DISABLED
CURRICULUM
Over the years, Joaqui Salord and his team of “disabled”
teachers have refined their curriculum in vocational training at Banteay Prieb.
A meeting of all the training institutions decided to adopt the Banteay Prieb
(Centre of the Dove) curriculum as the accredited curriculum for all their
training centres. The Ministry of Social Action is calling meetings with the
governor and stake holders in each province to promote their use. Congratulations
to Joaqui and his team - nearly all “disabled” soldiers, like
Ignatius!
Khmer Rouge Trial
The Khmer Rouge trial has began with transfer of Duch, the jail manager of
Toul Sleng Person to the tribunal facility. He has French defame lawyers more
news next time.
LAND ISSUES
JRS has been researching land issues in cooperation
with NGO Forum on Cambodia. Land is crucial to the livelyhood of the vast
majority of Cambodians; however in many parts of the country, the rural poor
are being removed from their land by a powerful elite. This has led to an
exacerbation of poverty, internal displacement, human rights abuses, and the
dispossession of natural resources. The first step in dealing with this problem
is to define its scope and its causes. Volunteer Brett Robertson is assisting
NGO Forum in building cooperation among NGOs involved in land problems in
Cambodia and building a central database of land disputes for their Land Information
Centre.
MAGIS
Young people from Korea, Australia, Hong Kong and Cambodia
gathered at our reflection centre in Siem Reap as part of the preparation
for World Youth Day. They spent 15 days together reflecting on how they could
do and be “more” towards building a world where justice, peace
and love prevail. They reflected on their experience as they discovered something
of the real life of ordinary Cambodians and their response to it, to one another
and to God. Friendships were built and God was discovered anew, as they reflected
through an Ignatian prism.
REFUGEES
As at 30 June 2007, there were over 80 urban refugees and asylum seekers in
Cambodia. The majority come from Vietnam where they claim they have been persecuted
on political or religious grounds. However, there are also people from China,
Congo, Sri Lanka, Palestine, Burma, Nepal, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Somalia,
and Liberia. This year, 14 refugees have been resettled to Norway, USA and
Canada. JRS works towards the social, legal and economic wellbeing of refugees
and asylum seekers in accordance with our mission to accompany and serve.
MONTAGNARDS
Ethnic minorities from the Central Highlands of Vietnam, known as Montagnards,
continue to flee to Cambodia alleging persecution by the Vietnamese authorities.
Montagnards who are recognised as refugees can only resettle in a third country
or return to Vietnam; the Cambodian government does not allow for their integration.
Montagnards awaiting the process of their application for refugee status by
UNHCR are held in sites, to which JRS no longer has access. It is understood
that there are currently over 300 Montagnards in the Phnom Penh sites. JRS
will continue to monitor their situation and advocate on their behalf.
KHMER ROUGE TRIAL
The Khmer Rouge trial has began with transfer of Duch, the jail manager of
Toul Sleng Person to the tribunal facility. He has French defame lawyers more
news next time
