Khmer Krom remind the day standing up for freedom

16/11/2009
by Monikhemra Chao

Venerable Yoeun Sen, a Cheft of Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Buddhist Monk Association in celebration, 16 Nov, 2009.

The Buddhist Monks and Khmer Kampuchea-Krom peoples approximate 250 celebrate a ceremony to remind the standing up for freedom in Kampuchea-Krom (South Vietnam) in 16 November, 1976-16 November, 2009.

Ven. Yoeun Sen, a Cheft of Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Buddhist Monk Association says that The Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Organizations and Associations celebrate the day of standing for freedom in Samaki Raingsey Pagoda, Trea Village, Sangkat Stoeung Meanchey, Khan Meanchey, Phnom Penh.

Khmer Kampuchea-Krom peoples participate in Samaki Raingsey Monestery

Ven. Yoeun Sen says that they celebrate this ceremony for reminding young people to remember that Khmer Krom have been suppressed by both Free Vietnamese and Vietnamese Communist Regime. “We do not be afraid of what Vietnamese Authorities are doing. On behalf of Khmer Krom such as the Chair of Khmer Kampuchea-krom Buddhist Monk Association, we would like to encourage all Buddhist Monks and Khmer Krom people to stand up for rights, freedom, justice and peace”, he says this morning.

Mr. Yonn Tharo, a member of Nation Assembly of Cambodia says that nowadays Khmer Kampuchea-Krom still meet many different, and they feel not safe whenever Vietnamese Communist Government control them. Yonn Tharo says Khmer Krom are discriminated by Vietnamese. Vietnamese Authorities have closed school which used to teach Khmer language. If Khmer Kampuchea-Krom want to know Khmer language clearly, such as reading, writing, they have to study in Pagoda; however, their cultures are limited now…

Kim Bokeo, a former of prisoner in Vietnam who remember that real situation of what happened during 16 November, 1976, he says that 33 year ago Khmer Krom stood up for freedom from Vietnamese Communist Government who is controlled Khmer Kampuchea-Krom till now. “I am a victim of approximate 8.000 peoples of the 16 November, 1976’s event”, Bokeo.

Bokeo says at celebrating that after 30 April, 1975, Vietnamese Communist Government has not offered the rights for Khmer Kampuchea-Krom who are indigenous people, living in their homeland (South Vietnam). On the contrast, Vietnamese Communist Regime has strongly suppressed on Khmer Krom by eliminate, close school for studying Khmer language, Religious abuse, custom, culture…by these reason, “Khmer Krom and I stood up together for demanding freedom. After that we were be suppressed by Vietnamese Authorities. They used strongly violent to threaten us, and shot us”, he says.

Kim Bokeo’s victim says that there are many peoples were death, arrested, and prisoned in 16 November, 1976’s event. 65 peoples were death, 3 peoples were penalty, 6 peoples were prisoned whole life, 4 peoples were prisoned 20 years, 4 peoples were prisoned 15 years, 1 people was prisoned 13 years, 1 people was prisoned 5 years, and 1 people was prisoned 3 years.

The event 16 November, 1976, is celebrated at Samaki Raingsey Pagoda, the participants are from Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Organization-Associations and Political party (Sam Raingsy and Human Rights Party). This celebration is started from 8:30 am to11:30 am. The main point of the celebrating to remind the generation that Vietnamese Communist Government no longer loves indigenous Khmer Krom so Khmer Kampuchea-Krom should stand up for their rights, freedom, justice, peace and self-determination.