Lesson 1: Bringing national policies and culture closer to the Khmer people
As a part of the Vietnamese revolutionary press, the Khmer-language press in the South was born during the years of resistance against foreign invaders in two areas with a large Khmer population, meeting the propaganda requirements in wartime conditions with propaganda bulletins in Soc Trang or the Khmer version of Tra Vinh Newspaper... Currently, most localities with a large Khmer population in the Mekong Delta have Khmer-language press to bring the Party and State's policies and guidelines to the Khmer people. From there, it has contributed significantly to preserving and promoting the language, writing and fine cultural identity of the Khmer people.
Bridge contributing to bringing ethnic policies into life
In the process of leading the revolution, our Party and State have always paid attention to ethnic minorities, including the Khmer people, as demonstrated through correct and comprehensive policies and guidelines. The content of ethnic policies is increasingly diverse and extensive, meeting the needs of cadres, monks and Khmer people, creating positive changes in socio -economics, security and defense stability in the region. The Khmer press system always accompanies all levels and sectors to propagate, encourage and motivate Khmer people and monks to actively compete to successfully implement policies and guidelines.
Monks often read the Khmer-language Can Tho Newspaper to stay informed and propagate the Party and State's policies to the Khmer people. Photo: Ma Lai
Soc Trang province has over 30% of the population being Khmer ethnic people. The province has invested in the Project "Improving the quality of Khmer language broadcasting program content": 2018-2020 period, supporting 3 billion VND/year; 2021-2025 period, supporting 5 billion VND/year... The Khmer language program of Soc Trang Radio and Television Station (old) is highly appreciated, with a variety of content. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Trieu, Editor-in-Chief of Soc Trang Provincial Radio and Television Station, the Khmer language broadcasting program of Soc Trang Radio and Television Station focuses on improving the quality of current news. Soc Trang Radio and Television Station also opened many more topics: Ethnicity and development, Gender equality, Prevention of child marriage, My hometown Soc Trang, Policies for ethnic people...
Tra Vinh also has over 30% of the population being Khmer ethnic people, so Tra Vinh Provincial Radio and Television Station devotes a lot of time to Khmer language radio programs, with a duration of 135 minutes/day. Specifically, in the morning from 6:30 to 7:15; at noon from 10:30 to 11:15; in the evening from 18:00 to 18:45. Mr. Ky Chane Do Ra, Deputy Director of Tra Vinh Provincial Radio and Television Station, said: Through television, radio and social networking platforms of Tra Vinh Television (Facebook, Youtube) in Khmer, Tra Vinh Provincial Radio and Television Station has worked with the Party Committee and the government to concretize the content and bring the resolution to the Khmer people. In particular, the Khmer language press in Tra Vinh always closely follows the practical activities and events related to the topics of economic development, national defense and security, and socio-culture among the Khmer people. Therefore, basically meeting the needs of readers, viewers and listeners are Khmer ethnic people.
Can Tho Newspaper in Khmer with 8 pages of content, officially launched to readers on April 16, 2007 and distributed to over 600 Khmer pagodas, border posts, ethnic boarding schools... in the Mekong Delta, where many Khmer people live. On December 22, 2007, the Can Tho Newspaper's Khmer-language electronic news page integrated into the Can Tho Electronic Newspaper was officially released on the global network.
According to the Editorial Board of Can Tho Newspaper, since its inception, Can Tho Khmer Newspaper has constantly improved its form and content to become closer to its readers. Can Tho Khmer Newspaper has always followed the principles and purposes of a Party newspaper, with a practical propaganda orientation that is suitable for the majority of readers who are monks, students, cadres, intellectuals, prestigious people... among the Khmer ethnic group. In particular, Can Tho Khmer Newspaper has always maintained its ethnic characteristics, focusing on propagating the policies and laws of the Party and State to the people. Thereby, reflecting the material and spiritual life, encouraging the labor and production movements of the Khmer people in the South, contributing to further strengthening the trust of the Khmer people in the Party and the State. Mr. Thach Rich, Vice Principal of the Southern Intermediate Pali Cultural Supplementary School, said: Reading the Can Tho Khmer Newspaper means knowing information about the economic, social, cultural, educational, and medical life of the Khmer ethnic group in the provinces and cities of the Mekong Delta, where many Khmer people live. The Can Tho Khmer Newspaper is widely read by Khmer monks, scholars, and intellectuals in the Mekong Delta.
In addition to propagating ethnic policies and guidelines, Khmer-language newspapers also participate in responding to the opinions of dignitaries, monks, prestigious people and all classes of Khmer people. Venerable Truong Huong, Vice President of the Association of Patriotic Monks and Monks in Tra Vinh province, said: Thanks to the propaganda information of Khmer-language newspapers and radio stations, Khmer people are more aware and responsible in complying with the law, changing their ideological awareness. Through newspapers and radio stations, people can reflect their thoughts and aspirations to competent authorities so that the State and local authorities can make reasonable adjustments to socio-economic development.
Preserving culture, language and community beliefs
A prominent feature of Khmer culture is that it is one of the ethnic minorities in Vietnam that has its own, fairly complete language (spoken and written). In addition, during the process of existence and development, the Khmer people in the South have constantly created cultural values and traditional festivals of the nation and religion. Therefore, in addition to the role of policy communication, the Khmer press also contributes to preserving culture and language, thereby building trust in the Khmer ethnic community. Mr. Nguyen Van Trieu, Editor-in-Chief of Soc Trang Radio and Television Station, said: Most of the entertainment programs of the Khmer press have Du Ke, Ro Bam stages, Khmer singing, dancing and music... In recent years, Soc Trang Radio and Television Station has successfully organized the Khmer Folk Song Festival in the Mekong Delta region; the Southern Khmer Song - Dance - Music Festival; The Du Ke and Ro Bam Stage Excerpt Festival in the Mekong Delta region, with over 1,000 artists and artisans who are Khmer ethnic people from the provinces of Tra Vinh, Kien Giang, An Giang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau and Soc Trang... Thereby contributing to preserving and promoting the identity, spreading the typical cultural values and national pride of the Khmer people in the South.
Mr. Chau Kim Son, a retired cadre in O Lam commune, Tri Ton district, An Giang province, said: “I used to worry that the art of the Khmer people in O Lam would be lost. But recently, a TV station came to the place to film and put it on television, YouTube... Then this art was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Thanks to that, children and grandchildren know how to preserve, learn to sing, learn to dance again... Not only that, on the big festivals of the Khmer people, such as: Cow racing in Bay Nui area in An Giang on the occasion of Sene-Dolta festival, Ngo boat racing in Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Bac Lieu... on the occasion of Ok-Om-Bok..., Vietnamese and Khmer newspapers have reported it widely, even broadcast live on television with commentary in Khmer for the people to follow. Khmer press has contributed to introducing, preserving and promoting the good culture of ethnic minorities in general, and the Khmer people in particular. Very valuable and worthy of respect!”
On the Can Tho Khmer Newspaper, the “Translation Exchange” section is arranged in 1/4 of page 7 and has been maintained since the first issue. Mr. Thach Rich, Vice Principal of the Southern Intermediate Pali Cultural Supplementary School, said: “The “Translation Exchange” corner regularly updates new words, difficult words and quotes translations appropriate to the context - very useful for students and teachers of the School in studying, researching and teaching Khmer language...”. Mr. To Do in Thanh Phu commune, My Xuyen district, Soc Trang province, shared: “I often follow both Soc Trang Radio and Television Station (old) and Can Tho Khmer Newspaper. I am very proud that the Party and State not only pay attention to investing in developing the lives of the Khmer ethnic group but also pay attention to the unique features of the Khmer people. Khmer press not only helps people grasp current information and changes in the village but also plays an important role in preserving the language and writing of the Khmer people. Since then, Khmer people have become more proud of their nation and have worked together to build their villages to become more and more prosperous and beautiful.
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Over the years, Khmer-language journalism in the South has been constantly developing in both form and content. The number of newspapers and radio stations using the Khmer language has been expanded. Facilities and techniques have been gradually modernized. The Khmer-language journalism team has generally increased in number, enthusiasm and professional skills have been increasingly improved. Types of journalism have become increasingly diverse: printed newspapers, electronic newspapers, radio, television, etc. To have the Khmer-language revolutionary journalism develop as it is today, there have been and are Khmer ethnic journalists who are passionate about their profession.
Can Tho Newspaper Khmer Reporter Group
(To be continued)
Lesson 2: Khmer journalists dedicated to their profession
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/bao-chi-tieng-khmer-o-dbscl-dong-hanh-voi-doi-song-dong-bao-khmer-a187571.html
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