Perfidious statement by Vietnam at the UN against KKF

Dear Lok Bora Touch,

I write to elicit your opinion and to shared an article since I have seen your name prominently in this debate on Khmer language. Please forward this to Mr. Kenneth T. So as well if you are connected.

As you know, the propaganda to attack the Khmer language has reach international heights by Vietnamese government and has culminated in the recent July 2012 statement put out by Vietnamese representative, Mr. Hoai Le Trung, at the ECOSOC body. The use of the term "Doun" was cited as example of Khmer hatred and characterization of Khmer Krom movements to ECOSOC as "fanatics" with hatred intending to break harmony in Vietnam.

In fact the Vietnamese representative claims the use of the term "Doun" is 'an insulting word used by a few fanatics to refer to the Vietnamese.' Completely and blatantly disregard the fact that this is the only term existing in the Khmer language and is used ubiquitously all over South Vietnam by Vietnamese of Khmer descent to refer to Vietnamese - in reality, far from the "few fanatics" Mr. Hoai claims. He has also mislead the world body by linking the usage of the word Youn to the atrocities of the Khmer Rough.

Thus linking the tragedy of history of the truly fanatic Khmer Rough with the term "Youn", when in fact it is wrong and without proper historic context and also portrayed as though Youn were not the sole victims that historic tragedy. In doing so, he has discriminate against the language of the Khmer Krom people and wishes to change their culture, and language - a violation of indigenous people's right. Using politic in one country to politicize and associate evil from one fanatic group to an innocent people of Khmer Krom by fabricating their language is wrong.

Mr. Trung also state and concocted a false history representation of the historic territory of South Vietnam and he turns around to accuse the Khmer Krom youth of this act; In this way his statement quote:

KKF Youth Caucus, an affiliate of KKF, concocted a map claiming “the Khmer-Krom nation” that covers 16 provinces and cities in South Viet Nam inhabited by about 30 million people of many ethnic groups, including Ho Chi Minh City - the largest and most populous city of Viet Nam,

Injecting the widely modern version, "Ho Chi Minh City", is a deliberate and devious manipulation, and its effect relies on the fact that international community are not aware of the history of Kampuchea Krom, South Vietnam, and specifically of Prey Nokor itself. The quote of term 'the Khmer-Krom nation', which was never used by Khmer Krom people in any context, is also an insult to Cambodians which implies that Kampuchea-Krom or 'the Khmer-Krom Nation' is a make-believe territory.

As you can imagine, in the world of harmony and anti-terrorism, the well deliberate manipulation of Khmer Krom people's aspiration by Mr. Hoai Trung was well received by the international community at ECOSOC. Vietnam successfully shutdown Khmer Krom from being granted consultative status at ECOSOC due to these false characterization and manipulation of our language and history.

Attached is the statement which Mr. Le Hoai used to manipulate the world body opinion against the Khmer Krom people. I send to both of you, Lok Bora Touch and Lok Kenneth T. So, because I have seen both of your name prominent in the defense of Khmer history, territory, and language.

I am not writing this e-mail on behalf of any group or Khmer Krom organization, I write it on my own conscious, believing that Khmer Krom's pain and history is also the pain and history of Khmer people. I write, as an individual Khmer youth, hoping to elicit your opinion and support and urge the both of you scholars, perhaps, to help change opinion and help Khmer Krom people respond to this fabrication of the Vietnamese government at the world body.

I hope you find this letter in good health,peace of mind.

Please accept my sincerest regards,

D. Lam