Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation
Encyclopedia
The Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) is an organization representing Khmer Krom
people living in the Mekong Delta
and its surrounding regions of current day Vietnam
as well as thousands living in exile.
KKF is a global organization ran by volunteers from around the world. Its human rights
advocated activities are funded by donations from Khmer-Krom communities and the sympathizers.
The organization was first established in 1985 when the First World Convention on Khmer-Krom was held in New York City
, USA
. In the Fifth World Convention in Toronto
, Canada
in 1996, the current name of Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) was adopted.
KKF Mission: The stated mission of KKF is, through the use of peaceful measures and international laws, to seek freedom, justice, and the right to self-determination
for the Indigenous Khmer-Krom Peoples living in Vietnam.
Organizational Structure: KKF is led by the members of Board of Directors. The KKF Board of Directors are democratically elected every four years by the members from around the world including Australia
, Cambodia
, Canada, France
, Italy
, New Zealand
, and the United States.
KKF Board of Directors consists of: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, President, Vice-President, Chief of Administration, Senior Council, Representatives Council, Secretary, Treasure, Director of Planning, Director of Information, Director of Women, Director of Youth, Director of Education, and Director of Religious Affairs.
The President, who leads the executive committee
, is responsible for daily operations of the federation.
Besides KKF Board of Directors, KKF is also led by the Presidents of Regional, Continental, and local chapters.
Motto: Khmer-Krom’s motto
is "Nation – Religion - Peoples"
Flag: Khmer-Krom’s flag has three colors: Blue, Yellow, and Red. The flag’s size is "3 by 5". The meaning of each color is as follows:
Logo: Khmer-Krom’s logo is called, Rear Hoo Chap Chan.
Rear Hoo is a fictitious character in the Reamker
, the Khmer version of the Ramayana
, which is one of the most popular mythical stories in Khmer literature. RearHoo Chap Chan is the painting depicted a monster-like figure catching the moon (Chan in Khmer
means moon). Aaccording to Khmer folklore
, this causes a lunar eclipse
.
International Membership: KKF has been a member of Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
(UNPO) and International Dragon Boat Federation
(IDBF) since 2001. KKF has also participated actively in the annual session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
(UNPFII) since 2004.
Khmer Krom
The Khmer Krom are Khmer people living in the Mekong Delta and the Lower Mekong River area. Under the Khmer Rouge regime- according to the conservative estimates are that 150,000. Under the rule of Vietnam from 1979-93, Cambodia may have lost 20,000 Khmer Krom...
people living in the Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is the region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. The Mekong delta region encompasses a large portion of southwestern Vietnam of . The size of the area covered by water depends on the season.The...
and its surrounding regions of current day Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
as well as thousands living in exile.
KKF is a global organization ran by volunteers from around the world. Its human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
advocated activities are funded by donations from Khmer-Krom communities and the sympathizers.
The organization was first established in 1985 when the First World Convention on Khmer-Krom was held in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In the Fifth World Convention in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1996, the current name of Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) was adopted.
KKF Mission: The stated mission of KKF is, through the use of peaceful measures and international laws, to seek freedom, justice, and the right to self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
for the Indigenous Khmer-Krom Peoples living in Vietnam.
Organizational Structure: KKF is led by the members of Board of Directors. The KKF Board of Directors are democratically elected every four years by the members from around the world including Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, Canada, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and the United States.
KKF Board of Directors consists of: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, President, Vice-President, Chief of Administration, Senior Council, Representatives Council, Secretary, Treasure, Director of Planning, Director of Information, Director of Women, Director of Youth, Director of Education, and Director of Religious Affairs.
The President, who leads the executive committee
Executive Committee
Executive Committee may refer to:* The Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland, a government body in the United Kingdom 1921–1972* The Northern Ireland Executive, a government body in the United Kingdom...
, is responsible for daily operations of the federation.
Besides KKF Board of Directors, KKF is also led by the Presidents of Regional, Continental, and local chapters.
Motto: Khmer-Krom’s motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is "Nation – Religion - Peoples"
- Blue: represent for the Freedom and Democracy
- Yellow: represent for the Khmer-Krom who love Peace and Justice
- Red: represent for the Khmer-Krom’s Bravery and Sacrifice for the fatherland
Logo: Khmer-Krom’s logo is called, Rear Hoo Chap Chan.
Rear Hoo is a fictitious character in the Reamker
Reamker
Reamker is a Cambodian epic poem, based on the Sanskrit's Ramayana epic. The name means "Glory of Rama". It adapts the Hindu ideas to Buddhist themes and shows the balance of good and evil in the world. More than just a reordering of the epic tale, the Reamker is a mainstay of the royal ballet's...
, the Khmer version of the Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
, which is one of the most popular mythical stories in Khmer literature. RearHoo Chap Chan is the painting depicted a monster-like figure catching the moon (Chan in Khmer
Khmer language
Khmer , or Cambodian, is the language of the Khmer people and the official language of Cambodia. It is the second most widely spoken Austroasiatic language , with speakers in the tens of millions. Khmer has been considerably influenced by Sanskrit and Pali, especially in the royal and religious...
means moon). Aaccording to Khmer folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
, this causes a lunar eclipse
Lunar eclipse
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes behind the Earth so that the Earth blocks the Sun's rays from striking the Moon. This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned exactly, or very closely so, with the Earth in the middle. Hence, a lunar eclipse can only occur the night of a...
.
International Membership: KKF has been a member of Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization , formed in 11 February 1991, in The Hague, is an international organization of political organisations and governments representing self-proclaimed "indigenous peoples, minorities, and unrecognised or occupied territories". The organization...
(UNPO) and International Dragon Boat Federation
International Dragon Boat Federation
The International Dragon Boat Federation is the international governing body for the team water sport of dragon boatracing. The IDBF was founded by representatives from Australia, People’s Republic of China, Chinese Taipei, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Norway, Philippines,...
(IDBF) since 2001. KKF has also participated actively in the annual session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is the UN's central coordinating body for matters relating to the concerns and rights of the world's indigenous peoples. "Indigenous person" means native, original, first people and aboriginal. There are more than 370 million indigenous...
(UNPFII) since 2004.