KHMER KAMPUCHEA KROM ACTIVITIES

The intervention request letter

8/6/07

The intervention request letter, dated 08/06/07, of SRP's former Senator and KKC Executive Director Thach Setha to Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen for a return of Ven. Indapanna Tim Sakhorn, in detetion for illegal entry to Vietnam, to Cambodia.

Ven. Tim Sakhorn was forced to defrock (leave monkhood) against his will, Buddhist rule, contravened Cambodia's Constitution and illegally conducted; and contravened the UN Charter, international treaties and other related laws on June 30, 2007. On same day, he was forced into a vehicle and has not seen until 08/02/07, internet news in VNamese mentioned His Venerable Tim Sakhorn is presently in Vietnam for entering that country illegally.

A couple days after Ven. Tim Sakhorn was forced to be disrobed and disappeared, Cambodian Minitry of Interior (MoI) spokesperson Lieutenannt General Khieu Sopheak says that Ven. Tim Sakhorn signed a letter voluntarily returned to Kampuchea Krom (VN), his place of birth.
download Khmer version

Unofficial translation from Khmer by Socheata (KI Media)

The Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community

To

Prime Minister Hun Sen
Royal Government of Cambodia

Subject : Request to intervene with the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for a return of Venerable Tim Sakhorn to the Kingdom of Cambodia

Based on the subject matter above, I am informing you, Mr. Prime Minister, that on 30 June 2007, Venerable Tim Sakhorn, Abbot of the Phnom Den North pagoda, located in Phnom Den commune, Kirivong district, Takeo province, was forced to defrock by monk officials based on the ordinance letter No. 502/07 SNKC, dated 16 June 2007, issued by patriarch Non Nget, and which also bore the approval handwriting note by supreme patriarch Tep Vong dated 17 June 2007, accusing Ven. Tim Sakhorn of undermining the solidarity between Cambodia and Vietnam. Immediately following his defrocking, at 4:30 PM on the same day, a group of body guards (with unknown affiliation) took away Ven. Tim Sakhorn by car to an unknown destination. On 02 August 2007, the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community learnt through a Vietnamese information news agency that Ven. Tim Sakhorn was jailed by the Vietnamese authority in Vietnam, where he is accused of: (1) illegal border crossing into Vietnam, and (2) undermining the friendship between Cambodia and Vietnam.

As indicated above, the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community is requesting Mr. Prime Minister to intervene with the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to:

1-Allow on-site visits to the family and various human rights organizations to see Ven. Tim Sakhorn in prison to observe his health condition.

2-Intervene through all diplomatic channels, according to the Constitution and the Law on Nationality to bring back Ven. Tim Sakhorn to Cambodia.

3-Investigate for anyone, who deported Ven. Tim Sakhorn by force to the Vietnamese authority.

Therefore, Mr. Prime Minister, we request that you urgently intervene in this case based on your ability.

Please, Prime Minister, accept my highest respect.

Phnom Penh , 06 August 2007
[Signed]

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