The Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) is a peaceful organization representing millions of voiceless Khmer-Krom people living in the Mekong Delta and its surrounding regions of current day Vietnam as well as thousands living in exile. KKF is a global organization ran by volunteers from around the world. Its human rights advocated activities are funded by donations from Khmer-Krom communities and the sympathizers across the continents.
On
Sunday morning, November 3, 2019, the members of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom
Federation (KKF) were shocked and deeply saddened to hear that Mr. Hoang Duong,
who had volunteered for the KKF as the Public Relations Officer in the United
States, passed away in Dallas, Texas.
On
behalf of the KKF, we would like to send our sincerest condolences to the
family of Mr. Hoang Duong. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during
this difficult time.
Mr.
Hoang Duong was a valuable team member of KKF. He used his own expenses and
especially his precious time with his family to travel around the world with
KKF to seek justice for the voiceless Khmer-Krom in the Mekong Delta. His
compassion, dedication, work ethic, and always smile will be remembered dearly
by the KKF’s members.
Please join us for a funeral services
honoring Mr. Hoang Duong’s life
Saturday, November 16, 2019, at 2
O’clock in the Afternoon
Every year, people around the world, especially the Khmer-Krom living abroad, enjoy celebrating the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on International Human Rights Day. The Khmer-Krom in the Mekong Delta are not allowed to celebrate this crucial event because their right to have rights that are enshrined in UDHR are being oppressed.
As an organization advocating for the fundamental rights of the voiceless Khmer-Krom who are the indigenous peoples of the Mekong Delta, the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) will celebrate the 71st Anniversary of the UDHR with its members and supporters at different locations around the world during the weeks of the International Human Rights Day.
Following the theme “Standup for Human Rights” to celebrate the 71st Anniversary of UDHR, KKF requests the Vietnamese government to uphold its responsibility as a member state of the United Nations to allow the Khmer-Krom to enjoy the fundamental rights as enshrined in the UDHR, especially the following articles:
1. Article 15 – Rights to nationality
As indigenous peoples of the Mekong Delta, the Khmer-Krom simply asks to be recognized as the indigenous peoples and obtain the official name as “Khmer-Krom” instead of being labeled as “ethnic minority” and called as “Khmer Nam Bộ”.
2. Article 18 – Freedom of religion or belief
The Khmer-Krom practices Theravada Buddhism, whereas the Vietnamese practices Mahayana Buddhism. Instead of protecting and promoting freedom of religion or belief, the Vietnamese government has forced the Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks to practice their religion under the controlled of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), which is the Buddhist association that was created and is controlled by the government.
The VBS has interfered and controlled how the Khmer-Krom practice their religion, such as: appointed the head monk for the Khmer-Krom temples; issued Buddhist monk ID for the Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks that have only in Vietnamese; replaced the Khmer-Krom’s temple stamps with new stamps that have only Vietnamese; forced Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks to frequently attend the so-called “National Security Training” classes which have nothing to do with religion.
Echoing the speech by Mr. ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, General-Secretary of the United Nations, at the event on religious freedom with the President of the United State, Donald Trump, at the UN Headquarters in New York in the September, Mr. Guterres said: “Looking around the world, we tragically know that this is not a reality for millions of people. It is totally unacceptable in the twentyfirst century for people to face discrimination and intimidation for their beliefs. The persecution of religious minorities is utterly intolerable. The full scope of their human rights is guaranteed, and States have an obligation to implement policies that ensure their identities are respected and that they feel fully part of society as a whole.”
It is time for the Vietnamese government to stop persecuting religious freedom and allow the Khmer-Krom to freely organize their own Buddhist organization without interference from the government so they can practice their religion without fear.
3. Article 26 – Right to education
The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2019 the International Year of Indigenous Languages. Unfortunately, the Vietnamese government has not done anything to promote preserving and publicly using the language of the indigenous peoples in Vietnam. Most of the Khmer-Krom children now cannot read and write Khmer fluently because they only learn a couple of hours per week in their public school. If the Khmer-Krom children want to learn their language, they have to go to study at their temples. Unfortunately, the government also has closed monitoring and event controlled of what the Khmer-Krom students learn at their temples without support from the government.
As of today, the Vietnamese government does not allow the Khmer-Krom to call the names of their villages, districts, or provinces in Khmer, but in Vietnamese. The government does not want the Khmer-Krom children to learn about the true history of their homeland because the Khmer name of each village, district, or province has a meaning and historical fact attaching to it.
The Vietnamese government should not keep implementing the assimilation policy against the Khmer-Krom. There are millions of Khmer-Krom living in the Mekong Delta. The Khmer language should be used in public as the second language in this area. If the government allows having a Khmer channel on the television, then the Khmer-Krom reporters should be allowed to call the villages, districts, and provinces in the Khmer names.
4. Article 27 – Right to take part in cultural, artistic and scientific life
There are thousands of Khmer-Krom youths dropping out of schools, leaving their beloved villages, to work in factories far away from home. During the Khmer-Krom special cultural events, such as celebrating Khmer-Krom New Year, the Khmer-Krom workers are not allowed to take off from work to come back to their village to celebrate their cultural events with their family and friends.
The Vietnamese government should have the policy to promote the cultural events of the indigenous peoples in Vietnam and allow the Khmer-Krom workers to have time off to participate in those events.
As Vietnam has been receiving foreign aids and supports in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, KKF would like to remind Vietnam in celebration of International Human Rights Day this year that:
“Human rights are at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as in the absence of human dignity we cannot drive sustainable development. Human Rights are driven by progress on all SDGs, and the SDGs are driven by advancements on human rights.”
“Today’s human rights violations are the causes of tomorrow’s conflicts.”
On May 22, 2012, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Committee on Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), which is composed by the Nineteen UN Member States, voted to grant KKF Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC by a consensus decision of all members on the NGO Committee. The observer delegation of Vietnam delivered a statement on May 30, 2012, requested member States of ECOSOC to overturn the decision of the NGO Committee, and launched a vehement campaign against KKF. On 23 July 2012, the member States of ECOSOC voted to revoke KKF’s consultative status with the result of 27 (yes), 14 (no), and 10 (abstain).
On January 28, 2016, the UN Committee on NGOs decided to vote to deny the representative of KKF to speak to support the application in the second time. The result of the vote against KKF’s representative to speak was 14 (yes), 4 (no), 1 (abstain), and 1 (absent). On January 29, 2016, the KKF’s application was denied and closed.
This month, May 2019, the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs will review the KKF’s application for the third time. The reason that KKF keeps re-applying because KKF never gives up its commitment to promote and protect human rights for the Khmer-Krom people in Vietnam in compliance with the UN Charter and international laws.
The KKF believe in equal rights taking basic steps to secure fundamental freedoms, especially in the area of language and religion (Theravada Buddhism). The KKF spiritual practices guide the actions toward cooperation toward universal peace. The UN Charter and the Buddhist character inspire the initiatives of the KKF. Building, not breaking up, the self and the state is the core belief of the KKF.
Despite the untrue accusation in order to disturb the KKF’s mission, KKF continues to participate and contribute positively to the mission of the UN PFII, the UPR, the EMRIP, HLPF & VNR, CAT, ICCPR. KKF has been associated with the UN Department of Global Communications (formally known as Department of Public Information) since November 2015. KKF has actively partnered with other NGOs to organize workshop and conferences to promote the works of the UN, and especially the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
As an organization created in harmony with the core commitments of the United Nations and having many positive contributions to the missions of the UN, KKF is looking forward to answering any questions that the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs has regarding KKF’s application.
Please click on this linkto view some of the KKF’s activities to support the UN’s mission to promote and protect human rights and UN 2030 Agenda.
During this holiday’s season and as this year is ending, on behalf of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF), I would like to wish you and your family a wonderful holiday and wish all the negativity and difficulties also end with this year.
As the upcoming year of 2019 is approaching, it is now a good time for us to reflect what we had done in 2018. Let me begin by expressing my deep appreciation to the KKF members and supporters who have worked tirelessly around the world to show that the indigenous Khmer-Krom people in Kampuchea-Krom are still facing the human rights abuses and the religious persecutions.
Together working as a team, we once again demonstrated our ability and confidence to lead KKF in advocating for the fundamental rights of the Khmer-Krom successfully around the world. Below are the links to the summary of the KKF activities in 2018:
70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Celebrate, Standup and Demand Fundamental Rights for the Indigenous Peoples in Viet Nam
The Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) will host a one-day human rights conference entitled “70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Celebrate, Standup and Demand Fundamental Rights for the Indigenous Peoples in Viet Nam” in San Jose, California, on Saturday, December 8, 2018, from 9 am to 4 pm, to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the UDHR and continue raising the awareness of the current human rights violations against the Khmer-Krom who are the indigenous peoples of the Mekong Delta.
Every year on the tenth of December, people around the world celebrate the Human Rights Day which is the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. Unfortunately, the indigenous peoples in Viet Nam have not yet enjoyed the fundamental rights as enshrined in the UDHR, especially the right to freely celebrate the Human Rights Day.
As a member state, Viet Nam signed seven out of nine treaties with the United Nations and also signed to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN DRIP). Ironically, the Vietnamese government refuses to recognize the indigenous peoples in Viet Nam and label them as the ethnic minority. Lacking recognition, the indigenous peoples in Viet Nam have been facing human rights violations and assimilation that have raised serious concerns.
The human rights advocates, elected officials, scholars, and members of the civil society will be invited to speak at this conference to “promote, engage and reflect” on the UDHR, and also focus on discussing how to leverage the international human rights system to protect and promote the fundamental rights of the indigenous peoples in Viet Nam.
For more information and registration, please contact: info@khmerkrom.org
Provisional Panels and Panelists:
Panel 1: Advance Human Rights Enshrined in UDHR to promote and protect the fundamental rights of the Indigenous Peoples in Viet Nam
Dr. Joshua Cooper, Executive Director, Hawaii Institute for Human Rights
Representatives for the Indigenous Peoples in Vietnam:
Mr. Thong Kim To, Senior Advisor & former Chairman, KKF
Mrs. Siang Bacthi, Executive Director, Tai Study Center
Mr. James Her, Chairperson, Congress of World Hmong People
Mr. Kok Ksor, President, Degar Foundation
Panel 2:TheRight to Self-Determination in the International Law
Senator Paul Strauss – United States Senator from the District of Columbia
Panel 3:TheRight to Freedom of Religion and Belief
(Tentative) Ms. Tina L. Mufford, Associate Director of Research and Policy, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)
Venerable TT Dhammo, Director of Religious Affairs, KKF
Panel 4:The Right to Receive Information and Freedom of Speech
(Tentative) Mr. Phil Robertson, Deputy Director, Human Rights Watch Asia Division
Dr. John Kirk Boyd, Chief Executive Officer/Founder, Unite for Rights
Panel 5:Implementing the 2030 Agenda and Its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Contributing and Advancing to the full Realization of Human Rights
Mr. Sereivuth Prak, Executive President, KKF
Dr. Joshua Cooper, Executive Director of Hawaii Institute for Human Rights
Dear Venerables, KKF’s members, supporters, and friends:
I am pleased to invite you to attend the KKF’s 2018 Annual Meeting to be held:
On: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 7-8-9 December 2018
At: Multicultural Center Hall
647 South King Road
San Jose, CA 95116
U.S.A.
It is an honor for KKF to have our Khmer-Krom community in San Jose to host this historical event in the heart of the Silicon Valley.
As in the agenda of previous annual meetings, the KKF’s leaders will update about the KKF’s 2018 activities and planning for the activities of 2019. Moreover, this annual meeting is more special.
There will be one day of this annual meeting (Saturday, 8 December 2018) to host as a one-day conference to invite the Human Rights advocates, scholars, and experts to speak at this conference. The speakers and panels will be broadcasted on VOKK and posted on the KKF’s website and social media.
We are looking forward to seeing you at this special annual meeting.
Sincerely yours,
Thach Vien
Chairman of the Board
For more information regarding the logistics of this annual meeting, please contact:
There are two international airports to arrive at San Jose, California, U.S.A:
San José International Airport (SJC) is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the center of global technology innovation. This is a preferred airport for easy to pick up and drops off.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is an international airport 13 miles (21 km) south of downtown San Francisco, California and 35 miles north of San Jose. It has flights to points throughout North America and is a major gateway to Europe and Asia.
Political & Economic Situation in Southeast Asia: the Case of the Indigenous Khmer-Krom People
The Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) together with the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) organise a one-day international conference entitled “Political & Economic Situation in Southeast Asia: the Case of the Indigenous Khmer-Krom People” in Paris on 2 June 2018 from 9am to 5pm to raise awareness of the situation of the the Khmer-Krom. The conference will be hosted by French Senator André Gattolin and will take place in Palais du Luxembourg, 15ter rue Vaugirard, 75006 Paris, France.
Nowadays, the indigenous Khmer-Krom communities suffer under the lack of a fair and uncorrupted judiciary system to deal with land claims but also under the excessive use of force by the authorities particularly towards Theravada Buddhist monks, the poor implementation of their rights to freedom of religion, expression and self-determination, as well as tactics of coercion based on intimidation, imprisonment without a fair trial and torture. Although the Vietnamese government has incorporated key human rights standards in the national Constitution and ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the implementation of these human rights is severely lacking.
The conference will gather members of the Khmer community, scholars, elected officials and members of the civil society. While the morning session will feature panels focusing on contemporary human rights abuses in the Mekong Delta, Kampuchea-Krom, the afternoon session will focus on the international human rights system meant to protect and promote the fundamental rights for the Khmer-Krom. The event will be held in English.
2018 Happy New Year Message from KKF Executive President
Friday, December 22, 2017
Dear KKF Members, Supporters, and Friends:
With the holidays upon us and the 2018 fast approaching, on behalf of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF), I would like to wish you and your family a wonderful holiday and wishing the New Year brings tremendous joy and good luck for you that take you to newer heights of success.
Now that we are a few days into the New Year, it’s good to look ahead and think about what this year may bring us. But, we need to reflect what we had done in 2017. First and foremost, I would like to say thank you to our KKF members who have worked tirelessly around the world to ensure that the fundamental rights of our voiceless Khmer-Krom in Kampuchea-Krom are protected and promoted as enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN DRIP).
2017 was quite a year for all of us at KKF. Regardless of the obstacles that KKF faced, the KKF leadership team had managed to conduct activities successfully around the world. Below are links to the summary of KKF activities in 2017:
Even KKF had achieved a successful mission in 2017, but the New Year comes with greater challenges and obstacles. It is important for us to use our time wisely and move forward as decisively and swiftly as we can in 2018. That will only be possible with your continued support, dedication, and teamwork. We will continue operating KKF as a team under the leadership of the members of the KKF Board of Directors and most importantly to ensure that no one is above the law.
Every New Year gives us the perfect chance to start something new and fresh. Working as a team in the KKF family, we will continue to work hard together to ensure our people back home could enjoy the freedom as we are living abroad. Happy New Year 2018!
