wfn.org | Baha'i news: Cambodia hosts 2,100 Baha'is for historic gathering

[Sally Weeks <sweeks@bwc.org>]

>Baha'i World News Service
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Cambodia hosts 2,100 Baha'is for historic gathering

BATTAMBANG, Cambodia, 3 February (BWNS) - Some 2,100 Baha'is from Cambodia,  Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam gathered in Cambodia's second-largest city for  a historic conference that had citizens of all four nations sitting side b y side to discuss service activities in their communities.

The gathering last weekend was one of a series of 41 Baha'i conferences bei ng held in major cities around the world. The events began on 1 November in  Lusaka, Zambia, and will conclude on 1 March in Kiev, Ukraine.

More than 67,500 people have participated in the conferences, with only six  of the 41 events still remaining.

In Battambang, a representative of the provincial government, Aem Thoeurn,  addressed the conference and emphasized the diverse nature of the gathering .

"The unity of religion and the harmony of its followers is essential for pe ace," he said. "Your gathering here is proof that this is possible."

He expressed the wish that "each one of us will bring this (spirit) back to  our own people."

As in many of the cities hosting the conferences, Baha'i organizers in Batt ambang were challenged to find a venue large enough for all participants. T he Battambang city hall fit the bill, with 1,500 people filling the main au ditorium and others watching proceedings by video link from tents set up ou tdoors.

A simultaneous conference was held last weekend in Auckland, New Zealand, w here 1,700 people from 10 countries and Pacific island groups gathered.

All the conferences are being held at the call of the Universal House of Ju stice, the head of the Baha'i Faith. The purpose is to celebrate achievemen ts in community-building and make plans for future work. This includes devo tional gatherings; children's classes; and programs for the moral education  of young people.

To view this article with photographs, go to http://news.bahai.org/story/69 2