Friday, May 8, 2009

Khmer Krom, Khmer Kandal, Khmer Leur: the undeniable facts

By KY
Posted at: : http://cambodianbrightfuture.blogspot.com/

Dear Khmer Compatriots (KK & all Khmer descendants)

In sum, Khmer Krom, Khmer Kandal, and Khmer Leur (Surin, Buriram & Si Sa Keth etc) are Khmer. We have had the same destiny: plundered and oppressed by the coming of new emerging nations (Thailand and Vietnam). Currently, we all appeal for the same goals: respecting our culture, allowing us to live our own way of lives, giving us fundamental freedom, recognizing our Khmer value, providing us self-determination, and don't eliminate our identity...etc

Khmer proverb says "struggle you survive, silent you die" or "effort brings us success". Khmer people have believed in the work of "termite" or "ants". Termites have small body, no perfect sense-organs, but gradually their effort witness their success of having mount-like resident (dey dombok). Khmers are still having hope through their gradual effort and commitment.

There are ongoing debates on the positive changes in a nation depended on upper elites/bourgeoisie or depended on the bottom-line participation (farmers, workers and minority)?

These debates have resulted in two schools of thought: the political change from the top-down effort has resulted in dictatorship/authoritarian/totalitarian, but political change from the bottom-up effort has resulted in democracy, justice, and egalitarian development.

Individual Cambodian has to understand that, their nation wholly depends on them not on those few elites/capitalists. Scholars have found that individuals have their capacity and hidden transcripts/power to make whole society change positively. Positive change of the whole society has not merely depended on fate or the belief on the death of few dictatorship leaders. Changes of the past, present and future have evidently been resulted by the individual effort or bottom-up struggling.

In reality, in some situation Cambodian people's quietness means their death is coming closer, but if they are waking up to struggle means they can live longer.

In the past, Cambodian people surrendered and offered their authority to top leaders. But when their hope has been always disappeared, they have begun mobilizing their own gut and effort. Cambodian people have not depended on their so-called charismatic or capable leaders any more. They have been changing to Cambodians' new insight resulting in how Cambodia can survive nowadays.

As part of the society member, Cambodian cannot expect from others' effort, they have to participate collectively. Or Cambodian cannot live silent because doing so their destiny will be stolen by the few.

Khmer Krom people are Khmer. Their culture, language and blood are Angkorean's mental and biological inheritance. Because of the awakening of individual Khmer Krom that why they can live nowadays. Khmer Krom people are different from Khmer Surins. While Vietnam's approach to Khmer Krom is different from Thailand, Khmer Krom has remained its authority and sovereignty more than Khmer Surins.

Thailand has satisfied Khmer Surin all what they desire, but Thailand has worked to eliminated the identity of Khmer Surins. Eventually, major Khmer Surins have succumbed to the ideological effort of Thailand. In contrast to Khmer Krom, Vietnam has experienced hardship to lure the Khmer Krom or we can say that "Khmer Krom has more intellectual leaders than". Intellectual leaders who have no owned the manner of selfishness and arrogance. Khmer Krom deserve to be worldwide recognized and sympathized.

In sum, Khmer Krom, Khmer Kandal, and Khmer Leur (Surin, Buriram & Si Sa Keth etc) are Khmer. We have had the same destiny: plundered and oppressed by the coming of new emerging nations (Thailand and Vietnam). Currently, we all appeal for the same goals: respecting our culture, allowing us to live our own way of lives, giving us fundamental freedom, recognizing our Khmer value, providing us self-determination, and don't eliminate our identity...etc

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