According to a report by RFA, hundreds of Khmer-Krom and Khmer people from across the United States of America have flocked to Philadelphia to listen to KKF delegates speak about their recent experience and success at The Hague. Participants have expressed their joy and clarity in understanding KKF’s accomplishments and visions to advocate for human rights on behalf of millions of oppressed Khmer-Krom people back in Kampuchea-Krom.

Listen to RFA report in Khmer

Returning to France for the first time in a long time, over fifteen KKF representatives have continued their campaign to Paris just days after their successful three day conference in The Hague, Netherlands.

An idea taking rooting only 13 months ago, the conference on Self Determination in International Law has exceeded the expectations of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) and the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) delegations.

The right to self-determination in international law is a hotly debated topic amongst the global community. A concept inspired in the 1960s, decolonization and self-determination poses as alternative solutions for indigenous peoples and organizations.

Symposium on "The Right to Self-Determination and International Law"

The Hague, the Netherlands

From 29 September until 01 October 2006, The Hague played host to a unique gathering of experts, activist, and practitioners, as the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) and Hawai’i Institute for Human Rights (HIHR) joined forces and executed a highly productive and dynamic Symposium on “The Right to Self-Determination in International Law.”

Symposium: "The Right to Self-determination in International Law", 29 September – 1 October 2006, The Hague

Opening Session: Speech by Marino Busdachin, UNPO General Secretary

The subject of this conference seems to be especially important for the international community. It is fulfilling a major gap in the last years on analysing and debating the major question of the right to self-determination and its place in the context of the wider purposes of International Law.

Major conferences and studies in the 1990s found undoubtedly that the right to self-determination is conferred on peoples by international law itself and not by states. And, following, that its exercise must be given content in an International Law system of guarantees.

The Hague, international city of justice, this weekend took one more step in the process of expanding the scope of international justice. The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) joined forces with the Khmers Kampuchea–Krom Federation (KKF) and the Hawai’i Institute for Human Rights (HIHR), in an effort to construct and further a meaningful dialogue on the subject of self-determination. A concept, which though enshrined in many documents central to international law, remains largely poorly understood and executed in practice.

The past week has seen discussions at the UN General Assembly in New York and UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on the integral link between the prevailing security climate and questions relating to human rights, intra-state stability, and self-determination.

Symposium

The prevalence of this inter-relationship, and the magnitude of its related issues, emphasises the importance of building on these discussions by continuing them also beyond the halls and corridors of the General Assembly and Human Rights Council. From 29 September until 01 October 2006, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), in collaboration with the Khmers-Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) and the Hawai’i Institute for Human Rights (HIHR), will hold an international Symposium on “The Right to Self-Determination and International Law,” in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Radio Free Asia has interviewed Mr Thach Ngoc Thach, the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation President about his views on the organization’s goals as he leads the Khmer-Krom people to their first ever international conference on Self Determination in International Law on Khmer-Krom Issues.

With over 100 participants expected to attend this conference held in The Hague, Netherlands, the struggle of the Khmer Krom people continues as KKF brings Khmer-Krom history and issues to recognized international experts.

Listen to RFA report in Khmer

Today, during ongoing sessions of the UN General Assembly in New York and the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the world focuses on the integral link between our security climate and questions of human rights, self-determination, and intra-state stability.

From 29 September until 1 October 2006 the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), in collaboration with the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation, and the Hawai'i Institute for Human Rights, will hold a Symposium, entitled "The Right to Self-Determination and International Law," in The Hague, the Netherlands.