Cambodia

On their way to China for a meeting, Fr Adam Zak (PME), the assistant of Fr. General for Central Europe, and Fr Antoine Kerhuel (GAL),  the assistant for Western Europe, visited Cambodia on April 10 to 15. The purpose of the visit is to get to know the Society of Jesus in other assistancies.

Covering children’s basic needs in housing and nutrition is a challenge we face every day. Having a basic and balanced nutrition and growing up in a stable and loving home is but a dream to many children. This is our everyday story.

In June last year a solitary Uighur from Xinjiang Province in China arrived in Phnom Penh seeking asylum. He registered his claim with the Cambodian Government and with UNHCR.

16th February 2010 was another mile-stone to celebrate achievement. It is indeed good news of great joy! Sr Denise, Country Director of JRS Cambodia excitedly exclaimed, “Today (16th February 2010) we got the 30 ratifications on the cluster munitions treaty!” This means the treaty will enter into force on 1st August 2010 as a binding international law. “Today we are letting off 104 balloons at Siem Reap, Battambang, Banteay Prieb, and Phnom Penh. 104 is the number of signatories,” continued Sr Denise.

Lian, recently replaced lawyer Taya Hunt as JRS Australia's representative in Phnom Penh, where she will work with the increasing numbers of asylum seekers arriving in Cambodia.

Jesuit Refugee Service Cambodia reports that the International Convention on Cluster Munitions has now been ratified by 30 countries, which means that it will become binding international law on 1 September 2010. The director of JRS Cambodia, Sister Denise Coghlan, had been lobbying tirelessly governments as part of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC). (Source: Headlines 2010/02 News from the Jesuit Social Apostolate)

Last 25-28 January, the Jesuit Community in Phnom Penh hosted the JCAP meeting of Major Superiors. This was a chance for the community to welcome participants of the meeting to their new home, Prieb So (The White Dove) in Phnom Penh Thmey.

10th Meeting of the Prefecture of Battambang
Siem Reap, October 20-22, 2009

Our life is full of experiences that spin and interweave, making up realities of life completely unsuspected, exceeding many times our dreams and expectations. The strength of life and the faithfulness of God in his love with his people is manifested with extreme clarity. This is our experience in Cambodia.

Last week I had the great luck of being able to go to the villages in the region of Banon with Phally, Theara and Javivhín. They are three members of the team of the Arrupe Center that work in remote villages helping disabled people.