Extreme Khmer Episode 10: Studying Khmer in Surin

In this episode, the first of many exploring the Khmers of Surin in present-day Thailand, we visit a school started by a Sisaket Khmer man who teaches Khmer reading and writing. Write to khmersurin@gmail.com for more info. You can also use that address to donate to his school on PayPal. A little bit goes a long way!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• khmer
• surin
• cambodia
• language
• literacy
• culture
• thailand
• heritage

[Khmerforce4Life]

the teacher doesn't look Cambodian. What is he?

[preahko]

Lok Kruu Cheymongkol is Khmer Sisaket; Sisaket is a province in present-day Thailand, Preah Vihear is close to its southern boundary.

[preahko]

You can now donate to Cheymongkol's cause via PayPal, just use khmersurinATgmailDOTcom. Help him out if you have some extra cash, he recently lost the rental space you see in the video.

[ahpun]

Hi PreahKo, the teacher said that 30-40 years ago, the khmer languages/written was banded from being taught in schools in surin, buriram provinces and a couple other provinces where khmer people are concentrated in thailand. Why was it banned? When was it again allow for people to learn khmer? Isn't the same thing happening in vietnam right now to khmer krom people?

[preahko]

It's part of the Thai government's "nation-building" project: they try to minimize their ethnic minority citizens which share a culture with border nations (Khmers, Laos) from establishing too strong of a solidarity with their sisters and brothers across the borders. However, the way Surin Khmers are treated by the Thais is nothing compared with the oppression of Khmae Kraom by the Vietnamese.

[khamerak008]

Excellent! finally Khmer Language come to life in Surin.

I wondering how many percent of Khmer Surin (young

generation) know how read and write Khmer Language?

Thanks so much Mr. Frank.

[preahko]

It's a very, very small percent...that's what's so great and remarkable about Cheymongkol's school, it means that at least some young people will start learning. Right now not even that many older Surin Khmers can read and write Khmer.

[vuthy007]

this is khmer hero!!!

[562long]

I appreciate this man and keep up the good work. I will donate when i visit there this year.

[KeraPera]

@Khmerforce4Life they are called Khmer Krom. They are the group of Khmer that, I think, are under-appreciated and under-represented by the Vietnamese people and the Khmer people alike.

[TheKhmerEmpire]

we called them Khmer Krom. But Khmer Surin call middle Khmer Khmer Krom

[TheKhmerEmpire]

How to make donation to Khmer Surin Khmer surin learning

[khmervennesla]

so sad ... how can i donate to him?

[sichoeunto]

It is very sad that Khmer who live in their own land but controlled by different nation, Khmer should joint together to control their own land

[lilncsgirl08]

khmer surin r rock!!!! they want to learn to write kh even they live in thai. im proud of them.

[MrsOuk]

Khmer who lives in Viet called Khmer Krom .