The march took place in context of the Symposium on “The Right to Self-determination in International Law”, organised by UNPO, the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation and the Hawai’i Institute for Human Rights, held this weekend in The Hague.

City dwellers on their bikes stopped and curious bystanders watched as more than one hundred representatives from every continent of the world joined together walking through the streets of the city centre - in commemoration of those prevented from attending such expressions of freedom and in solidarity of those suffering oppression, denied their fundamental rights.

In honour and recognition of UNPO Member communities worldwide, flags were held high and candles carried by the large procession on its journey to its destination, the Peace Palace. Outside this landmark of international justice, the crowd paused for a manifestation and moment of silence. Then the many participating Khmer Krom Buddhist monks, who had travelled from afar to come to The Hague, chanted for peace in their homeland and gave blessings for their people. With powerful voices reverberating through the nightfall, youth from Southern Cameroons performed their freedom song:

- Home -

- My Home -

When Shall I See My Home?

When Shall I See My Native Land?

- Home -

I Will Never Forget My Home

Standing, outside the Peace Palace, at dusk, with hundreds of candles lit, the air filled with chanted calls for freedom and return to the homeland, for justice and for peace, struck a chord with those gathered, many coming from displaced communities and forced off their native soils.

The emotive calls for freedom and justice for those oppressed in every corner of the world carried a message of solidarity and unity from those present in The Hague to every other UNPO community across the world, wishing to live in or return to a peaceful homeland, with freedom rightfully enjoyed by all nations and peoples.

UNPO, The Hague