Scouting in Cambodia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cambodia is one of 35 countries where Scouting exists (be it embryonic or widespread) but where there is no National Scout Organization which is yet a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, and no organization was ever recognized by WOSM during the nation's periods of Scouting history. Cambodian boys are apparently served by two Scout associations, the Scout Organization of Cambodia and Cambodia Scouts, with a combined membership of about 25,000. Both are apparently working towards meeting the requirements of membership in the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
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[edit] History
The original Cambodian Scout movement Ankar Khamarak Kayarith was created in 1934, under the direction of Prince Sisowath Monireth and other leaders, including Tem Im and Pok Thiem. This first era of Cambodian Scouting spread over several provinces and numbered more than 1,000 members.
André Lefèvre, chief of the Eclaireurs de France, set up a training camp for 60 Scoutmasters from all over French Indochina. At the end of 1937, French Scouting sent Scoutmaster Raymond Schlemmer to the Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese areas of Indochina to oversee the setting up of the Fédération Indochinoise des Associations du Scoutisme (FIAS, Indochinese Federation of Scouting Associations) in all three regions.
From 1939 through 1945, the political situation affected Scouting activities all across the country, as World War II engendered a movement for an independent Cambodia. The French began to lose control and were finally overthrown by Japanese intervention. This ceased the French Scouts' activity in Cambodia, as well as all Scouting activities.
Scouts and Scout leaders represented Cambodian Scouting at the World Jamboree in 1955 in Canada.
In 1956, the Cambodian Scouting movement was transformed into the "Scouts of the Queen". That year, there were 500 active Scouts and Guides in Phnom Penh, and some 700 Scouts in the provinces of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
In 1957, under the direction of socialist-leaning Prince Norodom Sihanouk, the Ankar Khamarak Kayarith was transformed into the "Royal Socialist Khmer Youth", with Sihanouk himself serving as president of the state ruled organization, now controlled by the Royal government. The 2,000 members and the leaders of Cambodian Scouting were permitted by the government to carry on activities. Scouts and Scout leaders attended the World Jamboree in 1959 in the Philippines, among them Prince Norodom Yuvaneath, the son of Norodom Sihanouk. Soon after, Prince Norodom Sihanouk announced the dissolution of the Cambodian Boy Scout Association, whose members were subsequently integrated into the JSRK, a government sponsored national socialist youth movement.
In 1972, the Cambodian Scouts were reestablished for a short period with ten groups, confined to the capital in Phnom Penh. In 1975, the movement was banned by the Khmer Rouge communist regime.
Cambodian Scouting in exile existed at least into the early 1990s in Los Angeles, alongside fellow Vietnamese Scouting in exile and Laotian Scouting in exile groups.
[edit] Present day
After the 1993 election supported by the United Nations, Mr. Beat Gruninger, a Swiss Scout leader was commissioned by the World Scout Bureau to coordinate with Cambodian leaders for the possible rebirth of Scouting in the recovering land.
In 1994, two visits were made by the Asia-Pacific Region to access the development of the Cambodian Scout movement. As with Afghanistan, Scouting is conducted under the auspices of a government agency, in this case the Department of Youth and Sports.
In April 1996, the first Basic Unit Leaders Training Course was held in Phnom Penh, assisted by the National Scout Organization of Thailand and the Asia-Pacific Regional office.
In reality, both Scout associations are run by rival political parties. For this reason, WOSM will not admit either of them as a member.
The Cambodian Scouts are led by Kong Thann of Kandal Province.
There seems to be some recent developments to Scouting in Cambodia. The World Scout Bureau - Asia Pacific Regional Office (located in Manila, Philippines) reported in their May 2006 Newsletter, The First General Assembly of the National Association of Cambodian Scouts (NACS) was held on 27 April in Phnom Penh. According to the article, the two associations are attempting to build a national Scouting movement.
[edit] Scout ideals and program
As with most other countries, the Scout sign and salute are made with three fingers. The uniform of the Cambodian Scouts is khaki.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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 Scouts-in-Exile |
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Historic Scouts-in-Exile: Armenia | Belarus | Cambodia | Czech Republic | Estonia | Latvia | Lithuania | Poland | Russian Federation | Slovakia | Slovenia |
