The Subcommittee on Human Rights learned of the latest human rights abuses
going unpunished in Cambodia and Vietnam directly from UNPO Members.
Below is an article written by UNPO:
In the first meeting of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights
following the summer recess, representatives from the Khmer Kumpuchea-Krom
Federation (KKF) and the Montagnard Foundation Inc. (MFI) have provided the
committee with an up-to-date assessment of the human rights situations of
minorities in Cambodia and Vietnam.
UNPO joined other observers in a packed committee room to hear KKF and MFI
representatives give their evidence alongside counterparts from organizations
such as Amnesty International, Human Rights in China, and Human Rights Watch.
On the subcommittee’s agenda were an exchange of views following the close of
the Olympic Games in China, the current human rights situations in Cambodia,
Laos, and Vietnam, and lastly the state of human rights in Moldova.
Initial discussions dwelt on the impact the Olympic Games had had on China’s
policy towards its citizens. Mrs. Hom, representing Human Rights in China,
stated her organization’s belief that political change in China would have to
be driven by civil society within the country. This was reiterated by
representatives from the European Commission who referred attendees to the case
of bloggers driving criticism of the authorities.
Despite these comments, the European Commission stated only its
“disappointment” that any improvements in China’s human rights record had not
been commensurate with the promises made in the run-up to the Games. In fact,
it was felt that the Olympic Games may have put the promotion of Chinese human
rights on hold – but that the conclusion of the Games may allow China to put
its human rights record “back on track”.
This generous assessment was not shared by Mr. McMillan-Scott, vice-president
of the European Parliament. He declared China the “most brutal regime” in the
international community and urged the European Parliament to continue to amass
evidence on China’s human rights and the international community to maintain
its pressure on China.
Attentions then shifted to the respective human rights situations in Cambodia,
Laos, and Vietnam. Mr. Vien Thach, of the KKF read an appeal (which is
contained below) detailing a litany of religious, land right, education, and
media curtailments that affected the daily lives of Khmer Krom in Vietnam.
Responses were heard from the ambassadors for Cambodia and Vietnam who
respectively expressed their commitment to building political stability within
their countries but who, in the opinion of many of those gathered, still had
much to do to safeguard the rights of all those living within their states’
borders.
Mr. Kok Ksor, of the MFI, rebuffed claims by the Vietnamese government that it
targeted only those who had committed criminal acts, and instead cited a long
list of instances where the government had conducted surveillance and
confiscations against the Montagnard minority. Using the opportunity to address
the subcommittee, Mr. Ksor urged the European Parliament and the institutions
of the European Union to take the lead in ensuring Vietnam’s observance of the
international human rights instruments to which it is a signatory.
The Subcommittee on Human Rights will next meet in the European Parliament in
Brussels at 15h00 on Wednesday 10 September 2008.
Note:
UNPO Members are reminded of the following deadlines for the United Nations
Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review:
Vietnam: Monday 3 November 2008
Cambodia: Monday13 April 2009
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Below is the appeal presented by the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation to the
Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament on 25 August 2008:
On behalf of the Khmer-Krom refugees in Cambodia, we would like to bring to
your attention regarding the human rights violations that have been committed
by the Cambodian government toward the Khmer-Krom refugees in Cambodia.
On February 27, 2007, some Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks organized a peaceful
demonstration in front of the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnem Penh to demand the
Vietnamese release their fellow Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks who were imprisoned
in Vietnam after participating [in] a peaceful demonstration to demand freely
practice their Theravada Buddhism. After [they] came back from the
demonstration, Venerable Eang Sok Thoeun, 32 years old, was found with his
throat slit at Tronom Chroeng pagoda, Boeng Thom commune, Ang Snoul district,
Kandal Province, under mysterious circumstances. His body was buried in haste
in the middle of the night by the Cambodian police. The police also forbade
bringing his corpse for organizing a Cambodian traditional funeral ceremony.
On April 20, 2007, the Cambodia authority used a violent group of Cambodian
monks who served for the Cambodian authority to beat up Khmer Krom monks
conducting a peaceful demonstration in front of the Vietnamese Embassy.
Venerable Lim Yuth, 23 years old, was injured when a rock was thrown by the
opposing monk and hit his left eyebrow.
On 30 June 2007, Venerable Tim Sakhorn, Abbot of North Phnom-Denh temple in
Phnom-Denh village, Karivong District, Takeo province, Cambodia, was summoned
to meet the Head Monk of the Takeo province at Takeo City.. After the meeting,
the Cambodia authority ad the Head Monk accused Venerable Tim Sakhorn of using
his temple as a place “to propagate activities that divide their relationship
between Cambodia and Vietnam” as stated in the letter used to defrock Ven. Tim
Sakhorn by Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong.
After being defrocked, Venerable Tim Sakhorn disappeared. The spokesmen of the
Cambodian authorities were flip-flopping with the whereabouts of Venerable Tim
Sakhorn. The spokesman of the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom-Penh, Trinh Ba Cam,
had previously denied any knowledge of Venerable Tim Sakhorn’s whereabouts
after his disappearance from Cambodia.
What is more disturbing is the fact that the letter to defrock Venerable Tim
Sakhorn was secretly approved on Frebruary 17, 2007 by Venerable Tep Vong who
is the “King” of Cambodian Buddhist monks in Cambodia, but the people in
Cambodia did not know about it until today. That approved letter was translated
from Khmer to Vietnamese and the VC government distributed and posted the
letter across all Khmer-Krom Buddhist temples in South Vietnam. It is a clear
act of intimidation to suppress further human rights activities and movement by
Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks who want to stand up for their religious rights.
Today, Tim Sakhorn remains in house detention in An Giang under heavy
surveillance, a condition which was not previously mentioned during the court
hearing.
On 17 December 2007, approximately 50 Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks in Phnom Penh,
Cambodia marched peacefully to Vietnamese Embassy to hand up a petition. The
petition called on the VC government to release Venerable Tim Sakhorn and five
other Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks currently imprisoned in Khleang province. The
Vietnam Embassy refused to take the petition and ordered the Cambodian police
to disperse the monks.
A fight broke out and electric batons were used by the Cambodian police against
the defenceless monks. The monks tried to head back to their pagoda as fast as
they could run. The police chased the monks for more than four blocks, some
kicking the monks with their boots while others or shocking them with electric
batons. Three monks were unconscious, namely, Venerable Ly Vanny, Venerable
Meng Savan Dararithy and Venerable Lam Keo Samnang and fifteen others were
wounded.
On behalf of the Khmer Krom refugees in Cambodia, I would like to appeal for
your assistance to:
1. Urge the Cambodian government to recognize Khmer Krom as refugees
when they arrived at Cambodia because they flee from Vietnamese seeking fro
refugee status. If Cambodia tactically considers Khmer Krom refugees as
Cambodian citizens, then the world will not know that Khmer Krom escaped
Vietnam because of the human rights violations committed by the Vietnamese
government.
2. Urge the Cambodian government to negotiate with Vietnam for the
release and return of Venerable Tim Sakhorn, who is a Cambodian citizen.
3. Ask the Cambodian government to implement initiatives, program to
help refugees fleeing the border rather than just status recognition to ensure
that these refugees are given immediate aid and protection rather than left to
fend for themselves.
4. Urge the Cambodian government to conduct a thorough and independent
investigation into the murder case of the Venerable Eang Sok Thoeun and bring
the killer to court.
5. Urge the Cambodian to respect the basic right to conduct a peaceful
demonstration of the Khmer Krom Buddhist monks who just demand to release their
fellow Buddhist monks from prison in Vietnam.
6. Urge the member countries of the European Parliament to provide
support to Khmer Krom refugees who are living in difficult situation in
Thailand. If possible, please help to grant refugee status to live in your
country.
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