It
is a great pleasure indeed that I have a wonderful chance to come meet
professors and students of the Royal Phnom Penh University (RPPU) to
celebrate two important events (1) graduation and diploma presentation
ceremony for scholarship and fee-paying students and (2) launching of
the RUPP’s five years strategic plan for 2014 through to 2018.
Progress Made by RUPP & Job Seeking Opportunity
Acting Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, HE Pit Cham Nan, made a report already about
progress made by the RUPP. I would like to take this opportune moment
to express my sincere appreciation and praise for every effort made by
the RUPP’s leadership as well as those at the Ministry level to create a
favorable condition for successive development in the history of this
oldest University in Cambodia. The University went through destruction
under the regime of Pol Pot. We have made great efforts to restore it
and to make it a leading University not only for human resource
development in general but importantly in teachers training as well.
Noted
these developments, RUPP has put out today its 2014-18 strategic plan,
the first among Cambodian tertiary education institutions, aimed at
setting direction and momentum for reform relating to tertiary education
and the University itself. Taking this opportune moment, I am
declaring the official launching and implementation of the strategic
plan of the Royal Phnom Penh University.
As
we observe the RPPU’s advancement, today I offer my congratulation to
all graduates for the efforts they made so far in their study until they
get official degrees. According to the report I have here, I am
impressed that all 3,038 graduates have had their jobs according to the
following classification. The first group, 1,347 or 44.35%, is working
in private institution; 803 graduates or 26.45% are becoming professors
or staff of education institutions; 215 graduates or 7.1% work in
various organizations; and 198 or 6.55% are either in pursuit of one or
continuing their study.
Reform in Tertiary Education Framework
In
his report, HE Pit Cham Nan mentioned of developments in relation to
both RPPU and education sector as a whole. Our aim and on-going action
here is to address the issue of reform within the framework of tertiary
education. Days ago, HE Hang Chuon Naron issued a statement to put on
hold the establishment of more universities. Though I may not have time
to be elaborate, I wish to stress to all of you that this is in fact the
move to ascertain quality of the up to more than 100 existing
universities – both state and private.
I
have noticed the five objectives of the work outlined in this strategic
plan – (1) improve and upgrade living standard and capacity of
professors, officials and staff (2) upgrade quality of education among
students (3) improve teaching and learning capability (4) widen and
improve research and (5) augment and widen practical community action to
bridge student’s understanding between theory and practice. Cambodia is
a small country but surprisingly it has up to more than 100
universities. While pursing the aim of improving quality, we are leaving
option open for well-known universities abroad that are considering
their education business in Cambodia.
However,
as I said on various educational occasions, it is now important to
focus on quality of education and not on a great number of facilities in
the area. Still, I am of the opinion that to create university and put
into function is a hard work but to guarantee their sustainability is
harder.
Job Market Oriented Curriculum & Short-Term Skills Training
I
am calling on all universities – state or private, to focus on
strengthening quality of education and more importantly provide a more
relevant curriculum of education to respond to the need for job market
and society that is growing in a rapid manner and demanding more lacking
technicians and specialists. We have now noted the fact that some
graduates, after finishing their study, could not find a job. Among
other factors, I would advise not to forget the role of job market as it
bears subjective influence over objective factors. Saying that, I mean
if the market needs engineers or architects, it would be irrelevant if
we orientate our students on the path to philosophy.
Though
we do not deny the fact that philosophy is also important to be in our
curriculum, but we need to respond to the need of the market or the
actual state of demand out there. Take for instance, as construction is
mushrooming everywhere and Cambodia needs people with engineering and
architectural expertise and knowledge. If we gave wrong focus in our
education, graduates would have less chance of finding jobs. I am
calling for a double-checking on this trend in effort to further reform
and expand curriculum for every tertiary education.
I
found this short-term skills training provided by the Asia-Europe
University and Human Resource Development University very relevant to
the market demand. I think it would do a lot of help to our students to
find their job at some stage in life if every university not only
provide formal curriculum but also short to medium-term trainings, like
for three or six months, in skills that they would need when they are
out there in workplace. Aside from the Asia-Europe University and The
Human Resource Development University, as far as I know, the Chea
Sim-Prey Veng University will carry this need in its curriculum too.
I
think each education and training institution should work closely with
the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, which has under its
administration state skill training center. The private sector should
also take part in this work.
Wide Gap of Jobs and Expertise
There
lies a huge gap between job availability and expertise trained in
Cambodia. In construction, we have architects and engineers working with
laborers in absence of a middle-level expertise staff. The same goes
for medicine, we have surgeons but they all do not work in one operation
room together at one time. They need one or two surgeons with certain
number of assistants like mid-level physicians and nurses. This is one
recommendation for every tertiary education institution to take into
consideration as they keep on going on this path.
It
is in fact an approach to resolve the need through short-term response.
This is true among those who go on self-employment path. They may find
themselves in need of certain skills and they do not have a lengthy
period to go all the way to achieve that skill. They just need them
quick and clean to get thing moving in their business. This should be
what I want to say about quality of education in the tertiary
institutions of Cambodia.
District, Provincial/Municipal Elections – A Success
I
wish to reiterate my appreciation for the efforts made by every student
with the help of every family to have come this far and earmarked this
achievement. We all will continue to proceed as normal where professors,
leaders and ministries will continue to function daily in a normal
manner. I would speak about how things evolve in Bangkok when it turned
out there is this need to close down school for a while. In Cambodia, we
do not need to do that. We only need to close down during flooding
since it would cause damages to our country. Otherwise, it is business
as usual.
I
would like to take this chance to express my sincere appreciation for
the efforts made by all concerned for the smooth 15-day campaign and
successful district and provincial/municipal elections on May 18. In
days ahead, the National Elections Committee will announce official
results of the elections, after which the elected district and
provincial/municipal councilors will start work officially. I hope that
councilors of the new term from the non-universal election will continue
to work with municipal, provinces and districts governors in providing
services to our people. I am delivering from here my sincere
appreciation for the Cambodian armed forces, especially police and
military police for taking part in keeping order during the campaigning
period as well as ensuring a smooth process during the election.
I
also convey my appreciation to local authorities of all levels for
their active duties in this event though, as was noted, while many of
the five contested parties campaigned only among electors, some
extrapolated it into campaign procession with non-electors. They even
cause traffic jam with the procession of theirs. Well, it is freedom.
However, what has come out importantly is the electoral process, in
which those who have been dissatisfied with the National Elections
Committee have also accepted the existing electoral process. I am giving
no political message here. It is just bizarre that such thing happens
in Cambodia, not only in Thailand. All and all, I offer my
congratulation and appreciation to all contested parties in the
elections.
No Interference in Thai Internal Affairs
As
we all noticed the latest development in a neighboring country, please
allow me to take this forum to affirm clearly Cambodian position in
relation to the recent political development in Thailand. Firstly, I
wish to declare that Cambodia considers what happened in Thailand is
Thai internal affair. Cambodia will not interfere into Thai internal
affair. While the Thai army declared martial law at 3am on May 20, there
was a question from inside Cambodia to me (in China) whether the act
was good or bad? I responded: “it is peeling off a section at a time.”
My analysis has been clear that while declaring martial law, they
allowed the then Thai government to go on. Why would they declare
martial law, if they did not consider a coup? I told the person the coup
was coming only that it came in steps.
The
government should be the one to declare martial law and the military
would abide by the order. However, in that case, that the (Thai) army
declared martial law, why else the coup would not happen? It was on that
thought, I told Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, HE Sar
Kheng, to pay attention to the development of the Thai situation and to
refrain from any move to relocate armed forces at the border. The coup
would be imminent. It was only a question of when. I was in Shanghai.
When the coup took place, HE Sar Kheng issued a statement to the armed
forces and local authorities along the border to stay calm and nurture
normal contacts while prohibiting any troop movements.
The
civilian government in Thailand effectively toppled and the military
government replaces it. The question is what is our behavior? As is
affirmed clearly already our position is to consider that as internal
affair of Thailand. However, because we share the border, we must keep
normal relation with the Kingdom of Thailand, whether is civilian or
military. We have no choice. As of this moment, the military government
has the approval of HM the King of Thailand to justify the military
government leadership. Everything should be legal at the King’s
approval. Take for instance, after the parliamentary elections, in
Cambodia, HM the King will issue it a royal decree to approve it. There
would be nothing else.
In
Thailand, there would be nothing more than that too. After the coup, HM
the King approves the coup maker to the leadership. Nothing we can do. I
hope former Prime Minister Thaksin and former Prime Minister Yingluck
as well as Pheu Thai party would understand the position that Cambodia
is taking. When neither Thaksin nor Yingluck is Prime Minister, whom are
we going to work with? We have no other choice but work with those who
have secured the approval of HM the King.
Maintaining Cambodian-Thailand Relations
The
thing we need to do now is to maintain relations between armies and
police of the two countries along the borderline and secure business as
usual between people on either side of the border. I would call on Thai
authority to consider the best course of action concerning border trade
between our two countries. We are aware that the fact Thai is under
martial law and before the situation returns to normal, the border
passes between Cambodia and Thailand closed down.
I
am sure that will be provisional because the trade volume between the
two countries annually has reached a size of over four billion USD, a
major size of which is the Thai goods coming into Cambodia. The concern
is that the border trade is on hold for too long, it is undeniable to
foresee losses on the two countries’ trades, though Thai side sells more
to Cambodia. It is in this understanding that we have made it clear
from the beginning that we order no troop movement and maintain calm. We
never move our troops whatsoever anyway.
Appeal to Cambodians in Thailand
Secondly,
I am calling on Cambodian people who are working in or now entering
Thailand to abide by Thai laws. As there have no TV broadcasts in
Thailand for the time being, maybe it is a good idea for their families
members or friends on the Cambodian side to call or send them messages
advising them to respect Thai martial law for their safety concern. They
should keep themselves away from affiliation with whichever political
gathering but concentrate only on their jobs. The martial law of
Thailand this time covers the whole country and we have no knowledge as
to when the military government will remove it. Whatever it is I just
call on Cambodians working or entering Thailand to abide by Thai laws
and order.
Cambodia – No Place for Exile Government
Thirdly,
it is the most important point of all. There have been comments in
relation to this statement by Robert Amsterdam, a lawyer and advisor to
Thaksin, regarding the possibility of having an exile government, which
Cambodia could be one of the considered places for such thing. I have
not heard it from Thaksin or Yingluck at all. I only learn about it from
his lawyer Robert Amsterdam. My affirmation is Cambodia is no place for
any country or any group, whether Thailand or any other country, to set
up exile government. The Cambodian Constitution forbids that.
Information
Minister, HE Khieu Kanharith, already talked on this and the
spokesperson of the Council of Ministers, HE Phay Siphan, already
clarified this matter. However, in his comment in the Phnom Penh Post,
HE Cheam Yiep, member of the National Assembly, seemed to have
misleading when he said that would depend on Hun Sen’s mood. Otherwise,
there would not need to clarify the issue again. I must underline that
Cambodia will not allow its territory as establishment for opposition
forces against any given government of other country.
In
my analysis, not from my point of view as Prime Minister, I think that
Robert Amsterdam should withdraw this idea as it may lead Thaksin,
Yingluck and Pheu Thai party to danger. If I were Thaksin or Yingluck, I
would have denied it immediately. With the exile government to be
established, where will it stand and operate? Cambodia refuses and Laos
may surely do too. No ASEAN would do that. In Thailand, people detained
by the military have been released within seven days and in one or two
years, the new elections will take place. Well that is what I could say
as an analyst of the situation.
As
far as coups in Thailand are concerned, as soon as the country is in
stability, the military government would allow elections. If Thailand in
this case has two governments, consider who would work government in
Bangkok and who would do with the exile government? Well, whether to
establish one or not will be within their rights but as an analyst, I
would urge Thaksin’s lawyer to withdraw this thought.
The ASEAN Statement on Thailand
Arriving
back from the ASEAN Summit on May 11 to welcome HM the King’s return
from France on May 12, I discovered in the news that Hun Sen initiated
an ASEAN declaration on Thailand. Please allow me to give some
backgrounds to those researchers on ASEAN that draft of the declaration
was prepared by Foreign Minister of Indonesia, Marty Muliana Natalegawa,
in the ASEAN Senior Officials meeting in Naypyidaw, while at the time I
was on my visit to Belarus. The declaration at the ASEAN Foreign
Minister level did not gain consensus since one of the ten member
countries requested for time to consult with its leader. The said
country came back with approval but the situation in Thailand moved fast
that they did not issue the declaration.
While
waiting with President of Indonesia on May 11, there came this
situation in Thailand since we also had the presence of then Deputy
Prime Minister of Thailand, Pongthep Thepkanchana. The issue of
declaration on Thai situation came along and we discussed, in the
presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, whether the
declaration is still relevant. Indonesian Foreign Minister assured us
that he would work with the chair country and the country that asked for
time to secure its senior’s opinion. In the meeting, HE Thein Sein
invited head of governments to take the floor alphabetically. Malaysia –
the next chairing member took the floor first, then followed by Brunei
and Cambodia was third in line.
After
my speech, not written therein, I brought up what we talked about
before the meeting asking should ASEAN issue the draft declaration or
not? Why else they came up with this idea that Cambodia spearheaded the
declaration on Thailand. I have had to clarify things up, especially
when there arises this issue of establishing exile government. I have
not seen correction in the newspaper column but I think it is worth
ending it now./.