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Address at the 2nd Anniversary of Cambodian Veterans’ Day, 21 June
2009
Phnom Penh, 20th June 2009
Excellencies, Lok
Chum Teav, Members of the Senate, the National Assembly and the Royal Government
Excellencies, Lok Chum Teav, Ambassadors, Distinguished National and
International Guests
Dear
Participants!
Today, it is my great honor and pleasure to participate in this solemn 2nd Anniversary of Cambodian Veterans’ Day, 21 June 2009.
In order to recall the greatest and priceless gratitude of the veterans for the
nation, the Royal Government of Cambodia has decided to set the date of 21 June
every year as Veterans’ Day, which is conforming to the date of
establishing Cambodian Veteran Association. Cambodian Veterans have
actually had the history of nationalism long time ago and the set of this date
stems from the comprehensive policy of solidarity of the Royal Government in the
sector of veterans where soldiers from different factions have been integrated
into a national veteran fold, which is acceptable by all with delight.
During this
historical event, on behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia and in my
capacity as President of the Veteran Association, I would like to bow to respect
the soul of the veterans, who have bloodily sacrificed themselves for the cause
of protecting our beloved nation in all stages, in particular the brave
veterans, who have sacrificed their lives protecting the territorial integrity
at the Preah Vihea temple site so far.
I would like to
take this opportunity to convey the visit and appreciation to every veterans and
families, who have been actively pursuing to restore and develop the nation, and
express warmest congratulation to the veterans, who have had elite masterworks
in implementing the Competitive Movement of 3 Good Deeds, which
has been prepared by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth
Rehabilitation and Cambodian Veteran Association.
This
anniversary is organized to enhance the awareness of bravery of the veterans,
promoting the whole national movement, supporting and enhancing the spirit for
veterans. Taking this opportunity, I would like to appreciate the civil
servants of all levels of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth
Rehabilitation, the leadership and members of the Cambodian veterans, municipal
and provincial authorities, commanders of armed forces of all related
ministries/institutions, who have paid much attention to the veterans,
especially organizing the Veterans’ Day in all cities and provinces as well as
the solemnly national celebration today.
I would
like to welcome the presence of Excellencies, Lok Chum Teav, Leadership of the
Royal Government, National Assembly and Senate, Members of the Central Committee
of Cambodian Veterans and all Delegates from the Municipal/Provincial Cambodian
Veteran Association, who have participated in this auspicious celebration. As
the countrymen and the veterans have known that our nation has been through wars
and genocidal regime more than two decades, causing a great deal of serous
disasters in both physical infrastructure and human lives, leaving behind a lot
of handicapped, widow and orphans. In order to liberate the country, protect
the territorial integrity and prevent the return of the genocidal regime and for
the sake of peace, reconciliation and security for the people, Cambodian people
have sacrificed their children, husbands to join the army and fight against the
enemy and some of them have lost their lives and become disabled.
Conforming
to the policy of reconciliation and success of this “Win-Win” policy I
have set out and implemented successfully in 1998, the ex-soldiers have been
integrated from all Cambodian ex-factions into national veterans. Our nation is
greatly indebted to the veterans, who are the symbol and spirit of sacrifice for
the sake of our beloved nation as well as the true compatriots through their own
practical actions and the Cambodian veterans are also the witness of the
Cambodian heroism.
Based on
the report made by H.E. Ith Sam Heng, we have the veterans including the
handicapped, repatriated returnees, people with disabilities, and families of
the dead of approximately 90,000 people and the dependent of approximately
300,000 people, whom will be responsible by the Royal Government in solving the
policy allowance in order to support their living. Currently, the Royal
Government of Cambodia has constantly paid attention to the on-going improvement
of policy allowance for veterans according to the ability of the national
budget. As for the 4th legislature of the National Assembly, the
Royal Government has been promoting the establishment of national social safety
net fund for veterans.
I would
like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the Ministry of Social Affairs,
Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation for well implementing the recommendations of
the Royal Government by appropriately delivering policy allowance to veterans
and their families and eradicating all kinds of misconduct that happened in the
past. From 2005 to 2009, 8,128 veterans who are no longer eligible for policy
allowance and their 129,305 dependants have been deleted from the list, saving a
big amount of national budget. More than 90% of veterans receive this policy
allowance as main source of family income; also selling and pawning of policy
allowance are almost completely prevented. Public service deliveries were given
priorities to veterans and their families such as people with disabilities
receive workability rehabilitation and training free of charge. Suffering
veterans always receive support from the Government and the donors. A number of
Commune/Sangkat Veteran Development Committees have been established in a number
of provinces in order to promote programs that are beneficial to local veterans.
With
respect to establishment and operation of the Cambodian Veteran Association, in
my capacity as President of Cambodian Veteran Association, I would like to
convey my compliment to the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth
Rehabilitation for directly linking activities of established associations to
tasks of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation, which
enables the association to be smoothly operated, achieving sustainability. I am
also proud of achievements, which the association has made in promoting spirit
of mutual support, in particular at time of member’s death and participation to
community development.
So far, I
have paid great attention to activities of the management of the association who
always have shared condolence to and provided death allowance directly to family
members of the death veterans, which is a very good attitude that is not only to
help relieve suffering of the veterans’ families, but also to intertwine
emotions of the management of the association and its members. Over the last 2
years, Cambodian Veteran Association has provided financial assistance to 452
families of the death members, amounting to 1.848 millions Riels.
The inspiration of the
three contests, which Cambodian Veteran Association and the Ministry of Social
Affairs, Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation are currently practicing, is the good source
of motivation to our ex-soldiers to let them be independent with their living
and local development. I am very pleased to present Gold Medal Award together
with a Residential Houses costing from US$ 3000 to the 25 best contestants among
the three competitions from whole country and Silver Medal Award to 24 members
with US$ 500 package. Beside this, in the municipalities/provinces there are
1000 members who have received the Appraisal Certificates and Letter of
Appreciation from the Ministry of Social Affairs Veteran & Youth
Rehabilitation and Cambodia Veteran Association together with some amount of
money reward. This is the beginning of the positive result from the Movement of
3 Good Deeds.
In fact, Veteran Fund is
a good initiative to give away necessary loan to ex-solders with low interest
rate for the sake of family development. It also assists them to resolve any
difficulties to improve their living condition. This practice will replace the
activities of buying, selling and pawning policy, which could affect the benefit
of ex-soldiers.
Along with that, my wife
and I are very pleased to be directly involved in building Ex-Soldiers
Residential Development Area of 275 houses in Taken Koh Slar and contributing
US$1 Million through H.E Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of
National Defense, Vice Chairman of the Cambodia Veteran Association to build
ex-soldiers residence in Siem Reap.
This Veterans’ Day is
also intended to inspire patriotism and solidarity from Cambodian people to
support ex-soldiers and soldiers who are currently on mission in the battle
field to protect the sovereignty of our beloved Angkor motherland. Taking this
opportunity, I would like to also express my appreciation to our brave heroes
who are currently in armed unit protecting our country sovereignty, people
safety in all areas, and Cambodian mine-clearing
soldiers, who join UN mission oversea.
I do agree on the
ex-soldiers strategy report, given by H.E. Ith Sam Heng, Minister of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation and the
Secretary General of the Cambodia Veteran Association. Taking this opportunity,
I would like to also add a few more tasks as follows:
1. Continue to promote model heroics and
sacrifices made by veterans in the cause of the nation and people
The
Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation; the Ministry of
National Defense; the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Information must
document and publicize all model heroics of our veterans in the cause of the
national protection, peace and security in the society, international duties and
national development in order to promote patriotism among the people, especially
the youths. Along with this, we must revise people movements to permanently
visit and provide support to our soldiers in border areas and closely link the
battlefront with the people.
2. Continue to properly implement veteran policies
The
Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation must ensure timely
payment of policy allowance to veterans. We must strengthen the capacity of
inter-ministerial working group which is tasked to identify veterans and their
families, and comprises of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth
Rehabilitation, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Interior, and
municipal/provincial level working groups. This group must work harder to
increase efficiency and eliminate drawbacks, especially regarding the
commercialization of retirement pension by related officials.
3. Establish social safety net for veterans
With
regard to this task, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth
Rehabilitation must draft a Royal Decree on social safety net and Sub-Decree on
the establishment of national social safety net fund for veterans in order to
increase the efficiency of pension payment and accelerate the establishment of
social safety net in accordance with economic condition. Along with this, we
must strengthen the enforcement of the Law on Protection and Promotion of the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities by managing public services outlined in this
law to ensure benefits for disabled people, especially veterans.
4. Development
plan for veterans
A. Housing
development: based on the experience in Taken Koh Sla
and in Siemreap, I have recommended the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran and
Youth Rehabilitation to establish housing development areas in other provinces.
The Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation has included
housing development projects in the public investment program which was approved
on May 29, 2009 in order to expand this project to other provinces in accordance
with our budget. The housing grants for veterans who have been outstanding and
possessed own land represents good experience. We have built 25 houses this
year, and I now declare that we will build additional 26 houses as my donation
in 2010. This task will be implemented by municipal and provincial Veteran
Associations; each province/municipality will receive one house, except Kampong
Cham that will receive three houses.
B. The
Ministry of National Defense must continue to implement all policies stipulated
in the “White Book” of the Royal Armed Forces with regard to the
distribution of social concession lands to laid-off soldiers who need lands for
building houses and farming in compliance with the Sub-Decree on social
concession land.
C. Related
institutions and all levels of local authorities, especially
municipal/provincial, district and commune councils must ensure veterans’ access
to public services within their institutional competence such as the
distribution of social concession lands, vocational training, health services,
rehabilitation and so forth. Local authorities should consider selecting one
acknowledged veteran to lead various communities such as fishing community,
water-use community, and to act as village head on the basis of his/her
capacity.
D. The
Ministry of National Defense, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed
Forces, the National Police High Commissioner, Commander-in-Chief of the
National Military Police, provincial/municipal and district armed units, and
local armed units must cooperate closely with social affairs sector to
permanently provide assistance to nearby veterans regardless of their ex-units
and must take care of veterans as if we take care of ourselves.
5. Strengthen all levels of Cambodian Veteran
Association
I now
declare that I will be the head of Cambodian Veteran Association forever, as I
am also a veteran and I will do whatever required, making this association
sustainable. I would like to congratulate all 19 new members of the Central
Committee of the Cambodia Veteran Association who have been recently appointed.
So far, the total number of the members of the Central Committee has reached 95
comprising of leaders from various ministries, institutions, municipalities and
provinces. I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to Excellencies to
contribute more to the Cambodian Veteran Association, especially to motivate
veterans to participate in three good movements orchestrated by the Ministry of
Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation including:
1. Using policy
allowance appropriately because although the funding remains small it is the
government’s effort and pure benefit for veterans. Therefore, it should be used
for the sake of themselves and their families.
2. Promoting
livelihood of themselves and their families. Despite hardship, families should
live together in harmony, avoiding family violation, sending children to school
to receive other social services, be hard working and creative in earning a
living or looking for jobs and should not leave their homeland for uncertain
jobs.
3. Joining to
better develop their locality. Participating in various activities at their
living locality although lacking of resources you may contribute physically and
spiritually according to the ability and must not commit any fault to the
society. If possible, you will be treated as good model for local authorities
and people.
In this spirit, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation
should continue to cooperate with Cambodian Veteran Association to annually
praise and reward to veterans, who participate in the Competitive Movements
of 3 Good Deeds, according to the masterworks such as Medal, Congratulation
Certificates, Awards such as Tools, or Budget, Domestic or Oversees Tour
Package, or Housing...etc as provided today.
At the same time, veterans should comprehensively take part in this self-help
movement of the ex-soldiers, because the Royal Government, National and
International Organizations or Donors could help you only when you have to help
yourselves first.
On behalf of Cambodian Veteran Association, I congratulate the relationship
between Cambodian Veteran Association, Vietnam Veteran Association and Lao
National Veteran Confederation. I hope that cooperation as brotherhood between
veterans of Cambodia, Vietnam and Lao will be further strengthened, contributing
to good neighborhood relation and collaboration. Along with this, Cambodian
Veteran Association should continue to extent cooperation with various Veteran
Associations of other countries for the common sake, particularly with ASEAN
Veteran Associations.
Finally, May I wish Excellency, Lok Chum Teav, Ladies and Gentlemen, National
and International Guests and all Veterans the four Gems of Buddhist blessings: Longevity, Nobility, Health and Strength.
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