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Unofficial Translation
Selected Comments at the graduation ceremony and diploma conferment of the University of Specialty of Cambodia
12 January 2010
I am so glad to be here at
the University of Specialty of Cambodia for the graduation ceremony and diploma
conferment for some 3,114 graduates, which is the first time of its kind in the
beginning of year 2010, after my presence at the inauguration of the SOS School
on January 4 and the third phase segment of the national one, followed by the
celebration of the January 7 victory. Let me take this opportune moment to wish
you all a happy new year, good health and success in whatever you all are doing.
I am so happy to have heard
progress made by the University as I listened to HE Sdoeung Sokhom’s progress
report, which is a culmination from the whole development process of the 31 year
period. I wish to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for efforts
by the leadership of the university. Not only have they made progress in Phnom
Penh, but they have established branches in various provinces like Kompong Thom,
Battambang, Kompong Cham, etc. I am sure this progress has been recorded not
only on material basis but quality of education service too.
I may take this opportune
moment to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for the scholarships that
are being offered in my own name, and other Cambodian leaders’, for students who
are resources-lacking and wishing to continue their studies. It is indeed the
best way to share resources and to provide better chance for them to go on with
tertiary education. I have noticed that our children who are born after 1979
have expressed interests in learning and being knowledgeable. It is a good thing
that the University here and others have made every effort to respond to their
demands.
May I offer my appreciation
and thanks to professors who have worked for the quality education in the
university and I also join with our graduates today for their new step of
success in life. It is hard to grow trees because it is to take many years to
give fruits. However, growing human resources is to take 14 long years for those
to graduate with a Bachelor degree. Going higher will definitely take longer.
Let me take here a case of my
own children. I was the one to bring them to school and to give my remarks with
approved signature in every page of their logbooks. As for one of my children I
saw him off to school since when he was barely five years old and he graduated
completely at 32 years of age. He spent more time in tertiary education than in
the secondary education level. He had chance to go for practicum in Congo, and
also had his study and teaching mathematics in Brighton, England. Upon his
return, we both always have some discussions. My wife always noted that we both
seem to have some disagreements.
It was not a conflict but
just he liked asking questions and I said to him I have sent you for study and
when you finished and come back with more questions. It should be me who had
more questions to ask you about. My wife said it was because he did not know
that he had to ask. He finished and achieved many degrees – the first Cambodian
to have studied and graduated from the Military Academy at West Point, and in
UK, etc. but as he had all his studies done, he came back asking me questions.
One day on the issue of
Constitutional amendment in 2006, he waited in England until I got out of the
Parliament and called me to find out why there was a need for amendment.
I have taken a long time to
explain him. I have brought up the Canadian case as an example, where whoever
gets the majority will form the Government. Where there is higher democracy,
there could be lower voice. However the matter is far deeper than just this
concept. Though elected by majority, the winners had become hostages by the
minority with smaller voices or people’s support. The only way to bring elected
winners by majority to fulfill their missions in response to the wish of the
people is to have constitutional amendment.
We have come to this because
it gives our country a chance to get out of political trouble at every elections
time. With a two-third majority approval, it has taken us a lot of lobbying
before drafts can go into discussion and approval. We need 7/10 quorum for a
meeting on so and so matter. We do not have that required quorum and when we ask
them to join us in the meeting, in fact to fulfill their duties as elected
parliamentarians, they gave us their uncompassionate remark ‘if you are the best
why you need us.’
7/20 quorum requires 84 or 85 sitting parliamentarians so that a meeting could go
into session. CPP had at the time only 73 sitting parliamentarians. We had to
beg the opposition even for a meeting to happen, far more for adoption on
drafts. We are always under threats from the minority. That is why I say ‘where
there is higher democracy, there could be lower voice.’ The opposition has
become the one to offer power for CPP. The opposition was angry with Funcinpec,
the ally of the CPP in the Royal Government, for having betrayed them twice.
That was indeed a long explanation to my son.
As you can see here those
with majority have been under constant threat by minority leader, and this case
has been taking its toll in one of our neighboring countries. Without the
minority we would not be mature so amendment of the Constitution is a way out. I
have spoken to you about the case of my son who has posed me the questions.
Since I have five children, five more of my in-laws sitting around the table
make us ten, then shedding light on many issues.
Having given you this
experience, I would reassure you that human resource development will take at
least 16 years and more for some people. One fact still is that some graduates,
even after finishing their long-time development could not promptly activate
their knowledge in their fields of work. I would therefore urge you all to go on
studying together with works that you are going to involve in the near future.
HE Sdoeung Sokhom has just mentioned about percentage of graduates who have not
been able to find jobs that are corresponding to their areas of expertise.
As far as this point is
concerned, I have an experience to share with you that those who have the chance
to work or find a job in accordance to their training background is a good thing
but the 25% of graduates who had to work in a different field of expertise
should not be a matter of underestimation. Because they will gain new knowledge
and experience, but also if they are self employed, it would be a great job
creation pattern. That is why we not only pay attention to creating job not in
line of duty but also encourage and facilitate whenever possible for self
employment too.
In the course of dealing with
impacts of job losses due to world and regional financial crisis and economic
downturn, the Royal Government of Cambodia has had to spend some three billion
Riels for urgent training to provide and diversify skills for job. Among those
who have taken up the opportunity provided by the program, I wish to single out
one encouraging fact that some have opted for borrowing loans for self
employment, which I am so proud that 4% of them could go for their own business,
which will keep not only himself busy but also the rest of his family members.
Some of you who have come to
study here do not wish for a government job or those in private sector but to
acquire knowledge for their own business development. A country could not afford
to provide everyone with Government or private sector jobs, especially in the
time of financial and economic difficulties as such. Many countries have had to
cut down number of workers and tied up financial resources, whereby repercussion
impacts on various investment projects, and our country could be no exceptional
case.
Income of citizens in various
countries has gone down because they lose jobs. Their losses have a great
impact on us. Firstly, garment where exports to these markets have had to reduce
since the purchasing capacity has shrunk. Secondly, tourists traveling to all
destinations have reduced in great number too. Fortunately, in Cambodia we still
have achieved a positive growth of 2% in comparison with the figure achieved in
2008. However, it is worth noting that amount of money spent by tourists has
shrunk too.
Therefore, in light of what I
have said, I suggest that you all continue to make efforts in your study and go
on studying. Do not let yourself be a conservative for not probing with new
knowledge. Thing happens everyday in the world. We need to be ahead of the
situation. Information is keys. No matter who you may be – politicians,
businessmen, etc. - have to have accurate, clarified and certified information
so as to benefit from evolving situations – whether in economics, financing,
marketing, culture, technology and science or politics.
For me, if ever a day goes by
without information, I would give a comparison as I have had no food. That is
why it is my usual habit that before going anywhere, take for example coming
here, I have some primary reviews of the situation and information that reaches
to me everyday on my mobile. I have taken it this much that sometimes we have
problem in keeping abreast with what is happening. I wish our people achieve
sufficient and correct information that they can use in making their judgments.
I do not want our people to receive information from the press that is lacking
professionalism and providing only deceived facts, which could not lead to any
judgment at all.
That is why I wish to mention
here about the fact that according to my observation, opposition parties,
because of their deception in information, have grown smaller and less
influential by the day. That would be exceptional in Japan, where I do not think
Prime Minister HE Hatoyama, while he was in opposition, may have done
information deception at all.
I would again urge you to
ponder on what I have said regularly when I have to offer my vision for jobs for
graduates. Leadership and work methodology have three stages. Firstly you have
to have a good plan, and this has proven to be true in all sectors of society –
from government, political parties, companies, down to families. Having done
that I would say you have achieved some 30% of what you need to do and it will
be your guidance of actions. The second stage is to get the plan organized and
implemented because if you have a plan but neglect its implementation, it will
be good for nothing.
Having come to the stage of
implementation you have achieved another 30% of whatever you wanted to do, which
together with planning you have a score of 60%. The last point is the most
important factor as either government officials, business agents or family
members will have to remember, that is to deal with accidental situation or
force majeur in the course of implementing the plan.
This is a very important
point as we could figure out who among our officials have appropriate capacity
and responsibility. These are important criteria for functional appointments.
All plans rarely get implemented smoothly without obstacles. According to
experiences there have always been force majeur or unpredictable conditions.
Take for instance, as a country Cambodia has its planning for five years, ten
years, etc. However as everyone can see the world financial crisis has been
unpredictable making impacts on our country’s planning but also at the other
level we have had impacts from local disasters like flood and the Ketsana
typhoon.
It is those conditions that
we could measure up capacity and capability of our officials at all levels,
which to my experience I have always found them to be of two categories of
officials. This is in fact not new as I have raised since when I gave lecture to
the senior party officials in the Party Cadre School back in 1980s. The first
type of official is the one whom I define to be taking responsibility and
resolve issues on the spot. They would not leave the issue unresolved or
unattended. This type of official deserves to be considered and if they lack
background education, complementary training should be provided.
The second group of officials
is usually seen to be doing two things. Firstly, they are to do nothing but
reporting to their seniors and secondly, they are to leave responsibility to low
level staff. Having done so it is indeed a good thing to leave them where they
are in terms of responsibility and rank pending their retirement time. They
evade their responsibility leaving the matter for their seniors or supervisors
to resolve, and/or put all faults on their lower rank officials for whatever
goes wrong. This group of officials is normally found out to be devious.
These are exerted from my
long experience in leading and managing (human) force. This year is in fact the
40th anniversary of the day when I started my mission in the national liberation
movement in response to the appeal made by Samdech Prreah Norodom Sihanouk in
1970. I was then not even 18 years old as I joined the Marquis on April 4, 1970,
whereas my birthday is in fact August 5, 1952. I have since then changed the
birthday to be that of when I joined the national liberation movement.
Over the past 40 years I have
tasted so many different ways of life. Life as a soldier whose commander ordered
to get him tea and/or get their clothes washed. The nature of my career
ascension is not like a helicopter that gets off from the ground. I have had so
many hard times. That is why I never like it when someone makes a shortcut in
their career ascension. Today is also indeed the anniversary of my 33 years as
the important leader.
While Samdech Chea Sim
(President of the Cambodian People’s Party and President of the Senate) and
Samdech Heng Samrin (Honorary President of the Cambodian People’s Party and
President of the National Assembly) never once claim to by my superiors, a man
in his insincerity claimed he were the father of December 2nd (the day when the National Liberation Front gets established) and the January 7
victory (the day when the Pol Pot’s genocidal regime was toppled), and worse of
all he claimed himself to be my superior.
Since when did he come to
Cambodia and involve in the liberation? How could he claim himself to be Hun
Sen’s superior? I never had a superior to answer to since June 20, 1977. I
became my own commander and I was the only one who bore the highest rank at 25
years old. I may recall too that today is the anniversary of my 31 years in the
Government and 25 years as Prime Minister. I became Minister when I was 29 and
the Prime Minister when I was 33 years old. I am the Prime Minister for 25 years
now and I have another three and a half years more in my term. Samdech Chea Sim
the other day has declared my candidacy for the post of Prime Minister for
another term and I will not accept any proposed term limitation.
We have now achieved,
according to the July 31 – August 26 polls by the IRI (International Republican
Institute), 79% approval rating on issue relating to whether Cambodia is on the
right path. In response to the question whether those respondents will cast
their votes for CPP, the rate has increased by 1% - which is 53%, comparing to
2008. There have been 31% who responded they may vote for CPP, which similar
category of response is also 5% more than last year, and those belonging to
twelve percent who would not vote for CPP has now recorded a 2% less.
I am sure IRI has shared this
information with some political parties already. They even ranked the different
areas of support base for the CPP-led Royal Government – building roads,
schools, hospitals and health centers, irrigation systems, electric generation
station, peaceful state of the country and better business environment. There
have also been many diversified responses as to why would they cast their votes
for the CPP. They were giving supporting facts to the liberation of the nation
from the Pol Pot’s genocide, economic growth and better road conditions as well
as leadership by Samdech Hun Sen, etc.
Solving unexpected business
is indeed a major factor for all level officials. As responsible persons in a
political party or in an institution, one should be prepared for all sorts of
incidents, take for instance the fight against financial crisis too. I have an
appreciation for the provincial or sub-national level authorities as well as the
mechanism of the Cambodian Red Cross and the National Disaster Management
Committee at all levels for their actions in time of disasters. It is true that
intervention from superior level is unavoidable but first local actions and
solutions must be applied and encouraged.
I also would like to send a
message to provinces along the border that the weather in the forthcoming days
will continue to be cold according to the information and forecast that I have
from the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology. Last night I called
(deputy commander-in-chief) Gen. Chea Dara at Preah Vihear and Sar Thavi, Deputy
Governor of Preah Vihear inquiring their information and observation about
chilly weather. I have provided since December some 20,000 sets of casual
jackets for our troops along the border and on islands.
We have to keep following up
the weather so that we will have to take timely measure to help our people deal
with unforeseeable conditions. We have to provide accurate and updated
information for the public, as access to information is primary in getting
oneself informed, instructed and prepared for upcoming.
After the liberation, our
country was in a state of partly at war and partly at peace. The country had
been at peace for a wider area and most of the time, but for a smaller part and
less of the time that it was at war. The win-win solution has brought peace for
the country and a complete cessation of war, a condition on which we have been
able to urge for national reconciliation and unity for the very first time.
Peace and political stability
is primary condition for development. Students and professors do not have to
take shelters from bombardments as they did in the past. It is now the best time
for us. Let’s hold on to it tightly and don’t let go of it. I am so disappointed
to the fact that some of our youngsters have involved in drug and rebellious
association. I want to have your attention here that alarmingly most of them are
children of soldiers, police officers and officials. I wish that this indication
be taken by all. Parents should take their best chance to educate their children
or they could not prove themselves to be leaders of our people.
I have a few responses for
our friends in the western border of our country. Yesterday Foreign Minister of
Thailand, Kasit Phiromya said our pagoda Keo Sekha Kirisvarak has been built in
Thai territory ... Let me clarify that what you have said is an insult that is
not to be forgiven. It is always the case that when you have internal political
problem, you always divert the public attention to the border issue. Yesterday
in your country there had been a red-shirted demonstration against Surayudh
Chulanond and maybe there had been some kind of compromise that the red-shirts
had dissolved.
I may give this remark for
Kasit and also if Abhisit wishes to have better relations, he has to find a way
to manage his foreign minister. You have made a small issue of Thaksin being
appointed Cambodian advisor as a huge matter but you ignore the whole issue of
Preah Vihear temple. I have wished to leave the situation as quiet as possible,
but you have stepped on my foot again and again. You have threatened us of your
cut in assistance and loans and because I have returned them to you, what else
do you have to put Cambodia under your pressure?
I have what is called
confidential documents in my hand. It is a plan prepared by the Thai Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, in addition to the letter by Kasit Phiromya, consists of 18
points, in which positive and negative points are laid out for different
political decisions and scenarios … You don’t have to talk about sending back
the Ambassador. I can wait till there will be a new Government. It is alright
now that we have had Charge d’Affairs. You threatened us with border closure,
are you not planning so now? Cambodia will not buy Thai goods. They may be sent
to before the Thai Government House in Bangkok.
How could they consider
Katina as Thai assistance? As of today I am asking any Buddhist pagoda in
Cambodia to first seek the Royal Government of Cambodia’s instruction before
making a decision to accept Katina from Thailand. Also as of now no more aid
and/or loan would be discussed or accepted from the Thai Government, though we
will continue to accept individual assistance. They seem to have included the
Kompong Cheuteal project administered by Princes Mahachakri Sirindhorn in a form
of Thai Government assistance, if it is so considered I would not let any
Cambodian to go study there at all.
As far as Ambassadorial
posting is concerned, Cambodia will take action in reciprocation. Fifteen
minutes after the sending of Thai Ambassador back to Cambodia, we will follow
suit. I have made clear already that Thaksin’s appointment is not the beginning
of the fall in bilateral relations between Thailand and Cambodia, but the
July-15-2008 Thai army invasion of Cambodian territory is.
If it was truly your
intention to accept me as your ‘teacher,’ as you had demanded while you came to
see me in Phnom Penh, then as your teacher, I tell you no to do that anymore.
Cambodia does not recognize the unilaterally-drawn map which encroaches upon our
territory. Cambodia will continue to uphold peaceful means in solving the
problem but will not allow for your ill intention …
I have told Abhisit already I
will not take opportunity to launch actions at the border while you are in
turbulence at all. I will not give order for my army and/or people to do so too.
But the former PAD-activist Foreign Minister seems to have expressed his
rudeness on us. Let me warn you that no condition so to speak about sending back
Ambassador. Cambodia will not die because of that and we will wait for the next
Government …
You (Kasit Phiromya) have
accused me of interfering your internal affairs. But the fact that you
acknowledged to have known me for twenty years means you did recognize the
tripartite coalition (of Democratic Kampuchea) in the past and that was an
interference in the Cambodian internal affairs … was not it? …
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