Author(s):
Kjell Knudsen <webmaster@icbl.org> .
Phnom Penh, Cambodia,
Saturday 13 November 2004
For immediate release – November 13, 2004
Cambodia’s new King HRH King Norodom Sihamoni will preside over the global launch of the Landmine Monitor Report 2004 on November 17, 2004 at 8.30am. The launch, to be held at the Banteay Prieb (Place of the Dove) School for the Disabled and Wheelchair manufacture, close to the Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, will be the first of three global events, followed later in the day by other launches at the NATO Headquarters in Belgium and in Mozambique.
As the Cambodia event of the global launch focuses specifically on assistance to landmine affected victims, the commitment of King Sihamoni to launch the Landmine Monitor indicates the new King’s commitment both to his people, landmine victims everywhere and to the issues affecting their lives. In a letter to the Campaign to Ban Landmines King Sihamoni wrote;
It is important that actions against land mines be accompanied by commitment, dedication and patience. Without these three elements it would be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve the complete eradication of this cruel form of warfare from our world.
On arrival King Sihamoni will be greeted by 200 victims of antipersonnel mines and representatives of mine affected communities. The ceremony will include a speech by International Landmine Ambassador and Siem Reap resident, Tun Channareth, presentation of the Landmines Dance by children of Samrong village, Kandal and an explanation of the Landmine Monitor report by Global Mines researcher Sheree Bailey.
Following the ceremony King Sihamoni will view displays by a variety of organisations involved in mine clearance and victim assistance in Cambodia and world wide.
A press briefing will be given in English by the Landmine Monitor Victim Assistance Global Research Coordinator Sheree Bailey and in Khmer by Cambodia’s Landmine Monitor Researcher Ny Nhar, after the launch ceremony.
Press packs in both languages will be available which include the major findings of the Landmine Monitor Report 2004.
Representatives from Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines (CCBL), Cambodia Mine Action Centre (CMAC) Cambodia Mine Action Authority (CMAA), Mines Advisory Group (MAG), Handicap International (HI), Disability Action Council (DAC), Jesuit Service and others will also be available at various displays of mine action, clearance and victim assistance.
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For more information contact:
- Sok Eng, Press Relations, Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines (Khmer and English) – 012 354788
- Sheree Bailey, Press Relations, International Campaign to Ban Landmines (English) – 012 693 823
- For directions to Banteay Prieb call Jesuit Service Office on: 012 242130
- For more information on the International Campaign to Ban Landmines please refer to www.icbl.org
- For more information on the Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines please refer to www.jrscambodia.org
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