Khmer Krom gather in Mekong Delta for festival celebrations

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2008111422696/National-news/Khmer-Krom-gather-in-Mekong-Delta-for-festival-celebrations.html
Khmer Krom gather in Mekong Delta for festival celebrations
Written by kay kimsong
Friday, 14 November 2008

Despite government restrictions on religious practices, Khmers in
southern Vietnam take part in the traditional Cambodian festival

THOUSANDS of ethnic Khmers known as Khmer Krom turned out Tuesday and
Wednesday to celebrate the annual Water and Moon Festival in southern
Vietnam, witnessing two days of dragon boat races and other
festivities.

Thirty dragon boats competed for prizes in the event, which was
chaired by the Vietnamese provincial governor and the head Buddhist
monk, according to the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Association.

Yoeun Sin, head of the Khmer Krom Monks' Association, said up to a
million Khmer Krom from across the Mekong Delta attended the Water
Festival celebrations in Vietnam's Soc Trang province - known in Khmer
as Khleang.


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In kampuchea krom, we can't implement everything we would wish for.

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"Many monks came to support the dragon boats from each province," said
Yoeun Sin, adding that the celebration was vital to preserve Khmer
culture inside Vietnam.

"We have to organise the Water Festival every year to remember our
traditions and cultural practices," he said.

Yoeun Sin added that the Khmer Krom boat races, which were held at a
local dike, lacked the support of concurrent events inside Cambodia.

"There are no big sponsors here like in Phnom Penh," he said. "But
Kampuchea Krom monks are following their boats and have supported them
with food and money. The special thing [here] is that monks have
freedom to support and watch the boat races freely."

Preserving Khmer culture

Hul Pirom, 26, a Khmer Krom student at Pannasastra University in Phnom
Penh, said that cultural practices - including the celebration of the
festival - were limited by the Vietnamese government and less lavish
than the national festival organised in Preah Vihear.

"I am very proud of the government for an exciting celebration of the
Water Festival," he said. "In Kampuchea Krom, we can't implement
everything we would wish for," he added.

Thach Setha, president of the Khmer Kampuchea Community, said the
festival was a way for the Khmer minority in southern Vietnam to
resist government oppression.

"Every family in Kampuchea Krom celebrates the Water Festival to
remember Khmer heroes and military commanders who once protected the
territory," he said. "The special meaning of the festival is to demand
freedom."
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