The Hague, Netherlands – June 16, 2026

Representatives of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF), Mr. Chanh Sarach Tran, Mr. Suong Ly, Ms. Putheany Kim, Mr. Harry Van Bommel, and KKF’s partner, Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD), presented a petition to members of the Dutch Parliament, urging the Netherlands to maintain leadership in promoting human rights, responsible business conduct, and climate justice in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. The petition underscored the challenges confronting the Indigenous Khmer-Krom people and emphasized the need to ensure that development and climate cooperation uphold human rights and Indigenous participation.

The Khmer-Krom are the Indigenous people of the Mekong Delta, which is recognized as one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions. During the meeting, KKF representatives highlighted that rising sea levels, saltwater intrusion, land subsidence, and environmental degradation threaten livelihoods, food security, and the cultural survival of Khmer-Krom communities. The identity of these communities is deeply rooted in their ancestral lands, Khmer language, and Theravada Buddhist traditions.

KKF further raised concerns about the increasing repression of Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks, human rights defenders, and community activists who advocate peacefully for religious freedom, cultural rights, and Indigenous recognition. Members of Parliament received briefings on recent cases involving the imprisonment of Khmer-Krom Buddhist abbot Venerable Thach Chanh Da Ra, Venerable Kim Som Rinh, Thach Nga, Thach Xuan Dong, women’s rights advocate Thach Thi Hoa Ri, and activist Thach Chanh Tra. KKF detailed how Article 331 of Vietnam’s Criminal Code is used to criminalize peaceful expression and community advocacy.

GHRD emphasized the human rights implications of climate change in the Mekong Delta, noting that climate impacts disproportionately affect Indigenous Khmer-Krom communities. Climate-induced land loss, salinity intrusion, migration, and economic hardship threaten not only livelihoods but also the Khmer-Krom language, culture, religion, and community institutions. GHRD called for meaningful participation, transparency, and the application of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) in climate adaptation and development projects involving Indigenous communities.

During the visit, KKF distributed briefing materials and research papers to Members of Parliament to provide additional context on the situation of the Khmer-Krom. These materials included policy recommendations on business and human rights, climate justice, religious freedom, and Indigenous rights. KKF also shared research conducted by its student interns, including analyses of gaps in the implementation of Indigenous rights protections and the relationship between trade, sustainable development, and the rights of Khmer-Krom communities. These papers aimed to encourage Dutch parliamentarians and Members of the European Parliament to assess how human rights commitments under the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) can be effectively implemented and monitored.

KKF and GHRD expressed appreciation to the Dutch Parliament for receiving the petition and considering the concerns of the Khmer-Krom community. Both organizations stressed that sustainable development, climate resilience, and economic cooperation must be accompanied by respect for human rights, religious freedom, and the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples.

As the Netherlands continues its engagement with Vietnam on trade, climate adaptation, agriculture, and water management in the Mekong Delta, KKF and GHRD urged Dutch policymakers to ensure that Indigenous Khmer-Krom communities are not marginalized and that their perspectives are included in decisions affecting their future.

For the Khmer-Krom, this issue extends beyond policy; it concerns preserving their identity, protecting their culture, safeguarding their religious traditions, and ensuring that future generations can live with dignity on their ancestral homeland.

Dutch Presse Release and Research Papers:

1. Indigenous Group Calls for a Fair Relationship with Vietnam (Dutch Press Release), Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) and Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD), June 16, 2026.
2. Trade Without Sustainability: Khmer-Krom Rice Farmers and Compliance Gaps under the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Research paper by Di Wang, Spring 2026 KKF Intern.
3. Abuse of Democratic Freedoms? A Legal Analysis of Article 331 and the Prosecution of Indigenous Khmer-Krom Activists. Research paper by Iudith Nichescu, Spring 2026 KKF Intern.