Khmer Krom Federation at the Third Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on the Indigenous Issues, May 10-21, 2004 in New York City, USA Item 4f: Education Date: May 11, 2004 Speaker: Sophan Son Mr. Chairman and All Distinguished Members of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues My name is Sophan Son. Today, I am very honored to speak for the Khmer Krom. Thanks to the UN for this opportunity. Khmer Krom is the indigenous people of the Mekong Delta of southern part of Vietnam has many fundamental problems and disadvantages in education and many other issues. Historically, in 1620, there was civil war in Vietnam. The displaced Vietnamese citizens were granted temporary settlements in the Khmer Krom homeland. Ironically, as the new settlers’ politics grew the Khmer Krom suffering has begun. They have endured mass executions, Buddhist leaders killed, Buddhist temples destroyed, and assimilation, etc. Our homeland has been fertile and rich in natural resources. But our people have to live in dire poverty with no health care, insufficient foods-medicines, and inability to afford our children’s basic education. Hence, about 70% of our population is illiterate and 90 % of them cannot read their mother tongue. On behalf of millions of the Khmer Krom people, I would like to present the problems that the Khmer Krom are facing as the following: a. There is no education system currently suitable for the Khmer Krom people in Vietnam, no center for Khmer Krom studies or library, b. The current teaching of the Khmer language in public school is not a program that actually gets Khmer Krom children to know their mother language. c. Khmer Krom monks study at their Pagodas with an obsolete education program. The new books and materials produced in Vietnam have no cultural and scientific values. d. The gap of education between the majority people (Vietnamese) and the minority people, the Khmer Krom, is large, especially in higher education. There are only 6 Khmer Krom holding Masters Degree and no Ph.D for an entire population of about 8 millions (according to some international estimates) and 1.3 million (according to Vietnam government data). e. The Khmer Krom have no opportunity to pursue higher education as there are no scholarship programs to enable them to do so. f. They receive no benefit from scholarships that have generously offered by international governments and organizations due to the repressive policies of the government. g. Many Khmer Krom with undergraduate degrees and medical professionals are unemployed. h. Outside efforts to support the Khmer Krom advancement of their education is blocked because the government of Vietnam ties these efforts to political motives. To help ease the situation, which could bear unpredictable outcomes if nothing being done. On behalf of the Khmer Krom, I would like to appeal to the UN to help Khmer Krom as the following: a. The establishment and operation of an Educational Foundation for Khmer Krom and to allow this organization to accept outside contributions and technical supports without government interruption or interference. b. The establishment and operation of a Khmer Krom Intellectual’s Association with the involvement and support of Khmer Krom abroad to help in education c. The establishment and operation of a Khmer Krom Buddhist Monks Association without its being controlled by the government d. Allowing the Khmer language to be one of the official languages in Khmer Krom homeland e. The establishment of a career placement agency for Khmer Krom f. The establishment of schools, which are operated by Khmer Krom abroad g. Improve the quality education in the Khmer Krom homeland and to implement affirmative action when Khmer Krom students can not attend quality schools in Vietnam h. To share scholarships and study abroad opportunities equally among Vietnamese and Khmer students i. To have UNESCO and PFII oversee and assist the education of the indigenous people j. To have a UN University offer scholarships for graduate and undergraduate degrees for indigenous students around the world where the controlling government has not sufficiently offered indigenous people their educational opportunity. Mr. Chairman and All Distinguished Members of the Permanent Forum: On behalf of the Khmer Krom in Vietnam, I would like to appeal the UN to take appropriate actions to help improving Khmer Krom education as outlined above. On their behalf, once again please accept our deepest gratitude and appreciation for your time and your attention. Thank you very much. Sophan Son