About 1,000 monks and onlookers gathered at the Borey Prey Nokor Association in Phnom Penh yesterday, commemorating the 64th anniversary of France turning over Khmer Kampuchea Krom to Vietnam.

On June 4, 1949, France gave the land that made up Kampuchea Krom, once Cambodian territory, to neighbouring Vietnam. Yesterday’s event included songs and speeches mourning the loss of the territory.

Thach Sitha, president of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Association, called for Vietnam to return the land to Cambodia. “We have asked the Vietnamese government to share control of Khmer Krom with the Cambodian government,” Sitha said.

“They reject. But we keep trying.”