Happy New Year 2020: Message from KKF Executive President

Happy New Year 2020: Message from KKF Executive President

Posted on by Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation

Friday, December 20, 2019

Dear KKF Members, Supporters, and Friends:

As 2019 is coming to an end, on behalf of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF), I would like to wish you and your family with peace, love, a joyful holiday season, and the very prosperous New Year.

KKF has achieved many significant activities in this whole year of 2019.  During this holiday season, let us reflect on what we had done as a team work to implement our KKF’s 2019 plan.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for contributing your valuable times and financial supports to help KKF in our advocacy for the fundamental rights of our voiceless Khmer-Krom people in our Kampuchea-Krom homeland.

Below are the highlights of some of the main works that KKF had done during this whole year:

I. KKF Advocacy at the United Nations (UN):

A. Universal Periodical Review (UPR):

KKF submitted the shadow reports and participated in the review of Vietnam on the UPR 3rd cycle review and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

B. Permanent Forum on the Indigenous Issues (PFII):

KKF continues to contribute to the constructive recommendations at the PFII in the United Nations in New York, U.S.A.

C. Expert Mechanism on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP):

KKF also attended the EMRIP at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

D. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC):

KKF participated in the Questions & Answers (Q and A) session to respond to the inquiries regarding the KKF’s application for the consultation status with the ECOSOC at the United Nations in New York, U.S.A.

E. United Nations Department of Global Communication (UN-DGC):

In addition to the aforementioned activities, KKF also joined in the international conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A. which was organized by the UN-DGC.

Regardless of what Vietnam has tried to accuse or lobby to silence our KKF, we have consistently continued to participate at the United Nations.  KKF has contributed valuable and constructive recommendations to the U.N., especially to the Vietnamese government, to ensure that the Khmer-Krom should freely enjoy the fundamental rights which is enshrined in the international laws and treaties that Vietnam signed as a member state.

Most importantly, the Khmer-Krom should not be left behind while Vietnam is implementing the projects of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

F. KKF Organizing Activities to Support the United Nations Department of Global Communications (UN-GDC):

KKF has organized various significant events and activities to support the works of the United Nations as an organization associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (UN-DGC), among them the International Women’s Day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., a workshop to train the KKF members about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in San Jose, California, U.S.A.

G. KKF Organizing Activities to Support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDG) Project: 

KKF has recorded and broadcasted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Project in the Khmer language for our Khmer-Krom indigenous people presently living in our homeland in Kampuchea Krom to have a clear understanding about the potentially destructive impacts that may cause to their livelihoods in the Mekong River Delta. KKF has also worked side by side with the KKF chapters around the United States, Australia, Europe, and Cambodia to celebrate the International Human Rights Day.

II. KKF Advocacy with major Economic Donor Countries to Vietnam:

For advocating with countries that provided the economic and military assistances to Vietnam, KKF has submitted the current update reports as well as participated in the briefing meetings with the ranking government officials at the United States Department of State (US-DOS), the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

The subjects of our discussions with these officials were regarding to the human rights violations and the religious persecutions against the Khmer-Krom people in the Mekong Delta, before their annual human rights dialogue meetings with Vietnam,

III. KKF Joint Collaborations with the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the Civil Society Organizations:

For collaborating with NGOs and civil society organizations, KKF co-sponsored an International Symposium on the Khmer-Krom’s Right to Self-Determination at the Peace Palace in The Hague, The Netherlands in the early June of this year.

The Khmer-Krom should deserve to have the right to self-determination because it is enshrined in the Article-1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights: “All peoples have the right of self-determination.” KKF chapters also organized events to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the “June Fourth” event (1949 – 2019) around the world.

IV. KKF Activities to Strengthen the Grassroots Supports:

For strengthening the grassroots supports, KKF has continued to establish the new chapters as well as to retain our current local bases around the globe by recruiting more members and gain more supporters.

Besides this, KKF has also tried our bests of whatever we could do to assist our Khmer-Krom compatriots, who escaped our homeland in the Mekong River Delta, and who, at the present moment, have been seeking refuge temporarily in Cambodia and Thailand, for their future resettlements in the third countries.

V. KKF Latest News/Media Program “Good Morning Kampuchea-Krom”:

Last but not least, our KKF’s media is stepping up to another sophisticated level. The Prey Nokor TV or the Voice of Khmer-Krom (VOKK) has various programs, especially the “Good Morning Kampuchea-Krom”, to update the latest information about the KKF’s activities and human rights violations against our voiceless Khmer-Krom in our homeland.

Over all, even with the very limited budget and resources, but working as a team, I am immensely proud of all the activities that we have accomplished in the year of 2019 for our KKF organization.

As the New Year dawns, we will approach the challenges that 2020 will bring to our KKF and our Khmer Krom compatriots with huge potential rewards. Thank you very much for being part of our journey to seek fundamental freedom, especially the right to self-determination for our people in the Kampuchea-Krom homeland. Happy New Year, 2020!

Sincerely Yours,

Sereivuth Prak
Executive President
Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation

                 PDF FILE

In Loving Memory

Posted on by Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation

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

Greenwood Funeral Home Mount Olivet Chapel

2301 North Sylvania Avenue

Fort Worth, Texas 76111

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

Posted on by Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation

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

A Journey of Commitment to Obtain the Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC

Posted on by Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation

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 workshops 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.

Happy New Year 2019: Message from KKF Executive President

Posted on by Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation

Dear KKF Members, Supporters, and Friends:

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.

PRESS RELEASE: HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE

Posted on by Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation

 

PRESS RELEASE

Human rights conference

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: The Right to Self-Determination in the International Law
    • Senator Paul Strauss – United States Senator from the District of Columbia
    • Ms. Julie Duval, Program Officer, Unrepresented Nations & Peoples Organization (UNPO)
  • Panel 3: The Right 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

Download PDF File in Khmer & English

KKF Chairman’s invitation to attend annual meeting

Posted on by Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation

N° 39/KKF.Ch/18

Date: 24/09/2018

LETTER OF INVITATION

FROM

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

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:

  1. Thach Chune – 408-613-6196
  2. Thach Toan – 408 – 314 – 6929
  3. Son Yoeng Ratana – 408 – 550-5060

Email: info@khmerkrom.org

There are two international airports to arrive at San Jose, California, U.S.A:

  1. 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.

Download PDF File in Khmer & English

Political & Economic Situation in Southeast Asia: the Case of the Khmer-Krom People

Posted on by news

PRESS RELEASE

International Conference

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.

Contact:  f.delemer@unpo.org,  info@khmerkrom.org.

Registration: Send your full name and ID number at:  a.gattolin@senat.fr. 

For detailed information, please visit: http://unpo.org/article/20747