US Ambassador to Cambodia Charles A Ray attended the inauguration of the display.

Students painted the murals under the theme 'interpre-tations of democracy.

Students from Reyum Kasumisou Art School have exercised their freedom to participate

in civil society in a non-violent constructive manner, by painting a series of ten

murals depicting democratic principles on the perimeter of the new US embassy compound

building site near Wat Phnom.

The US Ambassador to Cambodia, Charles A. Ray, and Governor of Phnom Penh, Kep Chuktema,

joined the directors of the school Ingrid Muan and Ly Daravuth in cutting the ribbon

to inaugurate the display.

Students created the pieces, under the theme of 'interpretations of democracy from

the perspective of disadvantaged youth'.

The paintings, displayed at the new US embassy near the corner of Street 96 and the

Wat Phnom circle include representations of democratic principles such as the right

to vote, to assemble peacefully, freedom of religion and freedom of expression.

A grant provided by the public affairs department of the US embassy funded the project.

Embassy spokeswoman Heide Bronke said it was still undecided where the murals would

go once the embassy was finished in 2006. "We'd like to figure out some way

to preserve them," she said.