UN human rights experts have raised alarms over what they describe as intensifying repression against the Khmer Krom community in Vietnam. They urge the Vietnamese authorities to halt the targeting of minority groups through the use of security laws and call for the release of individuals detained for nonviolent activities. The experts highlight systemic harassment, criminalization, and repression of Khmer Krom defenders, activists, and Theravada Buddhist monks for efforts to advocate for Indigenous identity, cultural expression, and religious freedom. The claim that Indigenous and cultural identities pose threats to national security or public order was strongly condemned.
The report points to the arrest, conviction, and sentencing of 17 individuals affiliated with these groups as a violation of rights to freedom of religion, expression, association, and peaceful assembly. Allegations of torture and mistreatment during pretrial detention have further complicated the situation. These incidents are part of a broader crackdown, including violent raids linked to the Tro Nom Sek Temple in Vinh Long province. According to the report, pressure to join the state-sanctioned Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has led to partial demolition of temple structures, disruption of Khmer language classes, and forcible defrocking of monks, alongside the targeting of human rights defenders documenting these occurrences.
The experts emphasize the necessity of Vietnam’s compliance with international human rights standards, calling on the government to protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, religious minorities, and rights defenders. They insist on an end to the application of unclear security laws against these groups and stress the need to ensure adequate legal counsel, family visits, and medical care for detainees. The Khmer Krom, an Indigenous group in the Mekong Delta, have long faced discrimination, constraints on religious practices, and curbs on cultural and linguistic rights. This repression includes intimidation, arbitrary detention, and disproportionate sentencing (JURIST).
Similar issues were raised in 2021 and 2022, reflecting a persistent challenge in the region. The situation draws concern from organizations like Human Rights Watch, which have consistently reprimanded Vietnam for repression of religious freedoms and minority rights (Human Rights Watch).