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Selected
Comments at the Inauguration of the Phnom Penh’s Steong Mean Jei Bridge
06 January 2009
My wife and I are so happy to
be here with all of our people to put into official use the Steong Mean Jei
Bridge this day which is a day before the 30th anniversary of the January 7 victory. Phnom Penh was in fact liberated on
January 6, 1979. This is my first appearance for 2009 after my speech on
December 22 last year. I remember I was presiding over the inauguration of the
Prek Jrei Bridge (not far from this one) on March 18, 2008 I took that opportune
moment to inform our people of the Stoeng Mean Jei Bridge to be rebuilt … so as
to relieve traffic jam problems from the fact that the bridge had been too
narrow for an increasing load of traffics …
Why did I choose to make this
bridge of Prek Jrei to be inaugurated on March 18? It was because I wish to
review the date which 38 years ago the country suffered a coup led by General
Lon Nol against Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, and from there the country was
plunged into war and the Pol Pot’s genocide … Our regime uses March 18 not for
making war but for construction and making new achievements … and the Prek Jrei
Bridge of over 100 meters and 5000 meters road are the achievement to mark that
day with … The road links Phnom Penh to the National Road 2, which people could
travel to the provinces of Kompot, Takeo and parts of Kandal province.
HE Kep Chuktema, the
Representative of the Royal Government for Phnom Penh (mayor) has put it rightly
that effort to liberate our people from poverty has gained momentum, whereas
road link is indeed playing a major role. In Khmer we used to refer to road as
hope and I am sure we will continue to mean that for a long time to come…
I would like to share with
all of our people here and in the whole country that these achievements are new
on our fatherland, and they are here not because they are supposed to be or
promised to be but because of our efforts … there were many Prime Ministers in
example during the elections campaign last year. They made a lot of “if”
statements for what they are supposed to do … As for me I have been doing things
in concrete and I would argue that my way and the Royal Government’s way is to
move in toad’s leap pace … and this is what we have achieved with that …
The bridge was supposed to be
ready in 12 months but our efforts has made this bridge ready just in nine
months despite the fact that there had been so much rain that we could not even
ignite fireworks during the international new year … I have mentioned many times
that the military engineering team is the core intervention force of the Prime
Minister who has now possessed the skill to build not only dirt road in rural
areas but also roads in the city with international quality …
In one of HE Khieu
Kannharith’s remarks with the press that after this inauguration, the Sampeo
Meas Island (Gold Ship Island) in Pusrsat province will be next … in fact, we
have hundreds of achievements if not thousands, to inaugurate only that we do
not have time to do so. I have reports from the Minister of Water Resources and
Meteorology and from HE Kung Ieng, Head of the military engineering team of the
Ministry of National Defense of their project implementations, what have been
completed and what will be soon …
Because of border tensions
with neighboring country we have sent units of military engineering teams to
build up roads and bridges so as to improve access to the areas … May I take
this chance to remind us of 30 years ago when at this moment our armed forces,
with the support of the Vietnamese voluntary forces, crossed the Mekong River at
Neak Loeung already and were on their way to Phnom Penh … to put an end to the
Pol Pot’s genocidal regime … Leaders of the Cambodian People’s Party were in
their third Party’s congress of only 62 members, who had laid down the
leadership directives that are still valid up to the present…
This means that after the
country established its National Salvation Front of Kampuchea, we have carried
out the reorganization and reconstruction of the Party, which later we have the
central committee and eight important persons were central to its leadership. At
this time in that year, some areas had been liberated – such as Mondulkiri,
Ratanakiri, Steong treng, Kratie, Kompong Cham, Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, etc.
whereas others were being liberated but they were uncertain of their fates and
lives … At 12:30 am, Phnom Penh was completely liberated but places like Pursat
was liberated on January 14 – but we have decided to take January 7 as a common
date of victory …
In fact I started building up
armed forces since mid 1977 Samdech Heng Samnrin and Samdech Chea Sim took to
the forest in 1978 after which we united to enlarge our liberation zone in Snuol
of Kratie and Memot of Kompong Cham … We had our armed forces ready but we
needed to set up our political movement and organization … I was then selected
to be Minister for Foreign Affairs, a member of the Revolutionary Council of
Kampuchea at the age of 27 – perhaps the youngest Minister in the world … But if
I were to have no forces under my leadership, perhaps I would not be accepted to
the fold … that is the historical fact …
Now we have one united
Cambodian People’s Party and one Royal Government … the country unites and I
also re-united with my family – which includes my wife and my son, who, sadly,
called me uncle instead of dad … I suffered severe psychological impacts … That
was life of a Cambodian leader … I had three people with me to start building up
Ministry of Foreign Affairs … we had to collect plates and other kitchen
utensils in preparation for up-coming foreign guest banquet, etc. Our start had
been so hard … On top of this we were under pressures of external punishment,
the attempt to return by other Khmer reactionary forces aimed at crushing our
revival, while Pol Pot was recognized at the United Nations … that is our fact …
They did not give us
development aid … The city was left in disarray while leaders of the Party like
Samdech Heng Samrin, and myself had to go to the river to fetch water for home
use … It is so good for some politicians here who have started their political
careers with luxurious vehicles … I have watched a TV program which a survivor
from Pol Pot’s time was interviewed. She reminded of all the things we all had
encountered those days - three years eight months and twenty days …
The win-win policy put into
practice in between 1996-1998 to put an end to the political and military
organization of the Khmer Rouge has brought colossal opportunity for
socio-economic development and I have pride to say that the past 30 years has
been full of each and individual, family and social efforts. With the key and
correct political leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party, and other Parties’
roles should not be neglected too, the country has evolved from various
political and economic reform stages – from centrally planned to market economy
– a grand opportunity has come to reality for the cause of national construction
and development …
Based upon experiences, I
have drawn a conclusion that in order to liberate our people from poverty, there
have been two major points to consider – 1) there needs a correct policy of the
leading political Party and 2) there needs the efforts by individual, family and
community… At the present Phnom Penh as well as the whole country are making
ongoing development ...
… We started from having
little to having more, and we are in the process of increasing 20% salary for
the armed forces … In fact we have made increments annually only at a small rate
unlike that was promised and supposed by opposition politicians … However, the
rate of 20% has been maintained …
As we are here with the
municipal achievements I would recommend to the Royal Government’s
Representative to Phnom Penh - HE Kep Chuktema, to better the kindergartens in
every Khan (district) in Phnom Penh and/or to transform them into both schools
and children playgrounds … they must be kept for this purpose and I would not
allow you to sell them … Repair must be done and excuse would not be accepted in
leaving the vicinity and building dilapidated …
One more thing to talk about
is that I encourage our people to put on helmet in protection of their lives
when making traffic in the city… I notice that there seem to be about 50% of
them using the helmet … it is for your own sake …
One last issue and I wish to
beg Samdech Krom Preah for his pardon that there has to be a clarification here
otherwise people might get confused … Samdech Krom Preah has been appointed
chief advisor of HM the King with his honorary title as the Prime Minister …
I wish to make this point
clear that it does not mean we have two Prime Ministers at all … The title is in
fact honorary and only entitled to salary but not to have executive power of any
sort …
… That means the title should
not allow him to assign a different cabinet, assistants, etc. I am convinced
that I have made the point crystal clear now ...■
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