Contents

Foreword 5
Acknowledgements 7
Introduction 9


1 THE KHMERS KAMPUCHEA-KROM FEDERATION: THE DRIVING FORCE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AND ADVOCACY 13
KKF Mission 15
Organizational Structure 15
International Membership 17
Head Office 17
Activities at the International Level 18
Activities at the Local Level 22

2 THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF KAMPUCHEA-KROM 23
A Brief History of the Kampuchea-Krom 25
The Land of the Khmer-Krom 60
Theravada Buddhism Among The Khmer Krom 103
Mindfulness Meditation after Trauma 127
The Culture of the Khmer-Krom 136

3 CONTEMPORARY HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN KAMPUCHEA-KROM 165
The Land Rights Abuses 167
Khmer-Krom Social and Cultural Institutions 170
Khmer-Krom Youths in Kampuchea-Krom 172
Violations of Religious Freedom 173
Specific Human Rights Violations 184
Psychology of Oppression: Human Rights Abuses in the Mekong River Delta 200
An Open Dialogue for Immediate Action on Khmer-Krom Poverty 207
Khmer-Krom Theravada Buddhist Organization Should Remain Independent from the Government-Run “Vietnamese Buddhist Shangha” 223
Discriminatory Practices Denying Educational Opportunities 227

4 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES OF KHMER-KROM BEYOND THEIR HOMELAND 235
Addressing Human Rights Abuses in the Past and Present 237
The Stateless Khmer-Krom in Cambodia 252
The Khmer-Krom Refugees in Thailand: From Horror to Hopelessness 257

5 MOVEMENT TOWARD KHMER-KROM SELF-DETERMINATION 260
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: An International Instrument for Dignity & Equality for All on Earth 262
UNPO and KKF: United in the Struggle for Self-Determination 268
CEDAW and Protection of Women’s Human Rights 289
Khmer-Krom Youth Movement 291
Opportunity for All KKF to Volunteer in United Nations Initiative: Sign Up to Serve on a KKF Working Group Based on Passions & Purpose 294
Indigenous Peoples Access Most Recent Human Rights Mechanism to Guarantee Vietnam Government Accountable to Global Community: Khmer Krom Urge Recognition and Realization of Rights at the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review 296

Conclusion 303
Appendixes and Contributors 305
APPENDIX A: Documented Evident of Transfering of Cochinchina 306
APPENDIX B: Khmer-Krom Temples 322
APPENDIX C: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 324
CONTRIBUTORS 334

Index 336