By CNV Team
I am so glad to be able to come once again to
join with all of you in celebrating of the inauguration of the Buddhist
temple of the Serei Udom pagoda in the village of Trabek, Pean Ruong
commune in Svay Antor district of Prey Veng province. In just ten days, I
have come to Prey Veng twice already –
April 11 and today April 22. I would like to take this opportune moment
to express my sincere thanks and appreciations to our Buddhist
parishioners for their cordial hospitality showing me their love, pity,
satisfaction and trust. Together we are celebrating the Buddhist ritual
in all eight directions. I am so glad to see that our achievements have
blossomed before our eyes in Buddhism and secular sector day after day.
Today, aside from inaugurating the new Buddhist temple, we also put
into official use a six-classroom school building in the Primary School
of Serei Udom, which HE Net Savoeun and I have shared construction
costs. Today we are also building one more six-classroom school building
at the Primary School of Jojok in the commune of Me Bon, Svay ANtor
district.
Concerning the province of Prey Veng, in the 1980s I once had stayed
in the commune of Jia Khlang and I could recall that it was not that far
from each other between Peanruong and Jia Khlang. On my way from the
district of Mesang, at about 1400 hour, people came stopping me and
requested for help in building schools, pagodas, etc. We did not have
mobile phone in those days. We had only walkie-talkie radio. From Mesang
to Jia Khlang, I had to contribute a total sum of about 100 million
Riel on the average of three to four or five million Riel per request.
We are building this 28 km road all the way to the NR 8 at Jipuj of
Mesang, which, HE Chea Sophara, Minister of Rural Development, has
reported that the preliminary preparation is about 50% already. We will
soon replace this bad-shape road condition with an asphalted one.
Destructions Left from Pol Pot’s Regime
I would like to take this opportune moment to express my appreciation
for the efforts reported by HE Hah Sareth, governor of Prey Veng, in
relation to the development in all fields in the province after the
liberation on 7 January 1979. We may recall that Prey Veng under Pol Pot
was like a twin region after the head of the region, Ta Chouk, etc.
was arrested. Chan Seng Hong took over the post of head of the region –
23 and 24. Killing of people in Prey Veng and Svay Rieng provinces
under Pol Pot was no exception compared to other provinces.
After the liberation in 1979, gradually our people have made their
development from scratch. Those of you who survived the regime, even in
bags of bones in those days, have made great efforts altogether until
the present and produced individual or collective achievement after
achievement. If we close our eyes and recall, in 1979, what did we have
in hands? Take for instance in April 1979. As of now, the situation is
completely different. We could remember that Pol Pot left us nothing but
ashes, separation, shaggy and shabby conditions. It has been admirably
great effort that our people made to overcome the destruction left by
the Pol Pot’s regime.
We can say there is no country in the world that has more orphans and
widows in population ration than Cambodia. While facing with these
difficulties, we have striven with full energy to overcome the
punishment from outside as Pol Pot’s regime legally occupied the
Cambodian seat at the United Nations, representing Cambodian people,
whom they have killed. However, the truth has shown that everything
depends on internal aspect of the country, not decisively on external
one. We have overcome great difficulties and successfully assured that
no one should die of hunger without our knowledge or that we know of but
fail to take effective measure.
CPP Political Platform Covers All, Religion also Included
I would like to take this opportunity to talk a bit about Buddhism. I
should recall that it has been the Cambodian People’s Party vision
since 1980s as there was a discussion in those days about its policy
towards religion, and that included the state religion – Buddhism, too.
The CPP political platform has covered every stakeholders, farmers,
workers, intellectuals, religions, etc. I wish to clarify is that what
we thought about and believed so in 1980s has now become a connector to
the present day’s development policy for religion. It serves as
measuring tool for religious progress in Cambodia too.
Together with Samdech Chea Sim, Samdech Heng Samrin, and other CPP
leaders, we have set out a correct policy in all fields in the Kingdom
of Cambodia. We have noticed the development of religion affairs where
there are Buddhism, Islam and Christianity. For this religion of
Christianity, we then noticed early involvements of World Vision and
numerous other organizations. I remember a saying that religion is the
drug for believers. Therefore, Pol Pot dismantled pagodas, killed the
monks, but people still place their trust in religious faith.
Buddhist Pagodas Keep National Soul, Religion and Culture
No matter how cruel Pol Pot was to religion or Buddhism, he could not
remove people’s faith in the religion at all. Although Pol Pot ordered
you to stay away from religion and by whatever you did for them, elder
people always thought of Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha and even deity. They
called them for help. Deity did come. Everyone here is wearing a hat
that prints a deity sign on it. It is the CPP’s sign. It is not deity
only in words but in real life. Buddhism used to play many great roles,
as we noted, in the Cambodian history from the time when it was under
French control. It prevented the French from Romanizing the Khmer
characters, which means keeping Khmer language they way it is. It
protects the Khmer language.
Like some countries in Africa, and those closer to us, Vietnam, which
formerly used Chinese characters, also had their language characters
Romanized. In that instance, with the help of Buddhist pagodas, Cambodia
did not. The Buddhist pagodas served as places that keep scriptures, in
which soul and culture of our nation are in there. Many countries in
Africa speak French instead of their mother tongues. We Cambodian still
speak Khmer, which includes Pali, Sanskrit and the simplified versions
of them until today.
Buddhist Pagodas Shelter People
As of this point, we are looking to the Buddhist pagodas as major
part of our policy toward elderly people, youth and children of our
country. People of all circles could have asked why the CPP people not
only allows people to practice religions in general and Buddhism in
particular, but also share their resources to initiate the ritual of all
sorts and to build and/or rebuild more pagodas. This has become our
attention not only because the Buddhist religion provides education to
the people, urging them to perform good action, but more importantly,
because it plays a critical part in our policy for care of the aged,
children and youth as well.
Let us all see. When people grow into their old ages, where do they
go? They go to the Buddhist pagodas. That is important. That is why CPP
not only opens for religious faiths but also has its members involved in
all sorts of Buddhist ritual and in all of the more than 4000 pagodas
throughout the country. Some of the old people are in good care of their
children but they also visit the pagodas every Buddhist precept day.
Where would they go if we do not have pagoda? This is one dimension of
the problem. We also have one other issue where a good number of people
throughout the country are also taking shelters in pagoda.
Since 1979, the Cambodian People’s Party has been doing this job. So
far, it has helped millions of people, especially the aged ones who take
shelters in the pagodas. If the pagodas did not have the ability to
rebuild or build in the past 34 years, after the liberation on 7 January
1979, where old aged people, especially in poor families, would go. It
is indeed a great part for the policy to take care of the aged. Take for
example, in the pagoda of Preah Pothivang Am Lim Heng, hundreds of
grand old dads and moms are staying to learn and practice precepts. Our
people at an average of 60 years old would want to go to pagoda.
Therefore, looking into the old-aged people policy, one should not
overlook the role of Buddhist pagoda. It is equally important that one
must identify the role of the Cambodian People’s Party in its
involvement together with the people to build up Buddhism, and other
religious faiths. Some people have come and talked about their so and so
visions and made empty promises. In the past 34 years, let us ponder,
if there were no Buddhist temple and pagodas, where would they go and
what would they do? Take for instance parishioners of Serei Udom pagoda,
where would they go to practice their precepts. In the meaning that
Buddhist pagoda is a part of the country’s policy for old aged people
the Cambodian People’s Party has done and continues to do in its support
for the Buddhism.
As for policy towards youth and children, we need to look to some
facts that there is school next to it. In our country, in the time when
Cambodia was under France, there were so few schools. Many who had
learned a lot were the ones who stayed and learned in pagoda. Later, we
had more and more schools build outside, but still adjacent to pagoda.
As of now, we have so many schools. According to the report of HE Hah
Saret, there is a university, three institutes, a school of pedagogy,
etc. There are up to 256 school buildings – 1,297 classrooms in all –
that I have sponsored the construction. I am sure today we will have
some more.
Some of the youth may want to go into monkhood and we must consider
this in the policy for youth and their development too. Some people may
stay in monkhood for just a few years before they leave it. There is one
other point that we all know about. Some poor parents bring their
children to the pagoda and place them under monks’ upbringing and
education. I used to be one of them. I like being one, this life or
next. My dad brought me to the monk for education and care. He told the
monk all he wanted back from the monk was for me to have two eyes still.
That is an expression to mean the monk can do whatever he deems
necessary, but do not to the extent of blinding him, to get the kid
educated.
The Buddhist monks provide people with advice to perform merit
action, which in turn facilitate social and state management since the
people are respecting the law. To abide by the Buddhist dhamma to
perform merit action in the society is tantamount to respecting the
state law and order already. It is in this understanding that the
Cambodian People’s Party has been ready to provide its assistance in all
Buddhist pagodas throughout the country. Responding to the question why
the CPP organizes so many Buddhist rituals for Samdech Techo Hun Sen,
HE Sar Kheng, HE Bin Chhin, and other leaders to presides over, I would
say that not only are we open for religions and their rituals but also
for support and involvement.
Solar Energized Lighting for Pagodas and Schools and Federation of Youth
I have a discussion with Dr. Sath Sami and figure out the need for
electricity for lighting in pagodas as well as in schools. I have seen
the proposal from the pagoda for a generator but on top of providing the
generator, I will see about giving a set of solar energized lighting as
well. The solar lighting would serve better for the need of light at
night. This should help our elderly people who have to come to the
temple at night for Buddhist rituals. It is almost the time to provide
“candle for rainy season” and I urge that the act of providing should be
done before the election campaign period as it falls on the day set for
this Buddhist ritual – providing candle for the monks in Buddhist
pagodas.
As for lighting the candle, I would suggest that the Buddhist monks
would do so on our behalf in all over 4,000 pagodas because if the CPP
officials come down to the pagodas to light the candle with our monks,
during the electoral campaign period, they would be accused of buying
people’s heart and mind.
Here in Prey Veng, there is a strong youth movement led by Sar Sokha.
It is the Union of Federation of Cambodian Youth of Prey Veng. I would
ask for your understanding and help as I wish to leave him at your
service. I learnt that they have engaged in various works. For instance,
lately they helped people catching snails that attack rice fields.
Those snails have been resistant to pesticide. That left us no choice
but to catch and kill them manually. As Sar Sokha is now one of the CPP
candidates for the fifth legislative term of the National Assembly of
the Prey Veng constituency in the forthcoming election on 28 July 2013,
which is over three months from now, I am calling for your support and
look after him.
Sar Sokha is the son of HE Sar Kheng. We fathers are getting older
now. We need to involve our children in politics and public functions.
We have appointed recently Tri Narin, a young member as governor of a
province. He is a university graduate. We need to involve youths in
various public functions. There has to be connectivity. Sar Sokha is not
here today but he has always been active with my sons. It is like what I
was talking about in Kompong Speu that HE Sar Kheng’s father and my
father joined together their Buddhist activity in the pagoda of Ampil
Voan. HE Sar Kheng and I are working together in the Royal Government.
Now our sons are working together too. I thank the working team of the
CPP who provide assistance for Prey Veng province and appreciate efforts
made by every level of provincial authorities and the armed forces.
The Korean Peninsula and Preah Vihear Temple Issues
Please allow me to remind you of what I said
on April 11 in the district of Pearaing, Prey Veng province, on two
issues – the threat of war in the Korean peninsula and the court case of
Preah Vihear temple. As far as the threat of war in the
Korean peninsula is concerned, it has proven that the Royal Government
has taken correct position while various circles have opened attacks on
the Royal Government in social media for neglecting the concern for
safety for its people and diplomats in South Korea.
So far, as we know now, has the Royal Government been doing right or
not? Should we have evacuated our workers from South Korea, we may have
difficulty in regaining their trust and work access.
Therefore, it is important that formulating a policy must be
objective and farsighted. What would happen when both North and South
Koreas are in normal state of affairs while we move Cambodian workers
out? We have delegated the task to the Ministry of Labor and Vocational
Training to send our inspectors to the country to follow up with the
situation and work together with the Cambodian Ambassador over there.
The Korean peninsula is still in tense situation but fighting does not
break out. As of this morning, there has been news that North Korea has
moved a missile carriage. Our point is that a fight is still a
possibility next to none. I would therefore appeal to our people to keep
calm and not to be concerned on this issue. The Royal Government has
already planned certain measures should the war happen.
Secondly, I would like to appeal
our people to trust the Royal Government’s competence in relation to the
verbal interpretation on the Preah Vihear issue at the International
Court of Justice in the Hague. I would
assure our people and the press to rest assured in the Royal
Government’s efforts in dealing with this issue. We have entrusted the
task with HE Hor Namhing, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign
Affairs and International Cooperation, who works closely with the
Cambodian delegation, which includes also three foreign lawyers – a US, a
British and a French national. I would advise all concerned to make no
comments on the issue.
As for Thailand, we have noticed that there are at least four
different groups being involved in this issue. As the verbal
interpretation is now over, it seems the opposition and the ruling
parties in Thailand are throwing fire on each other. One of the groups
leads a movement with an aim to raise flag on the Preah Vihear temple
and to appeal the Thai delegation to walk out of court, to recognize no
jurisdiction, etc. Well, that is what is happening on the Thai side and
we leave it up to the Thais to deal with it. As for Cambodia, we are
united as one on this matter.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my sincere
appreciation for the Cambodian delegation led by HE Hor Namhong as well
as our lawyers for defending our arguments in a competent manner. As I
said already in Kompot the other day, the session was to give verbal
testimony to the court and the court will have its decision in between
October and November. We will leave it up to the court and need to make
no statement that would infringe upon the court’s competency.
Our people and perhaps some of the politicians may ask why Hun Sen
keeps silent on this issue. We already send the matter to court and a
delegation to see matter through, why should we make further comments.
However, I have information updates though we have five-hour time
differences between Cambodia and Holland. I always had to stay until
after 12 midnight to receive the updates on our interpretation and Thai
interpretation. In all there are only two main points here – Cambodia is
demanding the court to reinterpret its decision in 1962 and the Thais
insists no need for interpretation.
The Cambodian delegation uses every cause-in-fact and proximate cause
arguments based on the map in Annex 1 to demand the court to interpret
its decision in 1962. We have only one map while the Thais bring in so
many different maps. This or that line that the Thais presented does not
exist in the cause-in-fact and proximate cause of the International
Court of Justice decision in 1962. Whether to give its interpretation or
not is up to the court, but we need to inform our people about what is
going on in this regard.
However, what would the court do to its decision in July 2011 on
establishing the demilitarized zone in Preah Vihear? Should they leave
it like that for years to come? Should it go back to the former status
quo, which both sides of conflict send in their armies to the area where
the court entrusts then chair of ASEAN – Indonesia, the task to look
after its development? Doing so would end the Indonesian role as well. I
would suggest that our people hold on to this argument. Normally it
would not be an easy thing to reverse.
Secondly, a judge of Somalian nationality proposed to the two sides –
Cambodia and Thailand to provide maps and coordinates to the court by
April 26 and no later than May 30. We would leave this to the lawyers to
work on it. What I wanted to share with you here is that we have made
correct prediction. While people enjoyed the New Year, the delegation
led by HE Hor Namhong in Holland as well as me in Phnom Penh, continued
working. We need to ask one question, why does the other side in this
case not want the court to interpret? If they are not the culprit, why
should they be concerned?
However, though we fight in the court, Cambodia and Thailand should
not be considering each other as enemy. I have worked with Prime
Minister Yingluck Sihanwatra. The two countries should go on working
with each other no matter what decision the court will make. The two
Ministers of Foreign Affairs are also in good terms with each other in
the court. We should not consider each other enemy and should have good
cooperation. I would like to send my appreciation to the armed forces,
local authorities and people along the Cambodian-Thai border and
encourage them to visit or do business with each other. Cambodia cannot
move Thailand to another place or Thailand would do it otherwise./.