Speech of Samdech Akka Moha Punnhea
Chakrey Heng Samrin,
Honorary President of the Cambodian People’s Party
to the Commemoration of the Party’s 63rd Founding Anniversary
Honorary President of the Cambodian People’s Party
to the Commemoration of the Party’s 63rd Founding Anniversary
(28 June 1951 through to 28 June 2014)
Revered Samdech Preah Akka Moha Sangha Raja Dhibdei, and
all Buddhist Monks,
Samdech,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Honorary National and International Guests,
Respected
Members of the Meeting and Dear Compatriots,
Formerly known as the Khmer Revolutionary Party,
established to lead national liberation struggle against colonialism and to win
Independence for the country, the Cambodian People’s Party is celebrating its
63rd founding anniversary on 28 June 2014. Since its foundation, the
Cambodian People’s Party adheres steadfastly to the ideal of sharing people’s
sufferings and unwavering sacrifice for the cause of the Cambodian nation,
independence, peace, freedom, democracy, neutrality and social progress.
We are celebrating this event to show our profound respect
and gratitude for the Cambodian patriotic combatants of every generation who
fought resolutely and scarified heroically their blood and life for the cause
of our nation and people. The anniversary celebration also coincides with new
achievements scored by the Cambodian people in all fields on the course of
socio-economic development in the first six month of this year, though there
remained some difficulties.
It is on this auspicious occasion that we would like to
express unwavering loyalty and profound gratitude to the most revered Preah
Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, and Samdech
Preah Mohaksatrei the Queen Mother, who stay as lasting cool shade for every
Cambodian. We are wishing Their Majesties strengths, intellects and longevity
to continue to lead the Cambodia ship to shore of prosperous progress and
peace.
On behalf of Samdech Akka Moha Thomma Pothisal Chea Sim,
Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Hun Sen, leaders of the Cambodian People’s Party
and myself, allow me to express respects and heartfelt appreciations to our
compatriots, whether they are farmers, workers, employees, traders, monks and
clergies of every religion and race, civil servants and the armed forces, for
taking part in the implementation of the political platform of the Royal Government
to further build and defend our motherland, and to improve the living standard
of the people.
Meeting Participants and Compatriots,
Over the past 63 years, the Cambodian People’s Party has
gone through various historical stages with pride of nurturing its brilliant
nature and tradition. The Party has led powerful national revolutionary
movement for liberation, which contributes a great deal to the struggle of the
Cambodian nation as a whole to secure independence from the colonialism leading
to the resounding victory in 1953.
As the country later fell into the abyss of genocidal
disaster of the Pol Pot-led Democratic Kampuchea on 17 April 1975, the
Cambodian People’s Party served as sole political core in the mobilization of national
forces under the banner of the National United Front for the Salvation of
Kampuchea. It also appealed for support from peace and justice loving people in
the world to overthrow the fierce regime and scored historic victory on 7
January 1979. The victory saved and revived our nation in a timely manner,
brought back the lost rights and democracy in the regime of Pol Pot to the
Cambodian people and ushered in a new page of history on the reconstruction of
the Cambodian motherland.
In nearly 36 years, after the victory on 7 January 1979, under
the leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party, the Cambodian people have gone
through various stages of hardships with successes and honor. They have created
numerous historic achievements that changes Cambodia from a land of destruction
by war and genocide to become a land of peace, stability and development in all
fields. Every Cambodian who went through the regime of Pol Pot and those of you
who were born after the 7 January victory have all reaped the benefit of those
achievements. It is true that peace, progress and hope that we have in hands at
this time are magnificent results of the solidarity of our people to overcome
obstacles and march steadfastly forward on a correct path. We all are
determined to strengthen and expand achievements while making further efforts
to build a prosperous future of our country.
Recent historical political developments that signify the
march of our nation are the fifth legislative term of the national assembly
elections on 28 July 2013 and the municipal, provincial and district councilor
elections on 18 May 2014, in accordance with the Cambodian Constitution and
laws, and in peaceful, free, fair, just and violence-free environment and
manner. Successful conductions of the two elections clearly show that democracy
in Cambodia has become stronger and expanded wider at national and sub-national
levels in the context of Cambodia. For the Cambodian People’s Party, the two
successful elections obviously ascertain that the people still need the Party’s
leadership role at national, sub-national and local levels. These will in fact
create favorable condition for the Party to continue to implement successfully
its political platform. The results of the elections also deny brags of certain
political party leaders, who always put into use their tricks of demagogy while
twisting the fact and creating endless complications through their attacks on
the Cambodian People’s Party.
Dear Meeting Participants and Compatriots,
It is now 11 months from the fifth legislative terms of the
National Assembly’s elections. The Cambodian People’s Party, mandated by the
people to continue leading the country for another five years, has fulfilled
its role and tasks with responsibility before voters and scored good results
one after the other in all fields, although the Cambodian National Rescue Party
(CNRP), which also wins seats in the National Assembly, has continued
boycotting up to the present. Taking actions that are contrary to the will of
voters, CNRP has denied the electoral results, defamed the legitimacy of the
National Assembly and the fifth legislative term Royal Government, while
inciting anarchic street demonstrations aimed at changing the Cambodian
situation according to their wills in contrary to the Constitution and aspiration
of the people.
They aim to bring Cambodian society into turmoil, state
into malfunction, foreign relations to weakening, economics to go down and
people’s livelihood to get harder in order to push the Cambodian People’s Party
into leadership crisis because of lack of people’s confidence. Their actions
created real difficulties at the start of the term for the Royal Government
that is making efforts to maintain stability and build the country in all
fields. However, those disruptions could not prevent the march forward of the
country since sustainability of the state and regularity of people’s
socio-economic life are firmly guaranteed. Thus, Cambodia has not been in any
political impasses. Starting the year 2014, Cambodia scores good results in
socio-economic development for the year 2013, while enjoying favors in its
relations with other countries and development partners. The Cambodian GDP for
2013 recorded the growth of 7.4% and in this year, we hope to realize a growth
pattern of another 7%.
In reality, in the first five months of this year, the
Cambodian economy appears to be in good health. We have guaranteed the
macro-economic stability, while ensuring a good stability of the financial
sector and noting progress in positive direction for other sectors such as
production, service, property, tourism, trade, labor, etc. The Royal Government
of Cambodia, led by Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen,
has taken firm measures to guarantee political stability, security and public
order based on laws and people’s participation that creates favorable condition
for the development and improvement of livelihood of the people.
The Cambodian People’s Party fully supports efforts of the
Royal Government of Cambodia of the fifth legislative term in speeding up
effective implementation of the Rectangular Strategy Phase III to realize its four
strategic goals. The four goals are to guarantee sustainable annual growth of
7% per annum; to create more jobs for people, especially the youth, to reduce
poverty at a rate of over 1% per annum, as well as those listed as the Cambodian
Millennium Development Goals; and to strengthen capacity and governance of
state institutions at national as well as sub-national levels.
In order to realize sustainable economic growth, improve
people’s living condition and strengthening social justice, the Cambodian
People’s Party is determined to continue implementing resolutely all reforms
defined in its political platform in a more rapid and efficient manner, while
considering that as the most significant job for the Party. In this spirit, the
Cambodian People’s Party supports efforts of the Royal Government in furthering
reform of the salary system in a consistent and equitable manner aimed at
further increasing salary for civil servants and the armed forces. The Party
also advances actions of the working teams to find out a good solution in
increasing a minimum wage for workers and employees in factories and
enterprises. The Party also furthers efforts of the Royal Government in
providing social concessional land to people without land for residences and
cultivation. At the same time, the Party appeals to people of every region not
to encroach upon and occupy land illegally as such action would cause
disruption to social order, sustainability of the natural resource and
socio-economic development of the country.
The Cambodian People’s Party highly approves the efforts of
the Royal Government and those of relevant institutions and all level of
authorities in receiving and sending home safely Cambodian migrant workers from
Thailand. At the same time, the Party appeals to our laborers to look for
information on jobs availability issued on 13 June 2014 by the Ministry of
Labor and Vocational Training concerning the provision of job-seeking,
technical and vocational training services. They should also refrain from
migrating illegally for work in other countries in absence of guaranteed
safety, interest and honor.
The Cambodian People’s Party drives further to raise high
democracy and human rights within the legal framework that provides real
interest to people of all strata, political forces and socio-economic
development process. At the same time, we oppose actions of parties or circles
that are disguising themselves under the banner of democracy and human rights
only for their own political interests. It is in everyone’s note that currently
leaders of some political parties and circles have preached well about
democracy, human rights, etc., as if they care for the interests of our nation
and people. In fact, they deceived our people and created numerous challenges
for the Royal Government and local authorities in various places aimed at
taking down the Cambodian People’s Party by all means, including use of the
so-called people’s power.
In this context, the Cambodian People’s Party wishes to
reaffirm its position in welcoming encouragement from outside to the process of
democratization in Cambodia as well as resolving internal problem of Cambodia,
however, it will not consider acceptable any interference into Cambodian
internal affairs. Cambodia used to be a victim and lost a great deal because of
outside interferences. They were painful experiences. It is on this note that
we will not allow rewriting of such history on our motherland.
The Cambodian People’s Party continues to expand faithful
cooperation with all political forces and patriotic circles aimed at
strengthening social harmonization while mobilizing positive perceptions and
actions from diverse sources into a common social movement for the construction
and defense of the motherland. It is our belief that every political party and
circle certainly understands the people’s demand and makes effort to increase
cooperation and understanding while continuing to do useful things for the sake
of maintaining and growing peace, democracy and national development.
At this point, the Cambodian People’s Party would assure
every Buddhist monk and Cambodian compatriot as well as the international
community that in order to resolve the post-fifth legislative terms National
Assembly’s elections political problem, the Party has made every effort to
advance negotiation with loyalty and true-will at all levels with the Cambodian
National Rescue Party. However, up to the present, the problem has yet to be
resolved as the Cambodian National Rescue Party utilizes the negotiation
process only for making gain in the public opinion and not for resolving the
matter. Despite this fact, the Cambodian People’s Party will continue to leave
the door open for negotiation based on the achievements made in the discussion
between Samdech Techo Hun Sen and HE Sam Rainsy on 9 April 2014. Any
forthcoming solution must base on the Constitution, the results of the
elections and would not lead the country to political impasse, as used to
happen in the past, once again in the future.
Dear Meeting Participants and Compatriots,
Presently, our nation is making its energetic and hopeful advancement
towards a bright future that is going to be in our hands. Peace, democracy and
development are not only the aspiration but also the truth in the making. It
will serve as a correct path to continue our advancement. Over the past 150
years, we had so little opportunity for national development. The rest of the
time was for suffering and shamefulness from losing dignity, destructive war to
indescribable tragedy. We cannot lose opportunity no more. We must hold on to
this chance for development by ourselves. Anything different to that would have
us placed in instability, division and poverty that no one would know when we
could liberate ourselves. This is the main reason. The Cambodian People’s Party
appeals to all compatriots and all political parties and circles, despites
their different political tendency, to refrain themselves from actions that may
lead to division and to join action under the Constitution for the sake of our
nation.
Originated from the people, the Cambodian People’s Party
loves our motherland and people over everything. Regardless of now or in the time to come, the Party goes
on binding with the people in peace as well as in difficult time. It is in this
spirit, I appeal to every Party’s commission of all levels and every sector as
well as officials to keep up the ideal of patriotism and loving people, to strengthen
solidarity and perform good deed, while refraining from actions that are in
violation of the Party’s principles and laws of the state. Those actions would clash
with rights and interest of our people. It is not just a matter of necessity
but obligation and determination for the Party’s success.
On this precious occasion, while expressing deep respect
and most profound gratitude for our compatriots in every corner of the country,
who have placed their trusts in the leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party,
the Party solemnly promises to overcome all difficulties to implement with
successes its political platform in response to the sacred aspiration of the
people.
Finally, I am offering the four Buddhist blessings to
Samdech, Excellencies, Lok Chum Teav, honorable national and foreign guests,
members of the meeting and compatriots.