Prior to arriving in the United States for the 2009 session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), I did not really know much of the history of Khmer-Krom. I knew that my parents, Makarar, and people around me were very involved in the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation in Europe, but I did not want to get involved as much as these people. Why? I told myself that I would have time to be part of the KKF when I'm older, when I finish my studies or when I have more time. As we already know, time can found if one truly seeks it, otherwise it is just an excuse to say nicely that we do not want to do this or that. Thus, this year I decided to take the opportunity for myself to understand what was happening in our homeland and our heritage. I understood by reading books, researching on the internet and especially in discussions with our people that the human rights violations has been committed seriously towards our Khmer-Krom people . My father is a living example. He is one of those who experienced the atrocities in South Vietnam. He was forced to integrate the Vietnamese army to so-called fight against the Khmer Rouge. But I later learned from the members of KKF that it was part of a group of leaders in the resistance against the Vietnamese government to defend for the freedom of our people. I am very proud to have a father like him and this story made me even more proud of him.
After attending the UNPFII, I know a lot more than what I had learned everything from books in a short time. I admit that I was not very helpful there besides being a "technical support" as a part of what Romy did in previous years. This was my first year and thus, I couldn’t have too much responsibility at once. I promise that next year I will be more efficient.
At the Permanent Forum, I really learned a lot. I do not mean only about the historical aspect, but I also learned about laws, international relations and human relations. I met many people from different cultures, background, ages, and personalities. They were there because they all want the same thing in the end: call for the respect and recognition of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the each country.
There are three main things that I learned at the youth conference in Philadelphia.
- Firstly, it is never too late to understand what's happening in our homeland. Sothy Kien is a good example. Her story really touched me. After finishing her studies in Australia, she has sought to know what her origin was. She returned to Kampuchea Krom. After coming back, she joined the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF). By helping KKF, she found her future husband in this organization and finally married and moved to live with him in the United States.
- Secondly, we have a rich cultural heritage, a unique custom, a distinct language and history. Our religion, Theravada Buddhism, is practiced throughout the world. Therefore, we must keep this heritage alive. We must speak Cambodian at home, learn to read and write Khmer, learn to dance the traditional dances and be proud to wear our traditional dress. We must be proud to be a Khmer-Krom.
- Thirdly, we, the Khmer-Krom youths, have the rights and capabilities to rewrite history. The Vietnamese government does not recognize us as the Indigenous Khmer-Krom Peoples in any of their books or legal system. The Vietnamese government has tried to assimilate our people to be Vietnamese. We need to stand up and must act now to defend our people rights. “Do not cry and even die in silence!”
We need to act together to let the world knows that since the French government transferred Cochin China to Vietnam, our people, our culture and our morals have disappeared gradually. Our elders had lived through the suffering and know very well the real history. We young people might have nothing of this, but we have developed some skills that allow us to restore the truth, such as using the internet to distribute information and communicate with NGOs that want to know about our problem. And most importantly, we must talk to the members of our family so that we can better understand our roots and identity.
To fight for the rights to self-determination for our unfortunate people, we really need the help of the new generation of Khmer-Krom, especially the youths living abroad, who do not live in fear. We have the strength and power to make things happen. Our ancestors did not have the opportunities and strengths as we do now. Do not waste this gift of nature. We must walk hand in hand on the long road that will lead us back to a haven of peace where our people will finally be free to live on our ancestral ands and enjoy the basic freedoms as we do overseas.
Famous Quotes
“The right to development is the measure of the respect of all other human rights. That should be our aim: a situation in which all individuals are enabled to maximize their potential, and to contribute to the evolution of society as a whole.”— Kofi Annan
"You can imprison a man, but not an idea. You can exile a man, but not an idea. You can kill a man, but not an idea." —Benazir Bhutto
“Democracy is not the law of the majority but the protection of the minority.” — Albert Camus
“A right is not what someone gives you; it's what no one can take from you.” — Ramsey Clark
“The supreme end of education is expert discernment in all things - the power to tell the good from the bad, the genuine from the counterfeit, and to prefer the good and the genuine to the bad and the counterfeit.” — Samuel Johnson
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