US Ambassador to Cambodia Charles A Ray attended the inauguration of the display.
Students painted the murals under the theme 'interpre-tations of democracy.
Students from Reyum Kasumisou Art School have exercised their freedom to participate
in civil society in a non-violent constructive manner, by painting a series of ten
murals depicting democratic principles on the perimeter of the new US embassy compound
building site near Wat Phnom.
The US Ambassador to Cambodia, Charles A. Ray, and Governor of Phnom Penh, Kep Chuktema,
joined the directors of the school Ingrid Muan and Ly Daravuth in cutting the ribbon
to inaugurate the display.
Students created the pieces, under the theme of 'interpretations of democracy from
the perspective of disadvantaged youth'.
The paintings, displayed at the new US embassy near the corner of Street 96 and the
Wat Phnom circle include representations of democratic principles such as the right
to vote, to assemble peacefully, freedom of religion and freedom of expression.
A grant provided by the public affairs department of the US embassy funded the project.
Embassy spokeswoman Heide Bronke said it was still undecided where the murals would
go once the embassy was finished in 2006. "We'd like to figure out some way
to preserve them," she said.
