By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer,
Original report from Phnom Penh
21 September 2009
A dozen local organizations called on Monday for peaceful resolution to the prolonged border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, marking the International Day of Peace Monday.
A hundred participants, ranging from monks to rights workers prayed for peace before the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, while others rode bicycles through the capital in matching peace T-shirts.
Nearly 300 people participated, coming from universities, schools and NGOs, in a ride that started from the National Assembly building, continued to Wat Phnom and finally stopped at the famous spiritual sanctuary of Dorng Keu in front of the Royal Palace.
Before the end of event, about 100 participants sat down with Buddhist monks and nuns and prayed for world peace.
Prok Vanny, one of the organizers, said the day was meant to disseminate awareness to people and spread a message of peace.
But Monday's day of peace came following a tumultuous weekend at the border, where tension remains high over Preah Vihear temple and disputed border territory nearby.
Ream Rathamony, vice president of the Youth Resource Development Program, said he still was worried Cambodia would not avoid conflict with Thailand again over the temple, and he appealed to the two countries to avoid armed conflict.
"We suffered civil war for nearly 30 years, and many women and children became widows and orphans after the war," he said, adding that he did not want to see war again.
Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said the Cambodian government has clung to keeping peace so that it has chance to develop the country.
During his visit to Cambodia in June, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva vowed to avoid armed clashes with Cambodia over the border issue.
PHNOM PENH, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 300 people from schools, universities, pogodas and NGOs as well as other international and social groups gathered in downtown of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh Monday to mark the International Day of Peace.
The "peace biking" celebration to mark Peace Day started from National Assembly to Wat Phnom and finally stopped in front of the Royal Palace. And before the end of the event, all marchers prayed at the famous spiritual sanctuary of Dorng Keu in front of the Royal Palace to beg for peace for all people around the world and at the same time, the Khmer Buddhist monks chanted Dharma for peace and non-violence for this day.
"We also appealed to our leader and world leaders to support and respect the peace principles in solving the conflict matters even in internal affairs or with neighboring countries," said a joint statement from the event organizer.
Prok Vanny, representative of the event organizer for the peace working group in Cambodia said that "today we all celebrated the world peace day. And we want to raise awareness for peace for all people and spread peace message for all Cambodians."
"We also want to contribute in building and keeping peace in Khmer society as whole, and also building peace for lovely world and peace for all," she added.
"We have to cooperate each other to work for peace, and our message for this year is that we have to strengthen peace ideas, and reduce the tension, solve the conflict with peace deal, terminate all violence and disputes in the whole world. And today is the day of no violence, and stop all armed clashes in the world."
The International Day of Peace was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982.
In 2002. the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace.
