austraLasia #1856

First Salesian Khmer citizen born in Turin
(and May 24 celebrates beginning of permanent SDB presence in Phnom Penh)

PHNOM PENH: 24th May 2007 -- The vigil of the Feast of Mary Help of Christians brought special joy to the 15 year old Salesian presence in Cambodia.  His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, approved the request of Bro. Roberto Panetto for Cambodian Nationality as a gesture of thanks for 15 years of presence of Don Bosco in Cambodia at the service of the poorest youth of the country. In a simple ceremony held in the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on May 23, accompanied by Fr. John Visser, Bro Panetto received from the authorities the credentials that make him a Cambodian citizen.
    Bro Panetto was born in Turin on December 15, 1951. His first profession was on August 16, 1969 and he came as a young missionary to Thailand on November 23, 1975. He went into the Khmer refugee camps in Thailand after the United Nations asked the Salesians in Bangkok to provide some technical education for youth amongst Cambodian refugees. In 1991 the Cambodian government approved the technical school project for Phnom Penh and Bro Panetto came to live in the country with Fr. Valter Brigolin on May 24 of that year where they opened the Don Bosco Technical School Phnom Penh.
    Nowadays Bro Panetto is leading the newest Don Bosco project in Cambodia, the Hotel School in Sihanoukville, officially opened by His Majesty on February 12, 2007. That was the opportunity for Brother to ask the King to approve his request for Khmer citizenship:
     "I consider that this condition makes me even closer to the Cambodian people for whom I came to work even before I entered the country - since the refugee camps -. On the other hand, it helps Don Bosco Cambodia Foundation to simplify many other processes, since as foreigners we can not hold some practical positions. Therefore I make the request to be near to the Cambodian people and to serve the Salesian Congregation in Cambodia".
    While Brother Panetto is the first Salesian to get a Cambodian citizenship, he is not the first member of the Salesian Family to make the request. A Salesian Sister has requested similarly, but still awaits royal approval.
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