UCAN- The many Cambodians dying daily from unexploded ordnance is one reason why the country faces development problems, says a Buddhist monk.

Religious and civic leaders must fight for a universal adherence to the UN Mine Ban Treaty, which came into force in 1999, says Venerable Vy Sovechea.

Leaders must also work toward supporting landmine survivors and the clearing of unexploded ordnance, said the monk at a July 23 gathering in Samlot, a district in western Cambodia heavily affected by landmines due to past civil war

Public pressure on governments to ban and destroy landmines is crucial to their eradication, he told the 500 people at the event, which aimed to spread awareness of the dangers of unexploded ordnance.

People disabled by landmines were among those present at the gathering, which saw the participation of NGOs such as the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS),  Buddhist monks, teachers, students, police and social activists.

Cambodia is one of 156 countries that ratified the Mine Ban Treaty, which came into force on March 1, 1999.

However, Cambodians still continue to be affected by these devices. From 2007 to June 2010, 1,025 people were reported killed or injured by unexploded ordnance.

The recent gathering allowed victims to share their thoughts on what has been accomplished as well as the challenges ahead, said JRS official, Kosal Sang.

JRS has been involved in landmine awareness activities since 1994 “and today we are working with other partners … to eradicate the danger from these killing devices,” said Sang, who is also Cambodian representative to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

In order to integrate victims into society, JRS has organized vocational training programs, wheelchair production and non-formal education services, said Sang.

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A student of Don Bosco School

BATTAMBANG: 9 June 2010 — June 7, 2010 was a day of celebration and thanksgiving at Andaung Chenhh village.  Bishop Kike Figaredo SJ, Apostolic Prefect of Battambang, Cambodia,  came to bless the classrooms in the presence of 250  teachers and students in the morning.

Andaung Chenh is a village of 700 families where Don Bosco Literacy School is situated. The Salesian presence started out there in 1999 for children of workers in the brick factories and paddy fields. Classes were taught in classrooms under the shade of big trees and a zinc-roofed building. Don Bosco’s concern and commitment for equal opportunities attracted Salesian friends and kind donors from the Netherlands who believe that school is the place for children and not brick factories or paddy fields. They assisted in the construction of a two-storey building of twelve classrooms.

Challenged by the words of the Apostolic Prefect, the teachers met in the afternoon for a 3-hour session to reflect on the rationale of the centre: building a community one person at a time where the child’s journey begins here and now; a journey of excellence.

The centre’s identity statement was also explained by Fr. Leo Ochoa SDB, “We build the Don Bosco Environment, home and family, wat (temple) and playground, where F.I.S.H is lived and shared, or in other words, F for Friendliness, I for Integrity, S for Solidarity and H for Harmony”. The day ended with a family supper of togetherness and cheerfulness.

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Mgr. Enrique Figaredo Alvargonzález

On the 2nd of July 2000, I was installed as Apostolic Prefect of Battambang. My predecessor, Mgr. Paul Tep Im Sotha, was killed in May 1975 at the beginning of the Khmer Rouge regime. In 1990, the Catholic communities were given permission to worship freely again in Cambodia. However, in the territory of Battambang diocese, Cambodia’s northwest, peace did not fully come until the last of the Khmer Rouge factions laid down their weapons in December 1998. At that time Bishop Ives Ramousse, Bishop Emile Detombes and Fr. Bernard Dupraz did a marvellous work encouraging the communities in this war zone.

With peace comes the new challenges of development. Battambang diocese is strategically located for Cambodia’s development. It lies across the main route to Thailand and encircles the resource-rich Tonle Sap Lake. Within it lies Cambodia’s precious cultural heritage of Angkor Wat and Preah Vihear, and its fertile agricultural fields, hitherto inaccessible because of conflict and land mines, which are now increasingly available for exploitation.

Confident that peace will stay, my first concern during these past five years has been to encourage and strengthen the Catholic communities. I have watched them grow in grace and knowledge, becoming more hospitable and mutually supportive, open to the poor and the vulnerable and more able to contribute to Cambodian society. After five years, thanks to the generous support of many friends, the basic organizations of the diocese are in place.

Our hope is that the new generation of Cambodians gains the values and the skills which were lost during the years of war, so that they themselves rebuild their country. We try to support these efforts through our communities and our emphasis on education.

This report records and gives thanks for what has been done, outlines some of our plans for the coming years, and introduces Battambang diocese to new friends who may wish to join us in serving the Cambodian people and in enabling the Catholic Church to make its proper contribution in its own society.

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