12 December 2008

Phnom Penh, Cambodia:

The UNV Executive Coordinator has laid flowers at a shrine in memory of Atsuhito Nakata, a UNV volunteer killed on active service in 1993.

Flavia Pansieri, on her first official mission to Cambodia in late November, paid a visit to Wat Unalom in Phnom Penh and paid respects at the memorial dedicated to Mr. Nakata. She was accompanied by the Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia, Katsuhiro Shinohara, and representatives of UNV and the Japanese Embassy.

"I was very pleased to have been able to visit the memorial dedicated to the late Mr. Atsuhito Nakata at the Unalom Pagoda," said Ms. Pansieri.  "The partnership between Japan and UNV has evolved since his untimely death and his sacrifice continues to inspire many Japanese people to volunteer.  Paying respect to his memorial therefore meant a lot to me."

On 8 April 1993, 'Atsu' Nakata was working as a UNV volunteer District Electoral Supervisor with the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) when he was shot along with his translator. He was 25 years old.

His father, Takehito Nakata, subsequently became an Honorary Ambassador for UNV, playing an important role in the lead-up to the International Year of Volunteers in 2001.

Mr Nakata Snr. also founded the Atsuhito Nakata Memorial Foundation to support international development projects and volunteer initiatives. The fund aided construction of schools in the Nakata Atsuhito Village in Prasat Sambour District, Kompong Thom Province, where his son was killed.

In 2003, Mr. Nakata was awarded the Kingdom of Cambodia's Gold Medal for National Construction to recognize his long-term commitment to the country. He retired from official duties this year, and in November received the 'Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette', one of the highest decorations bestowed by the Japanese Government.