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Keynote Address at the 65th Anniversary of the Establishment of the
National Police
May
16, 2010
Excellency Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister and Minster
of Interior,
Excellencies Deputy Prime Ministers, Senior Ministers,
Ministers, and Secretary of States,
Excellencies Ambassadors,
Excellencies Commander in Chief of the Cambodia Royal Armed
Force and Chief of the National Police,
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
It is indeed my
pleasure and honor to be here in the 65th Anniversary of the
Establishment of the National Police being held in year two of the
implementation of Political Agenda and the Rectangular Strategy Phase
– II of the Royal Government of the 4th legislature of the
National Assembly, and as we are striving to weather the storm of global crisis,
strengthening sub-national democratic system, and eliminating drug trafficking
and human trafficking, illegal gambling, and other law violations. Especially,
this anniversary is being held while all the Cambodian people are pleasurably
celebrating the birthday of His Majesty Preah Bat
Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia.
I would like to
warmly and momentously congratulate this nationally prideful anniversary which
allows us to reflect the heroic and historic activities and mission of the our
greatest National Police since the era of French protectorate and to assess
their previous year’s achievements for the causes of independence, peace,
security, public order and national development.
Taking this
opportunity, on behalf of the Royal Government and myself, I would like to
sincerely thank and praise all generations of the National Police force for
their greatest sacrifice and hard work to ensure national security, especially
this generation that inherits braveness from previous ones and strives to
strengthen peace and security, key factor of the success of political agenda and
other strategies of the Royal Government. In this auspicious event, I would like
to extend my profound thanks to Gen. Hok Lundy, former chief of the
National Police for his enormous contribution (1994 – 2008) during his 14 years
in the post and his demise last year was a great loss to the nation.
I would like to
compliment H.E. Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior
and Gen. Net Savoeun, Chief of the National Police for their leadership
that lead—with collaboration from local authority and other law enforcement
agencies—to the successful and effective protection of independence,
sovereignty, national security and social order. In particular, I would like to
convey my appreciation to National Police for their numerous achievements in the
previous year, as aforementioned by Gen. Net Savoeun in his report.
According to our
archives on history of the National Police, our people established movement to
maintain security and order with concrete spirit and scarification very long
time ago. Activities and achievements of the national police within the
framework of “Cambodia National Police” for half a century and “Police
at Cambodia” for 126 years do not only provide valuable lessons and
experiences for better effectiveness in maintaining security and order for the
present and future, but also understandings some important national events and
socio-economic developments since the mid of 19th century.
I would like to
recall that the National Police has played the most important role in
maintaining public security and social order both during pre and post
independence since it helped the Ministry of Interior keep provinces/
municipalities in control when the country was facing intensified pressure of
the cold war. Due to this important role and mission, the National Police force
was strengthened continuously following the attainment of independence,
especially Police Academy was established in 1959 and King Norodom Sihanouk, the then head of state, very focused in this area.
The war, erupted
on 18 March 1970, weakened all sectors of the country. In the era of Khmer
Republic (1970 – 1975), an important event marking the history of Cambodia
National Police was the establishment of “Police of the Republic” which
was mandated to enforce any instruction imposed by the judiciary and maintain
public security and order.
The collapse of
the Khmer Republic on 17 April 1975 allowed Pol Pot seizes the power and creates
“Democratic Kampuchea” which totally destroyed “the continuity of the
society” and began mass killing, the disastrous tragedy. During the regime
former police officers was one of the key target and killed to root for 3 years
8 months and 20 days.
Later on,
Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation, led by Samdech Moha Ponhea
Chakkrei Heng Samrin, mobilized solidarity force from all sources to
liberate the country from the Democratic Kampuchea and saved people from
massacre on 7 January 1979. A new page of history was turned as the People’s Revolutionary Council was immediately established to fulfill
historic roles for protecting, restoring and building the nation. However, this
internal war was not over yet. The then government continued to fight with
fractions led by Pol Pot’s Democratic Kampuchea until the Cambodia People’s
Party initiated a unification scheme which allowed the return of Preah Bat
Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk and the rebirth of constitution-based
monarchy. Later on, the win-win policy brought full peace to our beloved
country and full fledge development began ever since.
The police
organization was reestablished on 7 January 1979 with its mandate to maintain
peace, security and social order and took part in national protection and
development as the then Minister of Interior Samdech Akka Thorm Puthisal Chea
Sim and other eminent figures led the creation of this force. Faced with
unpredictable and complicated internal war, though the National Police was
started from scratch, some significant achievements are valueless and show
capacitive experiences deserves to be recorded as history of struggle movement
for peace, public order and welfare of human society. During the latest stage,
for the causes of peace and national order, the National Police has contributed
and played key role to prevent non-amity schemes aiming at dividing national
solidarity and neighborhood, creating political instability, creating unrest
leading to social collapse, preventing terrorism, cracking down cross border
crimes and fighting against all sort of crimes. Therefore, lives and wealth of
people have been saved, safety of local community has been assured and public
order at rural and urban areas has been maintained. Such improvements gained
respect and love from our people.
Moreover, the
Cambodian National Police show their courage with collaboration from Royal
Cambodian Armed Force stationed along the border to protect national integrity
and sovereignty against aggressors.
In the current
context of global financial crisis, environmental issue, outbreak of disease,
terrorism, piracy, nuclear proliferation, border conflict and competition of old
and emerged superpower; more or less it will impact on security, socio-economic
order and livelihood of Cambodian people.
From last year,
the Royal Government of Cambodia has introduced many policies to address the
impacts of those crises, particularly economic and financial turbulence, with
success. Moreover, many other measures were introduced to address social
disturbances and attained positive result as well as gain active support from
call classes of people. As far as its concern, the Royal Government remains to
consider peace and public order as foundation and a key component to succeed
Political Platform and Rectangular Strategy Phase II , as well as national
development and poverty reduction. The National Policy forces is a law
enforcement institution has a key role and agent for the Ministry of Interior
and the Royal Government.
To celebrate 65th Anniversary of establishment of the National Police Force and to keep great tradition of valor for the cause of homeland security, I would
like to outline a number of recommendations for the entire national police
forces to implement in 2010 as follows:
First.
Continue upholding national flag aiming for further promotion of conscience of
loving peace, solidarity and firm national unification. It is necessary to
maintain peace climate for the whole country in order to open opportunity for
accelerating success of development in all areas as well as to constantly
improve livelihood of people in conformity to the Rectangular Strategy
Phase II of the Royal Government.
To continue
playing historic mandate by associating with current context of New Era, the
National Police must strengthen capacity to understand and follow up activities
and events that are taking place around the world, in the region and in country
in order to help government laying out effective measures for political
stability, sound internal solidarity, social harmonization, rooting foundation
of democracy, state of law, respect of human right and dignity, as well as to
absolutely prevent any terrorism activities which cast destruction and retard
national economic development process.
Second.
To further open for cooperation with relevant ministries/institutions and police
agencies all over the world, to beef up capacity to mobilize information as well
as measures to prevent and combat all kinds of cross-border crimes especially
drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering and arms trafficking etc.
Moreover, management of foreigners must be strengthened by actively implementing
national tourism policy and must always be prepared not to allow anyone to use
Cambodia to hide or conduct any crimes. Immigration issues must be completely
addressed without any delay and Labor Law must strictly and clearly enforce to
manage foreign workers.
Third.
Peace and security are fundamental and integral part of enabling environment for
achieving Political platform and strategies of the Royal Government,
nevertheless the real situation indicated that all kinds of crimes are remains
and stirred up fear and worrisome to some local communities. Those are
particularly robbery, murder and gangster fighting. Therefore, a moving forward
and progress Cambodian society in both physical and moral happiness is a need
and exam for the National Police in fulfill their priority works.
Standing on this
foundation, I agree and support proposition of H.E. Deputy Prime Minister
Sar Kheng who set theme “Safe Village-Commune” as a contest
movement for the National Police from now up to 66th Anniversary in
2011. Obviously, “Safe Village-Commune” reflects that everything always
begins from there. If people at village-commune have happiness, no threat and no
disturb, it is already happiness.
Fourth.
With respect to the above theme, because of the greatest history of Cambodian
National Police and its tradition are for the people and the fact that all-time
safety of people demands police; therefore virtue, morality and views of police
in timely and honestly serving and protecting are essential exams that all
police agencies need to pay attention to, and for every police officer, achieve
and should be put as a criteria for the next year contest.
Fifth.
I would like to appeal commanders to review the enforcement of traffic code and
to call for all relevant ministries/institutions particularly every police
officer to continue strictly implementing traffic code by tightening all
measures without tolerance and with high professional responsibility aiming at
decreasing traffic accidents and enforcing traffic order that is suitable to
national development.
In parallel,
Police must also pay attention on preventing and fighting against fire. The
Ministry of Interior, all levels of local authorities and General Commission of
National Police must constantly alert people, prepare public for firefighting,
install enough and modernized firefighting equipment and facility, especially
fire extinguisher and rescue facility for building with over 10 stories high.
Sixth.
I noted and highly appreciated the Ministry of Interior and General Commission
of National Police for drafting Law on Police and preparing 5-year Strategic Plan (2008-2013) for National Police with clear annual action plan for
executing. I consider this new turning of the Cambodian National Police,
following its greatest tradition of 126 years and now have been on the way to
ownership and scientifically-based towards international standard, I would like
each leader of all levels to continue this working style by evolving into an
effective current that improve operation of maintaining security and order.
Seventh.
In addition to ensuring security and public order internally, on the behalf of
the government, I could not forget courage of all police officers who are
stationed along borders, especially at Cambodia-Thai border who until now has
been demonstrating their concrete commitment, high responsibility and
scarification to protect national integrity and sovereignty along with the Royal
Cambodian Armed Forces.
In order to
continue marvelous tradition, the Ministry of Interior and General Commission of
National Police must strictly follow my recommendation on 6th February 2010 during the Inauguration Division 3 Military Headquarter to take
good care and well support this force by building checkpoint and blockhouse,
office, shelters and commanding office in order for them to properly fulfill
their duties.
Eighth.
to further promote police reform to improve reputation of this institution in
Cambodian society. All units must show its capacity with competency and
professionalism; hence Royal Police Academy must enhance their program through
assessment and review quality of trainees, analyzing actual context and need in
new circumstances of security battlefield in order to improve training and
provide timely training according to the great demanding of National Police’s
tasks.
Ninth.
Finally in addition to the above eight recommendations, all levels of the
National Police must pay attention to disasters which naturally occur and affect
people. So, it must be always ready to conduct emergency rescue without delay,
if natural disaster occur accidentally in their region or to be deployed in all
possible reach. It must not be careless or allow any person fall as victim
without intervention.
For 126 years
(1884-2010) except nearly 4 years of the Democratic Kampuchea, the National
Police of our country has made enormous prideful activities and achievements for
protecting independence, peace, security, public order and social safety.
On behalf of the
government, I would like to express profound gratitude to Samdech Preah
Vireak Ksat Norodm Sihanouk and Samdech Preah Reach Akka Mohesei for exerting physical and intellectual energy to help the Cambodian National
Police during independence period and to wish your majesty healthy and long
lives. May I wish your majesty Preah Karuna Preahbath Samdech Baromneath
Norodom Sihanouk, the king of the kingdom of Cambodia, healthy for the
reign and the warmest umbrella for Cambodian people.
In this
auspicious occasion, I would like to convey my due respect and gratitude to all
leadership in all eras for supporting building force and capacity of Cambodian
National Police to become bigger both quantitatively and quantitatively and to
thank Cambodian people for joining mission of National Police in Cambodia since
1884 with conscience of loving nation and a heroic model for our police officer.
Especially, I would like sincerely thank Samdech Akka Moha Thama Pothisal Chea Sim, Head of Senate and Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakkrei Heng Samrin, Head of National Assembly, for supporting
Cambodian National Police from 1979 to the present.
I would like to
take this opportunity to deeply thank the government and police agencies of
friend countries and national and international organization for financial and
moral supports for development and reform of Cambodian national police and to
appeal for continuation of technical assistance to strengthen its capacity.
Finally, I would
like to wish excellencies, ladies and gentlemen and entire national police force
4 gems of Buddhist blessings; longevity, nobility, happiness and strength.
EndItem.
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