On May 28, 2013, the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF), represented by Mr. Hoang Duong, and Degar Foundation, represented by Mr. Kok Ksor, met the Country Officers of the U.S. Department of States (U.S. DoS).
The meeting started from 11a.m. to noon. During the meeting, Mr. Hoang Duong informed the Country Officers of the U.S. DoS regarding to the recent religious oppression that the Vietnamese Authority just committed against the Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks: Venerable Ly Chanh Da of Prey Chop temple; Venerable Lieu Ny and Venerable Thach Thuol of Ta Set temple, in Vinh Chau district, Soc Trang province.
On behalf of KKF, Mr. Mr. Duong urged the U.S. DoS for intervention to urge Vietnam to release Venerable Lieu Ny and Venerable Thach Thuol without any conditions and allow Venerable Ly Chanh Da to re-ordain as Buddhist Monk.
Mr. Duong also conveyed KKF’s support of the statement of Chairman Ed Royce of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Committee calling on the Secretary of State to place the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on the list as a “Country of Particular Concerns” with respect to violation of religious freedom and abuses against Khmer-Krom monks and the Khmer-Krom people in the Mekong Delta (South Vietnam).