Khmer Krom

Seven Khmer Kampuchea Krom asylum seekers who were deported to Cambodia last week by Thai immigration authorities left temporary shelter at an NGO in Banteay Meanchey province on Monday in order to seek work.

“Three people went back to work in Thailand, three ... in Phnom Penh and one person went to Pailin,” Chea Sokun, provincial secretary general for NGO Independent Democratic of Informal Economic Association, said yesterday.

He said last week that the seven were part of a group of 57 Khmer Krom asylum seekers deported from Thailand in 2009 while waiting for their refugee applications to be processed.

“Khmer Krom” or “Khmer Kampuchea Krom” are terms for ethnic Khmers who live in or have roots in Southern Vietnam.

Deportee Yang Son told The Post last week that the seven had crossed into Thailand because the Cambodian government had yet to award them citizenship.

Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Yont Tharo, who is also president of the Khmer Krom Cultural Centre, said yesterday that he had not met with the deportees.

Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak could not be reached for comment by The Post.