Dated on 05 August 1999,Phnom Penh
/ Flood in Kampot /
Recently because of continuous rainfall, southern part of the country
attacked by severe flood that might be recorded once in around ten
years.
The water level of Kampot market rose until chest position of the
passers by.
The national road which front on Pich Nil primary school in Kampong
Spue province also flooded one meter depth, and traffic up to
Sihanouk Ville jammed completely, of cause, no one could go to Kampot
province. The electric supply stopped. Plenty of people became
victims.
/Pilica-shock /
July 13th, in the morning, on my way home from Kampot, I dropped in a
gas Station to clean out my muddy car. Usually, after washing with
water, about ten workers wearing in yellow T-shirts of the same
design polish up everywhere of car with clouts in their hands, and
raise the volume of car-radio extremely all through the working time.
But a little bit different on that day.
Everyone almost stopped movement and got absorbed in radio news.
What happened? Before I ask them, a mutter with sigh reached my ears,
saying that Pilica died! Pilica died at 34. She was the most famous
actress and best Khmer dancer in Cambodia. On the next day of her
death, all newspapers, including English paper treated the affair as
top news. On July 7th, she was shot on the way to go shopping. CNN
also reported this news. During her lifetime, she was surrounded by
various gossips of love affair, then at last killed by gunfire just
when government strengthened the control of illegal gun possession.
Ironical event happens in Cambodia occasionally.
A reward of 5,200 dollars is being offered for the wanted- criminal
by the Police Agency General. The funeral was held on 18th. At which
a record breaking number of people attended. In the evening, heavy
rain began to fall as if even the weather lamented her death.
In front of our former office flooded more than one meter. But new
office was saved.
/ 4 schools, some in mountainside, under construction /
The rainy season started earlier compared with average year, We are
worry about further development, but it is on a relaxed term at
present. Rainfall amount so far looked rather heavy but when I went
for a drive, I noticed that some rice fields were full of water while
the others were still dried up.
Since last year rainfall was somewhat Localized, so the rainy season
of each area became to appear indefinite time. By the way, school
construction needs plenty of water to make a solid foundation,
therefore rainy season is rather preferable than dry one.
AS budget of construction was provided, four schools started works.
One of four is Don Soy primary school consisted of three classrooms,
which is located in mountainous Don Soy district. Its construction
fund is based on the contribution of the citizens of Noda City, Chiba
prefecture, who was impressed with the activity of ASAC Noda branch.
When UNTAC's election was held in 1992, this district was still under
occupation by PolPot. Before, I introduced a photo in my literary
work '' the things only volunteer can do ''. In that photo, I was
crossing a single log bridge. There is just the place of the school
now under construction. Since 1995,reclamation went on, road was
built up. At one time, a Buddhist priest built a hut and began
schooling, but in a little while the hut was crushed then his work
was interrupted. All
Villagers are excited by school construction. Once they have free
time immediately gather on the site and help works. At the same time,
through the courtesy of a member of ASAC Mr. CHBAR AMPEUV primary
school consisted of five classrooms, located in the same reclamation
area and PHNOM SAR primary school consisted of four classrooms, in
the neighboring mountainous area, both after a long time for petition
finally got grant and began construction.
In CHBAR AMPEUV, about five hundred villagers jointed with workers
and cut down bushes in the site. In PHNOM SAR , each villager brought
food and held SAMAKI_party ( dine together for everlasting
cooperation ) to celebrate ground breaking. One more school, which
also received a favor of MR. K., is KAMPONG TREAK primary school,
built in Kampot province, consisted of two classrooms. This school is
located in a village of Cham tribe who is all Muslim. The literacy
lessons have been given in this school for several seasons.
We have met many difficulties to overcome discrepancy of life-custom
between us, but lessons ended happily with villagers understanding
and cooperation.
Originally, villagers built this school, but before they install
desk, chair and other interior furnishing, the wall and the roof
already began to fall down. Anyway, its foundation is steady, so this
time we are going to repair outside structure and roof. Preparation
of furnishing and equipment is also necessary.
/ Asking aid of WFP /
All construction sites of this time belong to the poverty zone. The
World Food Program (UN) decided to partly carry out '' Food for Work"
step which means supply of rice, canned food and cooking oil to the
residents who co-operate for construction work.
/ Well-digging in action /
In order to find out digging machine and proper partner, I was so
busy that my head seemed to be spinning; besides changeable rainy
season is disturbing our plan. Finally I consulted with the Ministry
of Farming Development. They replied that Japan will dispatch experts
sometime in future, so better wait them coming. My last hope was
gone. After that, I narrowly found out a civil engineer that has
comparatively large size digging machine. I made a contract with him,
under the condition that during the coming dry season, the undertaker
should continue digging work, unless both parties recognize weather
conditions become unsuitable for well-digging. I would like to report
to you all members of Urayasu Rotary Club and Dallas branch that we
have completed in all ten sets of well in the schools located in
Batheay district,
Kampong Cham province. " One well in each school " is our
slogan.
/ ASAC attends seminar of National Primary Education Development
/
On July 7-9th, A meeting of chairman of the National Primary
Education Development Committee was held in Kampot. I was invited
together with the member of the Ministry of Education, the World Bank
and UNICEF etc.
The Prime minister H.E. Hun Sen after he won the national election
stopped school-construction. Therefore the official organizations
which continuously support school are limited such as the World Bank
and few others. The expectation to ASAC is getting much bigger than
before.
/ Preparation for a new term of literacy classes /
Up to the fourth literacy education, all courses completed in good
condition.
One of the new target areas is Kampong Spue in where educational
level, including that of teachers, is below average, and living
standard is also lower than the others are. During a preliminary
guidance term, we had to spend two hours just to teach how to
calculate the percentage of attendance correctly.
They couldn't submit demanded reports by the time limit. We led them
again and again to remedy their fault. In the meanwhile we repeated
meeting with local people many times. Gradually their understanding
is getting deepen, and more improvement is expected.
In Kampot and Kampong Cham, the selection of area is going on
smoothly.
/ New office /
Our office removed to 16,Street 370, Bang Kang Ⅰ. Telephone number
unchanged.
Indoor temperature is 29 degrees, humidity reaches 85 percent. I
don't care, I am persistent!