PETITION
TO ALL KHMER KROMS AND ALL KHMER PEOPLE AROUND THE GLOBE
Regarding the Right to Self-Determination or the Right to Self- Government and the Right to Freely Determine the Political Status and to Pursue the Economic Social and Cultural Development of the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples, the legitimate and Rightful Owners of Kampuchea Krom Territory also Known as Cochin China or Southern Vietnam by virtue of Article 3 of the 13 September 2007 United Nations General Assembly Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and in accordance with the spirits, dispositions, provisions, stipulations and principles contained especially in the United Nations Charter, Chapters XI, XII, and XIII, the United
Nations General Assembly resolution 1514(XV) of 14 December 1960
regarding the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and
Peoples, the UN GA resolution 1541(XV) of 15 December 1960 regarding the option for three different forms or models of Self Determination such as Free association with an independent State,Integration with an independent State, and Independence, and the 2001-2010 Second International Decade and its Plan of Action for the Eradication of Colonialism in the 21st century.

Recalling the French Republic under President Vincent Auriols administration,by its unjust colonial law number 49-733 of 4 June1949, had transferred its colony of Cochin China also known as Kampuchea Krom, the ancestral homeland of Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples to emperor Bao Dai of Vietnam without consultation with the Khmer King and without the plebiscite and mutual agreement or consent of the legitimate and rightful owners, the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples, in flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular Chapters XI, XII and XIII, of which France has been Member State since 24 October 1945,

Considering that the recognition of the inherent dignity and of the inalienable rights of all members of the human family to which the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples of former French Cochin China belong is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Considering that these inherent dignity, basic human rights, fundamental
freedoms, and inalienable rights to which all Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples are entitled, by virtue of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948 have been persistently violated by the government of Vietnam,

Recalling the petition dated 1 September 2007 regarding primarily the inclusion of Kampuchea Krom on the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories to decide their future, the decolonization of Kampuchea Krom and its placement under the control of the United Nations, the punishment of Vietnam for its persistent violations against the human rights, fundamental freedoms and the right to self-determination of the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples,

Recalling H.E. Kong Korm, President of the 7th Commission of the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodias letter dated 26 October 2007 to H.E. Christian PONCELET, President of the Senate of the French Republic whose copy was sent to the United Nations asking the French Senate, French National Assembly and French government to revise and resolve the problem of Kampuchea Krom Territory,

Recalling King Norodom Sihanouks public message of 8 June 2003 in strong
support of the Cambodian Community of Kampuchea Kroms resolution reinterring the Parliament and French government to repeal Frances unjust colonial law number 49-733 of 4 June 1949 illegally transferring her colony of Cochin China to emperor Bao Dai of Vietnam without consultation with and consent of the Khmer King and Khmer Krom Peoples, the legitimate and rightful owners of Cochin China or Kampuchea Krom,

Expressing appreciation and profound respect and gratitude for H.E. Asha-
Rose Migiro, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations whose excellent remarks,Pragmatic Steps Needed to Close Colonial Chapter in Human Affairs at the 22 February 2007 opening session of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization in New York, requesting the UN Special Committee on Decolonization, all UN bodies, all administering Powers and all international organizations and institutions to cooperate with each other to bring about a speedy, successful and sustainable solution for the total eradication of colonialism.

Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted and proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948, calling upon all UN Member Countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools, and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or
territories., and to promote respect for these rights and freedoms, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among peoples of the United Nations Member States and among peoples of territories under their jurisdiction,

Recalling the letter to H.E. Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General urging him to
consider :
1) Putting Kampuchea Krom or former French Cochin China or southern
Vietnam on the list of the territories still to decide their future and to get help,assistance and support from the UN Special Committee on Decolonization;
2) PressingVietnam to fully comply with the UN GA resolutions 1514(XV) of 14 December 1960 regarding the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, the UN GA resolution 1541(XV) of 15 December 1960 regarding the option for three different forms or models of Self-Determination -- Free association with an independent State, Integration with an independent State and Independence --, the 2001-2010 Second International Decade and its Plan of Action for the Eradication of Colonialism in the 21st century, the UN Human Rights Council Proclamation, and the two letters of the UNPO of 2 and 5 September 2003 requesting Vietnam to decolonize Kampuchea Krom and to place it under the control of the United Nations for the preparation of the Self-Determination Referendum allowing the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples to choose among the options stipulated in the UN GA Resolution 1541(XV) of 15 December 1960;
3) Envisaging the mission of the UN Special Rapporteurs on the situation of Human Rights, Religious Freedoms, Political, Social, Economic Development, Cultural and Educational Advancement, Natural Resources, etc to the Mekong Delta Region where the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples are living in greater communities;
4) Helping to set up dialogue(s) with Vietnam, the administering Power regarding the decolonization of Kampuchea Krom and place it under the control of the United Nations; and
5) Planning for a Self-Determination UN-sponsored Referendum allowing the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples to use their own freewill for their Self-Government like the UN used to do for the Tokelau people in New Zealand in 2006 and 2007 and the East Timorese in Indonesia on 30 August 1999,

Expressing great appreciation for H.E. Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General
citing Unfinished Business and calling for renewed commitment to eradicate
colonialism at the UN Special Committee on Decolonization on 27 February 2009 in New York stating that under the Charter, the administering Powers have a special obligation to bring the territories under their administration to an appropriate level of self-government, hoping the administering Powers will work together with the Special Committee and the peoples in the territories to find the appropriate format
and timing for the completion of decolonization in each territory.

Recalling the Association of Khmer Kampuchea Krom of Minnesota, Inc.s email message on Wednesday 25 July 2007 to H.E. Mr. Jean-Marc de La Sabliere, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations urging him to request the French Government to repeal its unjust colonial law number 49-733 of 4 June 1949 illegally transferring Cochin China or Kampuchea Krom, the ancestral homeland of Khmer Krom Peoples to Bao Dai and unconditionally return Kampuchea Krom Territory to the legitimate and rightful owners, the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples in conformity to the spirit, provisions, dispositions, stipulations and principles contained in all existing international laws,

Considering that the United Nations General Assembly Declaration of 13
September 2007 on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples whose Article 3 grants the Indigenous Peoples specifically the right to self-determination and especially the right to freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development,

Recalling the June 1998 Indonesias President B. J. Habibie, successor of President Suharto, who had proposed special autonomy for East Timor on condition that the territory accepts integration into Indonesia, but President B. J. Habibies special autonomy proposal had been categorically rejected by the East Timorese resistance leaders,

Considering that some disparities of opinions exist among Khmer Krom Peoples and Khmer people in general who are either pro-autonomy model or pro-independence model,

Realizing that for those who are in favor of autonomy model of self-government, they freely choose to have incomplete independence for Kampuchea Krom Territory by putting the territory and its peoples, the Khmer Kroms under the control and guardianship of the State of Vietnam; and also

Realizing that for those who are in favor of independence model of self-government or of self-determination, they freely choose to obtain complete and full independence for Kampuchea Krom Territory or full sovereignty and full territorial integrity completely independent from the governing power of Vietnam,


Now, Therefore for the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples and Khmer people everywhere around the world who choose autonomy for their self-rule or self-government shall sign the petition by typing the word autonomy in the comments section. But for those who select independence for their self-rule or self-government shall sign the petition by typing the word independence in the comments section.


Made in Saint Paul, the Capital of the State of Minnesota this 16th day of
November in the year of our Lord, two thousand nine.

Very respectfully submitted by the undersigned concerned Indigenous Khmer
Krom Peoples in Kampuchea Krom/southern Vietnam and in overseas
countries worldwide, all Khmer people in Cambodia and in every corner of the
World who freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development in accordance with the international laws.