Wed the 11th Waning Moon of Citta B.E.2561, April 11, A.D.2018 Year of the Rooster
Download Khmer page 2 PDF: Khmer New Year Message 2562
Download English PDF:             Khmer New Year Message 2562 ENG

សារប្រគេន និងជូនពរឆ្នាំថ្មី ព.ស.២៥៦២ នៃប្រធានសហគមន៍ខ្មែរកម្ពុជាក្រោម លោក ថាច់ សេដ្ឋា ជាភាសាខ្មែរ និងអង់គ្លេស
The 2562 New Year Wish from KKC President Thach Setha​ in Khmer, English

A Message to the Buddhist Monks and Fellow Compatriots on occasion of the National New Year Tradition, Year of the Dog Samriddhisak
Buddhist Era 2562 Anno Domini 2018

My Homage to the reverent Buddhist monks
My Respect to my Compatriots with profound affection

On behalf of the leadership and members of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community (KKC) and on my own behalf, joyfully welcoming a New Year angel by the name of Mahodharadevi, with warmth, who has the duty to look after the welfares of the human beings in the realm of our universe.

On this magnificent occasion of the National New Year, Year of the Dog Samriddhisak, B.E.2562, I would like to wish you, the reverent Buddhist monks, and fellow compatriots to be in good health, mentally strong, prudence with optimism and happiness and prosperity, live free from oppression, persecution, abuse and injustice.

Reverent Buddhist monks!
My Fellow Compatriots!

With this wonderful opportunity, I would like to express my deep respect and admiration from the bottom of my heart to you, the reverent Buddhist monks, and to all Khmer compatriots, especially Khmer Krom Buddhist monks and people, whether living in Kampuchea Krom or overseas, always adhere to Khmer tradition, customs such as celebrating Khmer New Year. In Kampuchea Krom, although under strict Vietnamese colonial rule, the Khmer Buddhist monks and people celebrate our National traditional Lunar New Year. At the Buddhist temples, there is a procession of the head of the Brahma, invite the Buddhist monks to give a marathon Dhamma Talk (Sermon) for 3 nights, 3 days. Organizing traditional and popular Khmer fun and games, game of throwing bundled cloth, tugging, etc. On the conclusion of New Year, cleansing the Buddha statues, the Buddhist monks chant to transmit the merits to the souls of the ancestors. In Khmer residence, a welcoming ceremony of New Year’s Angel taking place.

The continued existence of our Khmer culture in Kampuchea Krom until today is not due to the kind heart of the colonialist Vietnamese offering to our Khmer people, it is because of the countless struggles and loss of courageous Khmer lives in countless times.

The old year nearly comes to an end, we cannot forget the important achievement that came from the struggle and the sacrifice of all the Buddhist monks and compatriots from one year after another. In obviousness, the government of the French Republic granted us permission to conduct research on historical documents relating to the transfer of Khmer Kampuchea Krom territory to Vietnam and to carry on our activities so that the national and international communities know who our Khmer Kampuchea Krom people are and to learn about our continued suffering.

With enthusiasm on receiving New Year Angel Mahodharadevi, I call on you, the reverent Buddhist monks, and compatriots with compassion and mercy to rid off of all obstinacies, take up good deeds, unite as One Khmer (Khmer Ler, Khmer Kandal, Khmer Krom) with KKC (the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community) to struggle for the restoration of rights and freedom for our Khmer Kampuchea Krom people according the United Nations Charter.

Once again, I request the angel of the old year to take all the misery, violence, social injustice, dictatorship, colonialism, with the old year from the Khmer Kampuchea Krom people.

In conclusion, I pray to the New Year angel, Mahodharadevi, of the year of the Dog Samriddhisak, Buddhist Era 2562 Anno Domini 2018 to look after Khmer land from foreign invasion from neighboring countries and help protect every Khmer to achieve happiness, prosperity, and success in their endeavor and achieve the four Buddhist blessings: Longevity, Good Complexion, Healthiness, and Strength, always.

Thank you.

Phnom Penh, Wednesday the 11th Waning Moon of Citta, year of the Rooster Nippasak B.E.2561 equivalent to April 11, A.D.2018

Thach Setha
President
Former Senator

Original text Khmer