UN human rights experts issued a strong condemnation on Monday of what they label as the increasing oppression of the Khmer Krom Indigenous people in Vietnam. They urged the Vietnamese government to halt the misuse of security laws to target minority communities and demanded the immediate release of individuals detained for engaging in peaceful activities.

The experts highlighted that Khmer Krom defenders, including activists and Theravada Buddhist monks, are subjected to systematic harassment, criminalization, and both religious and cultural repression. These actions are taken against those who peacefully strive to promote Indigenous identity, cultural expression, and religious freedom. The condemnation extends to the government’s portrayal of Indigenous and cultural identities as threats to national security or public order.

A concerning report details that 17 people connected to the Khmer Krom groups have been wrongfully arrested, convicted, and sentenced. Their supposed crimes were merely exercising their rights to freedom of religion or belief, expression, association, peaceful assembly, and participation in cultural life. Allegations of torture and mistreatment during pretrial detention of some detainees have also surfaced.

The focus of these repressive actions has been particularly intense around the Tro Nom Sek Temple in Vinh Long province. This temple has resisted integration into the state-sanctioned Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, leading to partial demolitions, disruptions of Khmer language classes, forcible defrocking of monks, and targeting of human rights defenders who document these violations.

The UN experts are calling for Vietnam to align with international human rights standards. They urge the protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples, religious minorities, and rights defenders. The call includes a demand to end the use of vague security laws against these groups and to ensure detainees have access to legal counsel, are allowed family visits, and receive adequate medical care.

The Khmer Krom, native to the Mekong Delta, have reported longstanding discrimination and restrictions on their religious practices and cultural and linguistic rights. This has led to intimidation, arbitrary detention, and disproportionate sentencing for community defenders. These issues have been consistently raised with the Vietnamese government in previous years, with similar concerns highlighted in 2021 and 2022.

The international community watches closely as the situation develops, hoping for a positive change in the treatment of the Khmer Krom people in Vietnam.