A Change of Guard

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Sunday 31 May 2009

Emotional plea by Ms. Somalin Thach, a courageous Khmer Krom representative



Somalin Thach’s emotional speech at the UNPFII attracts the attention to Khmer Krom plight

29 May 2009
By San Suwith
Radio Free Asia

Translated from Khmer by Socheata for Ki-Media

In a speech given at the forum for Indigenous People held at the UN headquarters in New York City yesterday, a Khmer Krom woman indicated that all that Khmer Krom people want is to be able to live with their Khmer identity preserved and be able to practice their cultural Khmer heritage.

Somalin Thach, a representative of the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF), broke down with emotion during her speech given at the United Nation of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in New York yesterday, while reminiscing about her parents’ flight from Kampuchea Krom (current South Vietnam) because of the discrimination of Khmer Krom people by the Hanoi regime, and also because of their unique Khmer cultural heritage.

Somalin Thach told the audience, that in her name as a Khmer Krom people, her hope is to live in her homeland and to practice her unique cultural heritage. It was time for Viet Nam to move beyond preventing her people from speaking at this Forum. She declared: “I want nothing more but to live in my homeland, as my ancestors have been speaking our indigenous language and practicing our cultural heritage. Madam Chair, we strongly believe that it is time that Vietnam move beyond the denial of our rights to speak at this permanent forum and put into practice our rights to freedom of expression as guaranteed by the very own constitution of the UN…”

RFA was not able to obtain Ms. Somalin Thach’s comment on her speech because she is currently flying back to her home in Seattle, Washington.

Nevertheless, Mr. Thach Ngoc Thach, KKF executive director who is still leading the Khmer Krom delegation in the meeting in New York, indicated that Ms. Somalin Thach’s speech caught the attention of the foreign forum participants.

Mr. Thach Ngoc Thach said: “The chairwoman of the forum was attracted [by the speech] and she shared Khmer Krom sufferings. She said that the identity of each nationality is very important around the world, and this is the reason why security of indigenous people is protected here. Furthermore, we noted that a number of countries also got the attention and they came to shake hand and encourage Ms. Somalin Thach, even NGOs came to ask for copies of her speech. Therefore, I am calling on all Khmer Krom people who live outside of the country, as well as all Khmer Krom people who now live in countries with freedom, to join in. Only us who live overseas have a voice to represent our voiceless people who are victimized both in Kampuchea Krom and in Cambodia.”

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Well done Ms Somalin. You are a really brave woman.

Anonymous said...

Bravo Khmer Krom, you have done us proud. You need to fight for your survival. We Khmer Kandal will support you 100%.

Anonymous said...

if they are khmer. then how come they have yuon name?

Anonymous said...

Dude 1:48 AM, are you being a fool or being an uneducated? Don't you read the history?

They have been forced to change their names.

Read some more history then you will not have questions at all. I was the same as you and wondering. Then I've read a lot of history of Khmer Krom and Cambodia and knew a lot. I wouldn't expected some horrible thing happened. But you will know all kind of cruelty the YOUN done to Khmer or Khmer Krom.

Repect Khmer Krom,