The Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) is appealing to the Cambodian government to demand the immediate release of a Khmer-Krom monk recognized as a Cambodian citizen currently under house arrest by the Vietnamese authorities in Preah Trapeang (Tra Vinh) province in Kampuchea-Krom (South Vietnam) for making contact with the KKF. Venerable Thach Cong Huong, about 30 years old is placed under house arrest at Kompong Lev Temple, Preah Trapeang province since the 30th of October. He is prohibited from leaving his room and from making contact with people outside. Constant surveillance of the monk is also enforced by the Vietnamese authority. KKF representatives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia have reported that the monk have been living in Cambodia for the past three to four years before deciding to return home to visit his family during Bun Ka-Tin Festival. The monk has been under Viet Nam monitor since leaving Phnom Penh and was detained upon arrival at his hometown on the 30th October. Prior to traveling, Ven. Thach was issued with valid Cambodian citizen travel documents. KKF spokesman Mr. Tran Mannrinh, told in an interview with Radio Free Asia (RFA), “we appeal to the government of Cambodia to take a clear stand regarding Khmer-Krom people, whether they accept all Khmer-Kroms as natural Cambodian citizen or not. If they accept, they must take the proper cause of actions to help their citizen”. A Cambodian government spokesperson said if Viet Nam arrested a Cambodian citizen, it must notify the Cambodian government in due course. According to other sources, the Vietnamese authority has denied the arrested of the monk. The same source states that the authority is restricting the monk’s mobility and denying him all basic human rights. Tep Vung, a highly respected Khmer monk in Phnom Penh, born Kampuchea-Krom told RFA that this is a complex case and he has no right to take any course of action. “This is very complicated, leave this to the law, they can work it out. If I make any sort of appeal, they accuse me that when ever Khmer-Krom breaks the law, I accuse Vietnamese of breaking the law. Who is wrong … it’s complicated,” says Venerable Vung. The Khmer-Krom people are too fearful of the Vietnamese authorities take any action to assist the monk citing Ven. Thach parents’ home have been visited by Vietnamese authority at least there times a day. The case of Venerable Thach is just one of many known cases of human rights abuses against the indigenous peoples of the Mekong Delta region. Several people have been beaten and arrested this year for reading, watching, or listening to KKF promotional materials including patriotic music, DVD of their activities at the United Nations, and the newsletter. Source: Khmer Krom Network