The Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation Condemns Unjust Arrests of Khmer-Krom Buddhist Monk and Activists.

Thach Nga, Venerable Kim Som Rinh, Thach Xuan Dong, by KKF

WASHINGTON, D.C. | March 27, 2025

KKF Condemns Unjust Arrests of Khmer-Krom Buddhist Monk and Activists, Demands Immediate Release.

The Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) strongly condemns the arrest of Venerable Kim Som Rinh, a revered Khmer-Krom Buddhist monk, and two prominent activists, Thach Nga, and Thach Xuan Dong, by Vietnamese authorities in Preah Trapeang (known in Vietnamese as Tra Vinh) province. On March 27, 2025, the trio was arrested under the vague and politically charged accusation of “Abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, lawful rights, and interests of organizations and/or citizens,” as outlined in Article 331 of the Vietnam Criminal Code. This arrest is yet another example of the Vietnamese government’s continued repression of the Khmer-Krom community, particularly their peaceful efforts to advocate for indigenous rights, religious freedoms, and cultural preservation.

Venerable Kim Som Rinh, a respected spiritual leader, has long been a vocal advocate for the Khmer-Krom people’s religious and indigenous rights. His advocacy has been instrumental in promoting Khmer-Krom identity and preserving traditions through peaceful activities. However, in a particularly troubling move, on March 25, 2024, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) stripped Venerable Kim Som Rinh of his monk status. He had nowhere to go and returned to his parent’s house to await the arrest. This arbitrary decision to defrock and arrest him was part of a broader effort to suppress the Khmer-Krom community’s religious freedoms and prevent the expression of their cultural identity. Venerable Kim Som Rinh’s fate highlights the struggles faced by Khmer-Krom individuals who peacefully assert their rights to religious and cultural autonomy, only to be met with severe persecution.

Activists Thach Nga and Thach Xuan Dong have also long been advocates for the rights of the Khmer-Krom community. Both men have courageously stood up for their people, especially by organizing and participating in human rights events such as the celebration of the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), International Human Rights Day, and International Women’s Day. On March 8, 2025, Vietnamese authorities barred Mr. Thach Xuan Dong from attending the International Women’s Day. The previous day, Thach Nga’s home was under surveillance by the police. He managed to escape monitoring and ran to attend the event.

These arrests are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of government suppression against peaceful advocates for the Khmer-Krom community. The Khmer-Krom people have long faced marginalization and repression from the Vietnamese government, particularly those individuals who dare to advocate for the recognition of their indigenous identity, religious freedom, and human rights.

The Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation calls on the United Nations and the international community to take immediate action. As a member of the Human Rights Council, Vietnam must be held accountable for its blatant disregard of international human rights norms. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Venerable Kim Som Rinh, Thach Nga, Thach Xuan Dong, and all other Khmer-Krom activists imprisoned for peacefully exercising their right to advocate for their community’s cultural identity and religious freedoms.