KKF Joins Media Advisory Conference Ahead of Vietnam PM Visit to USA

Members of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation, Mr. Lenny Thach, Mr. Duong Hoang and Mr. Ricky Tran have attended the Media Advisory at Cannon Terrace, Washington D.C. on June 19th 2008. Amongst the speakers present included Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), VN caucus Co-chair, Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), VN Caucus Co-chair, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), VN Caucus -Co-chair and Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. During the press conference, the Representatives stressed the need to bring Democracy reforms for the Vietnamese people and all ethnic groups in Vietnam. “Massive human rights violations perpetrated by the Government of Vietnam will not be forgotten, overlooked or trivialized. We will continue to highlight these abuses—which are ongoing today—in an attempt to offer encouragement, solidarity and hope to the victims and pressure the government to reform,” said Vietnam Caucus Co-Chair Chris Smith (R-NJ) in the Media Advisory statement.

Co-Chair Rep. Christ Smith and Rep. Loretta Sanchez Vietnam Caucus Co-Chair Loretta Sanche (D-CA) spoke about the need of Vietnam to improve its human rights record and to reform for Democracy for Vietnamese people and all ethnics in Vietnam which included the Khmer Krom people. The Director of Human Rights Watch, Mrs. Sophia Richardson stated that the situation on human rights needed to be improved as many human rights and religious activists such as Khmer Krom Buddhist monks remain imprisoned. Mrs. Sophia Richardson the Director of HRW in Washington DC and New York speaks about human rights. The Director of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Mr. Leonard added that religious freedom was deteriorating and that President Bush needed to bring these issues with Prime Minister of Vietnam. Representatives called for US to place Vietnam back on the Country of Particular Concern list. KKF representatives also distribute pamphlets to the distinguished representatives at the press conference and spoke about Khmer Krom issues.