Greeting Message from the President of

CSAJ 2012

Unity Through Fair Representation

Happy New Year 2012 to all brothers and sisters currently studying in different parts of Japan!

As the new President of the Cambodian Students Association in Japan (CSAJ) in this year of 2012, I would like to share with you my vision about our common mission here as Cambodian students, the issue of unity of our community, and a stronger future for the CSAJ.

We all come to Japan as Cambodian students pursuing different levels of education in different fields. Our common first priority is to do this successfully and not to miss this precious opportunity to earn our educational degree for ourselves and for the development of the country. The CSAJ, bearing the name of Cambodian students association in Japan, must do everything that it can to promote this common mission and to serve the best interests of all Cambodian Students residing and studying in Japan.

Unity of the CSAJ and its stronger future can only develop based on mutual understanding among members and their strong commitments to help. However, we should also recognize that not all Cambodian students here in Japan have exactly the same needs and priorities. The CSAJ may sometimes risk serving the interests of some members while ignoring the needs of others. Thus, CSAJ has to be organized and reorganized in a way to minimize this risk. I think the 2007 CSAJ Statute has been drafted to serve this purpose and to initiate a system that is aimed at promoting stronger unity through a fair system of representation. Members will only engage themselves more actively in the CSAJ if they think that the CSAJ represents their interests and wills. These interests and wills are best represented by the regional association, which have been established, with a strong history in four regions nowadays, namely, CSAK, ACSK, KSAK, and CSAN. Each of the regions has its own priorities, activities, networks, and programs of interaction with different communities in their respective regions. CSAJ is not here to replace them. CSAJ should let them continue to develop their own histories. CSAJ should instead focus on promoting more inter-regional activities and serving the best interests of all CSAJ members wherever they are. But CSAJ should do this in accordance to clear rules and guidelines to be agreed upon among the four regions. Avoidance of any confusion in the work of CSAJ is therefore very important.

I think that after so many years of development. The CSAJ network is reaching new maturity. It is time we have to build upon the achievements and great effort of our seniors and strengthen the system further. Regional associations are expanding in size and they deserve more roles to play in the development of a CSAJ that is united, helpful for everybody, and representing all Cambodian students living and studying in Japan. I hope that 2012 is the beginning of this new effort. With the help and supports from all CSAJ members, I am confident that we will be able to prepare something along this line, so that future CSAJ Committees will continue to improve it and bring it to further development and success.

Finally, I would like to wish everybody a successful study in Japan in the year 2012. CSAJ 2012 will make the greatest effort to serve the best interest for all CSAJ members in Japan in both social and academic life.

Best regards,

SENG Hun

President of the CSAJ
Nagoya Japan January 20, 2012