalize and suppress the community for their religious practices and for asserting their religious rights.
The Khmer-Krom are the indigenous Khmer community residing primarily in the Mekong Delta, and have faced discrimination and denial of cultural and religious freedoms for decades. Their struggle for recognition and self-determination has persistently been met with widespread repression, including arbitrary detentions, intimidation, the restriction of spiritual practices, and limitations on cultural expression by the Vietnamese government.
The recent judicial actions against Khmer-Krom monks and activists are an alarming continuation of this pattern of repression and further illustrate the Vietnamese government’s commitment to silencing dissent. Such actions violate international human rights standards, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the UN Convention Against Torture.
The Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) has urgently called on the international community to stand with the Khmer-Krom in a public press release. The UNPO continues to support the Khmer-Krom and other unrepresented communities, using its platform to amplify their voices and advocate for their fundamental rights. This case highlights the urgent need to combat the systemic discrimination faced by indigenous and marginalized groups and for the Vietnamese government to uphold and protect the religious freedoms of the Khmer-Krom.
