Vietnamese authority banned Khmer Krom people from watching Khmer TVs

By Khmerization
Source: Prey Nokor News

Vietnamese authority continues to ban Khmer Krom people from watching Khmer TVs broadcasting from Cambodia and has fined any Khmer Krom people or Khmer Krom monks who had installed satellite discs to watch Cambodian TVs.

On 11th January 2011, a Khmer Kom abbot of Chrey ta So Pagoda, Thach Vanna, from Pol Asray village, Vealeak commune, Moat Samot district in Preah Tropeang (Tra Vinh) province wrote to Prey Nokor News that the Vietnamese authority had come down to his pagoda and forced him to sign a piece of paper to promise to stop using the satellite discs to watch any Khmer TVs broadcasting from Cambodia. "Nowadays, (Chrey Ta So) pagoda has installed a satellite disc TVRO type which they sad is illegal in Vietnam", he wrote.

He wrote that he has was forced to sign pre-written document of promise which reads: "I hereby promise and take full responsibility in front of the laws if I start using this equipment (satellite disc) or re-assign it to my representatives or give to any individuals to re-use it again", he wrote.

Prey Nokor News tried to seek comments from Mr. Boi Chi Hong, director of Tra Vinh's Department of Information, but he said he is busy and has no time to provide any comments.

In early 2010 the Vietnamese authority had banned and threatened Khmer Krom not to watch Khmer TVs and listen to Khmer radios. And in February of the same year, the Cambodian government said it will attempt to negotiate with the Vietnamese authority to allow Khmer Krom to watch Khmer TVs and listen to Khmer radios, but up until now there is no result.

At the same time, a Khmer Krom human rights group has called on the Vietnamese authority to bring the killers of two Khmer Krom youths to justice.

Khmer Krom human rights activists said 20 year-old Thach Thanh and 26 year-old Thach Quang (pictured) were beaten to death on the night of 6th January by Vietnamese youths in Ho Chi Minh city.

In the past, there were numerous reports that many Khmer Krom people had been killed by Vietnamese people. Just in September of 2010 alone, 4 Khmer Krom youths were beaten and stabbed to death in Rong Domrei (Tay Ninh) province because of a minor verbal argument.

Those killed were 22 year-old Chau Neth, Chau Phat, Chau Keo and an unknown youth.