Speeches of the French Ambassador and of Cedric Prakash SJ

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PRESS NOTE

“ LEGION D’HONNEUR ” AWARD FOR FR. CEDRIC PRAKASH

Fr. Cedric Prakash sj, the Director of PRASHANT, the Ahmedabad based Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace, has been awarded France’s highest civilian decoration.

In a message to Fr. Prakash, the Ambassador of France to India, Mr. Dominique Girard writes :

“I have the utmost pleasure of informing you that the President of the French Republic, Mr. Jacques Chirac, has conferred on you the award of “Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur” (Knight of the Legion of Honour), by decree of 18th April, 2006.

I warmly congratulate you for this distinction. By this award, France acknowledges your lifetime commitment to the defence and the promotion of Human Rights in India”.

The award was initiated by the then first Consul of the French Republic, Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 and is given to an elite group of people (mainly French Nationals and very exceptionally to foreigners) who distinguish themselves through military or civilian valour.

Fr. Prakash has been a championing the cause of Human Rights in Gujarat and in other parts of India. In the wake of the Gujarat Carnage of 2002, he has testified before the US Commission for International Religious Freedom in Washington.

Among the prestigious awards received by him are the Kabir Puraskar which the President of India conferred on him in 1995 for his work in the promotion of Communal Harmony and Peace and in 2003, the Indian Muslim Council, USA presented him with the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award for Humanitarian Work.

Among his numerous responsibilities, Fr. Prakash is also the Secretary of the Commission for Social Communications of the Western Region Catholic Bishops Council.

The Legion d’Honneur will be given to Fr. Prakash by the French Ambassador at a function to be held in Delhi on 14th July 2006 (French National Day).

Ms. Veronica D’Souza

16th May 2006

Geographical place: Gujarat (India)

Persons whom it is about: Prakash, Cedric SJ

Groups, movements whom it is about: Prashant