Every Person Has the Right to Live In Freedom A unity letter from the President of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation, Mr. Thach Ngoc Thach. Our efforts are guided by a clear vision for we are determined to see our people live free like the other peoples of the international community. We have our ROAD MAP that continues to be carried from our past ancestors until today. Together we can plan and fulfil year by year this vision, that is to let our people have access to the right and privileges of self-determination. Since the day the Vietnamese people colonized our home land, countless struggles have been fought against the invaders. Many people were killed by these invaders and yet, the struggle continues even to this day. This determination proves that we can once again set history on a hopeful course, away from poverty and despair and start heading towards development whilst maintaining dignity of self-determination. We have to stop the sacrifice strategies, the oppression and all kind of violence initiated by the Vietnamese communist government. In the past, we have frustrated the plans of the invaders and have revitalized the Khmer-Krom’s spirit by encouraging ideas of a non-violent struggle. We have elevated Khmer-Krom’s flag around the world within our own communities and the international community. As the time goes by, we must never forget our suffering and continue to acknowledge our combined efforts of achievement. Seizing this moment requires idealism: We, Khmer-Krom, must “Work Together” in order to achieve our vision and to fulfill the need of our people inland. “Work Together” means to work with one principle and one vision. Our immediate goal is help our people inland gain their basic fundamental human rights and freedoms. We have seen many false starts and hopes dashed. Lives have and continue to be lost in our home land. We must take steps to stop them! As Khmer-Krom individuals and as organizations, we have a responsibility to fulfill the vision of our ancestors. We must end public campaigns for individual benefits or visions which allow the VN communist government to break our struggle. KKF as an indigenous organization is fulfilling the dreams of our ancestor and has created a ROAD MAP on how to achieve that dream. Only through a genuine democratic process can we fulfill the hopes of our Khmer-Krom and raise the Khmer-Krom flag. KKF has achieved many milestones since it creation and not just with its activities. There is nothing wrong with the concept of unity, to be under the umbrella of KKF, an organization known to the world. Do we want to start from scratch or move forward to freedom? What we have to do now is to united and exercise our rights; the rights that we have waited for so long. These crucial steps of unity are difficult steps, because united requires new trust and the VN will do all they can to destroy that trust. Yet, we, KKF, have to move forward in practical ways. We must not let our differences stop us from being involved with KKF or support KKF. The fight is about helping our people, not about who is better or smarter. The fact that we serve our people does not mean we like politics, it simply because we are Khmer-Krom and we care about our people whose human rights are long overdue. We know there are many obstacles and that the road is long. We have to be ready for the long race to freedom – and there is a reason to be optimistic. Self-determination is the direction of new world, because it is the permanent hope of all humanity. “Buddha is the universal teacher of all humans and Angels, and we are his follower, his student; so there is no reason to believe that YUON are smarter than us” Use his knowledge to light the way for our struggle. Thach N. Thach
