Vietnam Allowing Khmer Krom Flag in House Just a Single Case

As Khmer living in Kampuchea Krom or south Vietnam nowadays are always debated among the Khmer-speaking social media community, a news piece going viral on social media said Vietnamese authority has allowed the flag representing them to hang in houses. Khmer-speaking social media users have shared and discussed the news report. However, we found the news report is misleading.

SOCIAL MEDIA CLAIM

A news report that went viral on social media in early November said Vietnamese authority has allowed the flag representing Khmer Kampuchea Krom to hang in their houses.

The news report had been widely shared and commented on by Khmer-speaking social media users; some expressed applause and congratulation on this news.

Below is the full video of the news report which was uploaded on social media on November 02, 2023 with a caption saying “A big success for Khmer Krom! Authority of Yuon (Vietnam) has allowed Khmer Krom to hang flag representing them in their houses without any problem.”

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1058988458430338

Facebook Post | Archived Link

The same news was also posted by other Facebook users leading to many shares, comments, and reactions.

Below is the capture of the caption which was posted on Facebook on November 06, 2023.

Facebook Post | Archived Link

The same news report can be watched through a link here or another link here, and here (archived).

FACT CHECK

Fact Crescendo Cambodia began debunking the news report by interviewing sources who acknowledged this development. Then, we find out the truth below.

Fact Crescendo Cambodia sent inquiries to the Khmer Krom association and some Khmer Krom living in Kampuchea Krom or the southern part of Vietnam now. Below is what they told us related to the news report.

First of all, we talked with Son Chumchon who is the Secretary-General of the Khmer Krom Association for Human Rights and Development. The non-profit organization is based in Cambodia and works to support the rights of Khmer Krom living in Cambodia.

Son Chumchon acknowledged the news report, saying it was just a single case happening during the Pchum Ben festival celebrated in Kampuchea Krom.

He said, but, no official announcement has been made by Vietnamese government or local authority.

The Khmer Krom rights defender said the news report had misled Khmer Krom and Cambodian people in Cambodia as well.

Please listen to what Son Chumchoun told Fact Crescendo Cambodia via Telegram chat.

Archived

After the news report was widely spread on social media, Fact Crescendo Cambodia tried to find out if this news was reported by any Vietnamese media outlets, but we did not see any report saying this issue.

Fact Crescendo Cambodia could not reach out for comment from the Vietnam Embassy to Cambodia. We will update you later if we get any reply from the Vietnamese embassy.

To get detailed information, Fact Crescendo Cambodia reached out to a man who shared the news on social media. Kim Cheng is one of the Khmer Krom living in Preah Trapaing province or Tra Vinh in the Vietnamese language.

Kim Cheng said he and other Khmer Krom people celebrated the Pchum Ben festival. He added Khmer Krom hung the flag representing them in front of their houses, but Vietnamese authority in the province prevented them from doing so.

However, Kim Cheng said after a verbal exchange with a group of Vietnamese authorities, the flag was allowed to hang inside their houses.

Being asked if there was any official announcement from the Vietnamese government or authority, Kim Cheng said no official permission from the government at all.

Archived

CONCLUSION

Fact Crescendo Cambodia found the news report was misleading. No official permission was released by the Vietnamese government. It was just a single case occurring during Pchum Ben festival celebrated by Khmer Krom people.