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Speech at the Closing Ceremony of Extra-ordinary Congress of Representatives of
Cambodian Veteran Association Nationwide and 3rd Anniversary of
Cambodian Veteran Day
21
June 2010
Excellencies, ladies and, Royal Ambassador, ambassador,
national and international guests
Dear Ladies and gentlemen, members of congress!
First of all, on
behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia and in my capacity as chairman of
Cambodian Veteran Association, I am very honored and pleased to attend this
Closing Ceremony of Extra-ordinary Congress of Representatives of Cambodian
Veteran Association nation-wide and 3rd Anniversary of Cambodian Veteran Day at
this moment.
I would like to
welcome Excellencies, ladies, royal ambassadors, ambassadors, military attachés
to Royal Kingdom of Cambodia, ladies and gentlemen, national and international
guests, members of the congress from city and provinces, representatives of
Cambodian Veteran Association nation-wide who attend this ceremony. Especially,
I would like to congratulate warmly veterans with most achievement in 3
Good Movements whom the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth
Rehabilitation and Cambodian Veteran Association have selected.
Indeed, this
congress has provided an opportunity for talk and providing recommendation on
key tasks related to veteran in order to jointly implement successfully and
efficiently as well as to ensure sustainability of raising livelihood and
promoting welfare of the veterans and their families. Taking this opportunity, I
would like to highlight that celebrating 3rd Anniversary of Cambodian
Veteran Day and Extra-ordinary Congress of Representatives of Cambodian Veteran
Association nation-wide at this moment is a key new historical event for
veterans in Cambodia, which is an answer to one of policy priorities of the
government that has been laid out thus far. Undeniably, Cambodian Veteran
Association is key partner to the government who has worked closely with
ministry of social affair, veteran and youth rehabilitation and other relevant
ministries-institutions to increase efficiency of implementation of national
policy for veterans. In this sense, I would like to highly value cooperation so
far made by leadership, civil officers, armed forces, all levels of local
authorities with veteran-related institutions and associations who have made
effort to carry out measures and initiatives adopted by the government in all
forms and by all means and have made numerous achievements for this sector and
made this sector make ever gradual progress.
In this spirit, I
would like to congratulate the fruitful result Extra-ordinary Congress of
Representatives of Cambodian Veteran Association nation-wide and 3rd Anniversary
of Cambodian Veteran Day, whose celebration had been held at local level in city
and all provinces and now at national level. At the same time, I would like to
thank Cambodian Veteran Associations and all veterans for honoring me to be
chairman of the Cambodian Veteran Association as officially inscribed in the
statute of Cambodian Veteran Association. I am very pleased to assume this role,
because I am also a veteran who used to actively fight along with other veterans
at battlefield and become disabled by the war.
Along that, I would
like to admire the leadership of the ministry of social affairs, veteran and
youth rehabilitation, Excellencies governors of city and provinces, military
officers, non-commissioned officers, soldiers of all kinds of armed forces and
all veterans who took part in organizing congress of Cambodian Veteran
Association and celebrating anniversary of Cambodian Veteran Day everywhere, and
this activities has brought about a comprehensive people movement that is linked
to Cambodian veteran. I would like to take this opportunity to send my visit and
compliment for military officers, non-commissioned officers of all kinds of
armed forces and their families who are being stationed and are protecting land
integrity along Thai-Cambodian border as well as other veterans who are taken
care of at hospitals. The patriotism of our armed forces is national dignity and
proud of the people. In this superb meaning, the government is committed to take
measures to provide the most appropriate rewards for this patriotism.
However, we must
acknowledge that what we have made so far has not wholly answered our need. In
this regard, all of us must exerting utmost effort and ability to continue this
task and satisfy the true demand of the veteran sector.
Veterans are the
most grateful group to the nation, symbol of scarifying spirit for the nation
and the true patriot by own concrete activities. Cambodian veterans are also
evidence of patriotism of Cambodian people. This auspicious deed should receive a proper respond and
great honor. In this occasion, on behalf of the Royal Government and myself as
the head of Cambodian Veteran Association, I would like to pay respect to the
soul of dead soldiers who scarified their lives for the cause of the nation. In
the sense, People and the nation would like to express profound gratitude to all
Khmer heroes.
Historically,
Cambodia has experienced certain evolutions from prosperity to darkness and now
regaining prosperity. The Angkor era was undoubtedly the prosperous time and our
ancestors left many temples including Angkor Wat as heritage for the next
generation. The achievement was achieved under the braveness of our ancestors.
On the other hand, under the crusade of heroic king NORODOM SIHANOUK, Cambodia
claimed Independence from France in November 9, 1953. In March 18, 1970 coup
delta by Lon Nol pushed the country into devastating war. From, 1975 to 1979,
the genocide regime claimed more than 3 million of lives and uprooted the
national structure and left with many difficult problems. The historical victory
of January 7, 1979, Cambodia People Party saved the nation and people and
rebuilt our country. Indeed, during the past 30 years after the collapse of
genocide regime, we have achieved many achievements, including the
rehabilitation and development of physical infrastructures as the basic for
supporting growth in all sectors. Furthermore, Cambodia enjoys full peace in the
whole country – political and economy stability- as precondition for sustaining
national development.
The achievements
were originated from the strong solidarity of our people and soldiers who left
their families to join the fighting and some of them were killed, injured and
disabled. Their braveness and sacrifices for the nation and happiness of the
people is priceless.
Therefore, the
implementation of veteran policy is the obligation of the government and the
whole nation to appropriately respond to their gratefulness in sacrificing their
live for the country and saving us. Providing proper spiritual and material
support to veterans will encourage patriotism and spirit of sacrifice for the
cause of the nation. It is our long-lasting and valuable tradition.
In this spirit, the
Royal Government always pays high attention to veteran by setting up policies to
create a sustainable social safety net in order to ensure the livelihood of the
people and help them to live in civilized lives and harmonization with their
families and society. Those tasks include vocational training, providing social
land concession to those soldiers who are demobilized, retired, disabled and the
families of dead soldiers to help improve their livelihoods. These lands will be
used for residential construction and farming purposes to raise their livelihood
and contribute to national productivity.
In this spirit, the
Royal Government has also reconsidered the allowance policy for veteran based on
the economic situation, which is now equivalent to 175% of basic salary as of
2010. Increases subsidy for children of dead soldiers, monthly allowance to
families of dead soldiers who have parents, guardians, wives or husbands;
readjusts monthly allowance to wives or husbands of the disabled, retired
soldiers and children, wives or husbands of dead soldiers. At the same time, the
government also provides monthly allowance of 20,000 Riel to the disabled,
retired soldiers from July, 2008 till December, 2010.
In the spirit of
helping the veteran and to effectively provide social intervention and support,
the Royal Government continues to pay attention on improving legal framework and
regulations such as labor law, insurance law, law on the protection and
promotion of the rights of disable, social safety law, sub-degree on national
account for social safety, for civil servants to effectively provide veterans
and disables with rehabilitation, vocational training, job creation, joining in
sport activity and integrating disables into society.
At the same time, I
would like to take the opportunity to praise H.E. Ith Samheng,
Minister of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation whose also the
Deputy and Secretary General of the Cambodian Veteran Association, who always
pool his effort in veteran sector and incorporate it into the work priority
program of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation and
other related institutions to improve the veteran sector and gradually reduce
any idleness.
Besides, I would
also like to praise the three years old Cambodian Veteran Association for taking
practical actions with fruitful results to strengthen and expand the role of
veterans, improve their living standards and strengthen their unity for the
development of the country according to the Royal Government’s political agenda.
For instance, the three profound veteran’s movements which include the
construction of accommodation for veterans, the development of credit account
and rescue account for veterans etc. have indeed helped to upgrade the living
standards of members of the Association in addition to what have already been
provided through the government’s policy.
I would like to
fully support and highly value the 2008-2010 stocktaking and direction setting
report of the Cambodian Veteran Association and the decision made by the
congress. At the same time, I would like to congratulate the 66 central
committee members, 10 permanent members, 2 deputy directors, and 3 deputy
secretary generals who have just been additionally appointed during the
congressional meeting of the Cambodian Veteran Association nationwide.
Taking this
opportunity, I would like to lay out some additional tasks that need to be done
to accelerate the work relating to the improvement of living standard and the
rehabilitation of veterans and their families as follows:
1. The Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran, and Youth Rehabilitation
must continue to constantly check the payroll and prevent the trade of allowance
policy. If it occurs, we must take appropriate measures to return all allowances
to the rightful owners and continue to strengthen the allowance provision policy
so that all allowances are being provided timely and right on target. At the
same time, we must continue to provide good support and cooperation to all
levels of veteran association by providing them the place to work and supporting
their members in order to facilitate the operation of the Cambodian Veteran
Association. I reckon that, the help and support being provided by the Ministry
of Social Affairs, Veteran, and Youth Rehabilitation on Cambodian Veteran sector
also reflects the encouragement for the direct participation of veterans as well
as the establishment of partnership with veterans in accordance with the
strategic partnership which is an important factor for good governance. At the
same time, we must continue the implementation of social land concession policy
for former soldiers and their families as adopted for 2010-2013, and cooperate
with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, municipal authorities, and related
provinces to push the housing projects along with the integration of physical
infrastructures and public service at villages where veterans live, such as
Kampong Cham, Pursat, and Battambang, as officially been laid out in the
three-year Public Investment Plan 2010-2012 and the National Strategic
Development Plan 2010-2013 by using the state budget and economic land
concession. Moreover, we must continue to collect data on the real living
condition of poor veterans in order to provide them with appropriate
professional training, economic land concession, scholarship for children, small
scale loan, and emergency aid to upgrade their living standards.
2. The Ministry of
Defense and the Ministry of Interior must cooperate with the Ministry of Social
Affairs, Veteran, and Youth Rehabilitation and the Ministry of Economy and
Finance, to check the updated list of veteran and family of the deceased veteran
of each ministry and transfer it to the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran, and
Youth Rehabilitation for further management. At the same time, the Ministry of
Defense, the Ministry of Interior, the Royal Armed Force of Cambodia, the
National Police Commissariat, the National Military Police, regional military
headquarters, military units, commanding units of municipality, province, city,
district, khan, and any other unit base in any other location across the country
must cooperate with the social affairs authority in that location to engage with
the veteran and help supporting them as much as possible regardless of their
background. We must all bear in mind that helping veteran is to help ourselves
and to preserve the spirit and will of our armed forces. Since their merit for
the nation is tremendous we must ensure that they live in good condition, with
dignity and hope.
3. The Council of
Ministers must push for the preparation of Royal Decree on social safety net for
veteran and sub-decree on the creation of national account for veteran as soon
as possible to address the difficulty face by our veterans.
4. The Ministry of
Rural Development must continue to promote the implementation of social land
concession project and the construction of accommodation for veterans’ families
along the northern border area and expand such project to other areas. Along
with that, the Ministry of Land Management, Urbanization, and Construction, and
the National Social Land Concession Committee together with the sub-national
mechanisms must continue to prepare projects for distributing social land
concession to armed forces, veteran, and their families as soon as possible.
5. Other related
ministries/institutions, authority at all levels, and commune/district councils
must give priority to include the work for improving local veteran’s living
condition into their respective development programs. The competence authority
should select those veterans with good characteristics to become community
leaders, such as fishing community, water usage community, and village chiefs if
possible. 6. The Cambodian
Veteran Association must strengthen their management at all levels. The
Cambodian Veteran Association Committee at all levels must respect and abide by
the association’s rules, term of reference according to the collective democracy
principle, collaborative leadership, responsible individual, and hold regular
congressional meetings. At the same time, the Cambodian Veteran Association must
cooperate with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation
in continuing to build more houses for outstanding veterans according to the “3
Good” Movements, so that we could improve their living standards including the
good use of allowance policy and encourage the physical and mental participation
as well as using the available resources to develop the local community and
participate in the implementation of Cambodian Veteran Association’s work for
the sake of themselves, the association as well as participating in the national
development. Moreover, the Cambodian Veteran Association must continue to
strengthen the account establishment activities including the creation of
account for member contribution, credit account for the association, and rescue
account by carefully implementing the statute of each account, strengthening
transparency, accountability in managing the account by having constant
financial auditing and inspection in fighting against any inactive activities,
ensuring financial sustainability of the association, which is the key factor of
the association activity. Besides, the Cambodian Veteran Association must
continue to strengthen and expand its friendship and cooperation with the other
Veteran Associations from around the world. On behalf of the Cambodian Veteran
Association, I would like to thank the ASEAN League for veteran, for having
admitted the Cambodian Veteran Association to be a full member on 26 April
2010. In this regard, the Cambodian Veteran Association must continue to have
relation with the World Veteran Federation in order to become a member of this
organization. I hope that the cooperation between veterans of other countries
will be progressive, contributing to the strengthening of friendship and
cooperation between countries in the region and the world. In this spirit, I
would like to appeal to the development partners, national and international
organizations to provide good cooperation and support for this Cambodian Veteran
Association in which the Cambodian Veteran Sector should be included in the
development assistance projects for Cambodia. At the same time, the Cambodian
veterans must continue building houses for the outstanding veterans as well
those who have already had lands in the community. This project will be
effective and efficient because veterans will have their own piece of land which
is the partial share and the Cambodian Veteran Association, the Ministry of
Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation, the municipal and provincial
donors will provide the budget and materials, and the local authorities and the
people in other areas have also contributed, which is the art of sharing and
support to veterans. My wife and I have, so far, provided 66 houses with the
cost of USD 3000 to USD 5000 for each house through the Cambodian Veteran
Association and Donors. Among those houses, there were 29 houses given to
veterans that have been elite in the “3 Good” Movement and in the year 2010 I
will provide 37 houses more to those veterans who have received the golden medal
and will provide the budget of USD 1000 for each of 24 veterans who have
received silver medal in order to go on an oversea trip as organized by the
Cambodian Veteran Association. As a result, those veterans who have already
received the houses, are improving their living which is the image of
integrating veterans into the locality. Furthermore, I will continue to
strengthen the Disabled Rehabilitation Village in Taken Koh Sla area on Kampot
to be sustainable and progressive in improving the livelihood of those people.
Along with that, I would like to request H.E Tea Banh, Deputy Prime
Minister, Minister of National Defence and the Vice-President of the Cambodian
Veteran Association to continue to develop the Veteran Rehabilitation Region in
Kulen District of Siem Reap Province because we do have high ability and I have
already provided some budget.
Every issue raised
is the illustration of the objective, principle, measure and mechanism for
implementing the integration, veteran rehabilitation and family policy in order
to achieve the significant objective of the armed forces reform, the creation of
social safety net, reducing the vulnerability as well as poverty reduction of
the people. In this connection, the Royal Government strongly believes that the
ministries/institutions, all kinds of armed forces, all levels of local
authorities, development partners, national and international organizations, the
association will actively participate in the veteran sector to make it highly
effective.
Once again, I would
like to appeal to Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen to actively implement the
set content and plan as well as putting effort in sharing information,
knowledge, and experiences gained from the extra-ordinary conference
representing all Cambodian Veteran Association all over the country and the 3rd Anniversary of the Cambodia Veteran Day for the officials, staff, colleagues for
improving the implementation and obligation with the objective to achieve
further new achievements according to the set strategy and objectives.
In this pleasurable
environment, I would like to express my gratitude with highest respect to the
Venerable King of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Preah Bat Norodom Seihamoni, the King
Father, Norodom Sihanouk and the Queen Mother, Monineath Sihanouk, who have
always paid their greatest attention to the people, especially supporting the
veterans and Families of the Handicapped, and I wish the King, King Father and
Queen Mother good health and long lives of more than 100 years old in order to
stay as warmest shelter for Cambodian people, who are your children and
grandchildren.
Before ending, I
would like to highly evaluate the management and officials of the Cambodian
Veteran Association, who have tried to actively participate with high
responsibility in achieving and building various achievements in the Veteran
Sector and making the process of this Extra-ordinary Congress of Representatives
of the Cambodian Veteran Association and the 3rd Anniversary of the
Cambodia Veteran Day, smoothly and fruitfully possible.
At the end,
together with the closing of the Extra-ordinary Congress of Representatives of
the Cambodian Veteran Association and the 3rd Anniversary of the
Cambodia Veteran Day, I would like to wish Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
the four gems of Buddhism blessing: Longevity, Nobility, Health and Strength.
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