Dr. Joshua Cooper and Mr. Vien Thach of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federationis are attending the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations. Please read the statement below which mention of genocide on Khmer Krom.

KKN - Phnom Penh, Cambodia 6 July 2006 -- According to a report by a group of Buddhist monks currently staying at Wat Buntumvoti in Phnom Penh Vietnamese border control officials and guards in Long Binh arrested and harassed Khmer Krom Buddhist monks for seeking permission to enter Long Binh market to purchase material for festivities. [Read in Khmer]

The Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation(KKF) wishes to announce that the newly formed organization so called "Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Government" has no connection whatsoever with the KKF.

KKF is the sole legitimate organization representing the over eight millions Khmer Krom currently living under the oppression of the Vietnamese communist government.

The following a transcript from Radio Free Asia broadcast on 24 May 2006.

Ladies and gentlemen listeners, it has been a long time ago but Khmer Krom never forgot the land of Kampuchea-Krom which Vietnam has been colonising and now Khmer Krom intellectuals, especially those who support the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) are determined that they will gain independence through the use of peaceful measures and international law. What are some the reasons why KKF believe that this will be possible? Mr Manarith reports from KKF meeting last week.

An animated time map of the Khmer Empire from 100CE to 1550CE created by the University of Sydney in collaboration with University of Kyoto.

The Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) is seeking support for funds towards the first ever International Legal Conference on Khmer Krom to be held in the Hague, Netherlands 29 September to 1 October 2006 (please note the change of date).

Experts on international law will discuss the illegal occupation of Kampuchea-Krom land by Viet Nam plus many other issues including human rights and the right to determination.

The conference's aim is to promote Khmer Krom on the world stage, to seek recognition from the international community on Khmer Kroms' plight, and to highlight the human rights abuse on Khmer Krom people by the Vietnamese government.

You can make a secure donation by clicking on the Make a Donation button below or by contacting your local Khmer Krom Association or local KKF Charter.

Read in Khmer

If you would like to know more about the conference, please contact us by email: info@khmerkrom.org

Cochin China or Kampuchea-Krom was the South-Eastern part of Cambodia when France colonised it in 1862. It was transferred to Vietnam on the 4th of June 1949. Kampuchea-Krom covers an area of 67,700 km2 with approximately 8 million Khmer-Krom people living throughout 21 provinces in the Mekong Delta. Approximately 95% of these people practice Theravada Buddhism, which translates to "Little Vehicle". Khmer-Krom are the indigenous people of the land possessing their own civilisation and ancestral culture.

In 1863, His Majesty NORODOM, the King of Cambodia requested the France to protect our Country against the infringements of our neighbors. The France established the protectorate over Cambodia, but made our territory of Kampuchea-Krom its colony of Cochin-China.

In 1949, without consulting Cambodia, the French Government MRP, Mr. Costes-Floret decided to cede the Cochin-China to the Emperor Bao Dai, hoping by this transfer to preserve the essential privileges of the French in Indo-China. It is a remark of the Imperatrice Nam Phuong, a catholic as the MRP.

Under the order of His Majesty King NORODOM Sihanouk, a Cambodian Delegation (composed of LL. EE Chhean Vam, Thonn Ouk, Sonn Voeunsai and myself) were sent to the France to protest against this transfer, and to monitor the debates concerning this decision.

It is a noble deed that all Khmer national and international communities are participating. Such noble actions are motivated by generosity and humanity which all people are contributing to put an end to the suffering of the Khmer Krom People in the former Cochin-China or current South Vietnam. The purpose is, through peaceful measures which have been guaranteed by the international laws, to demand and to save fundamental rights, freedoms and dignities for tens of thousands of Buddhist monks and millions of indigenous Khmer people in Kampuchea-Krom.

By Jim Yost

In an earlier post, an observer questioned the appropriateness of a demonstration by Khmer Krom that expressed their opposition to policies and practices of the Vietnamese regime.

Perhaps such a question is rooted in ignorance of the facts of history...past and present...or is a result of innocent naiveté.

Whatever label may be applied to the Vietnamese regime, ... be it communistic, tyrannical, dictatorial, etc., ... is not as important as the acknowledgement that the oppression and state-sponsored subjugation of the Khmer Krom continues. Far from "just denouncing it now," the Khmer Krom have denounced communism since its inception in their environment, it is inherently in conflict with the Khmer Krom culture, especially the religious traditions and the fabric of family and village life.