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(1) Once the secular world deteriorates, the Buddhist and religious worlds crumble
(I have always emphasized regarding) the relationship between Buddhism, or religions, or in other words, the secular world and the Buddhist/religious world. They cannot be separated. The connection here is profound. I should recall that in my leadership for nearly four decades, as Prime Minister, along with various other roles in the government since 1979, I have always adhered to the complementarity role between the Buddhist world and the secular world. One can observe that whenever the secular world is shaken or weakened, the Buddhist world will also crumble. For example, during the Pol Pot era, when the country was shaken, the genocide occurred, that was not only dangerous for the state, but also for the monks. Not only the monks in Buddhism, but also in Christianity and Islam, as well as other religions, were also destroyed […]
(2) The Cambodian-Thailand border war caused suffering not only to the people, but also to the monks
When there were problems in the past […] not only the state and the people faced difficulties, even the monks lacked food. When the people faced difficulties from floods and droughts, the monks also did not have good food. However, if the people were prosperous and the state had high income, the monks also had good food, and the monasteries also participated in building the monks residential buildings in the monasteries […] When the Cambodian-Thailand border war broke out, it was not only the people who suffered, even the monks (also suffered) because the bullets did not know the monastery. For example, while monasteries were hit by bullets, the monks also faced difficulties and had to flee […]
Selected adlib remarks of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, the highest representative of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, at the opening ceremony of the “33rd National Buddhist Monks Conference”
(3) Citizens with education, good virtues, and morality, making society easier to govern society
This point must become a philosophy topic that the Royal Government must focus on fulfilling. The state can invest in the religious sector by providing all kinds of assistance for religion to develop, such as promoting/increasing schools related to general knowledge as well as the religious sector. What does the state get in return? […] No religion in the world or in Cambodia educates Buddhists to commit sins. If citizens are educated, citizens have good virtues, and good morals, then it is the best time to complement each other (that) the state invests in Buddhism and religions, and those religions also contribute in return to educating morality, virtues, and good deeds for citizens. This makes it easier for the state to govern society […] This is what I want to emphasize about the dialectical relationship and/or so-called spiral, which are related and complementary to each other, by way of the state helping the religious sector, and the religious sector provides help in return for the state to govern society easily because people are well educated in the religious sector […]
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(4) The Royal Government has always wanted safe villages and communes
As the representative of HM the King, as the President of the Senate, and as the President of the ruling party, I would like to share my opinion regarding the participation of the religious sector through education. Since the previous mandates, the Royal Government under my reign, when I was the Prime Minister, Samdech Kralahom Sar Kheng was the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, until now, our goal has been to have safe villages and communes. This is the point where the Buddhist monks and all religions can help by raising awareness among the people, because the Buddhist monks, as well as those in other religions, are settling in the villages and communes […] In Cambodia, the majority are Buddhists. Some Christians and some Muslims also have set time to go to temples and monasteries. I would appeal to all monasteries and temples, both Islamic and Christian, to please advise (their devotees) to avoid debaucheries (in order to) create a better situation (for) all the people involved in the goal of having safe villages/communes […]
(5) The Buddhist monks and the general public contribute to the people’s national defense
Again, I continue to call for support for the Royal Government in establishing and implementing the people’s national defense foundation. Cambodia has been implementing it since the beginning. The people’s national defense foundation means that the task of defending the nation is not the army’s alone, but it requires contributions (from the people), where, in the past, this contribution has been very significant […] From here, I would like to thank all the monks, all the monasteries, and the general public who have participated in supporting our armed forces in the field of national defense. Various subsidies have been provided to the frontlines, including the provision of equipment to support the security of the army, such as bulletproof vests, etc. […] When the nation is facing loss, the nation is violated, religion is also being violated. Therefore, I continue to call for participation in defending the nation […]
(6) Cambodia wants peace and preserve what the past left behind with proper rules
We only want peace. We do not need to invade anyone. They have accused us of wanting their land. The Cambodians have lost so much land already in its past. (We just want to) protect that much that is left […] What the past left behind with proper rules is what we can preserve. We do not need to expand our territory. Some have wanted us to go and fight for Koh Tral and Kampuchea Krom, and some want us to take back provinces in Thailand, and some want the land back from Laos. But those people only shout from outside the country […] What we need is national defense. Recently, as Your Excellency, Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen are already aware, the situation on the border has been fluctuating […] and about (the incident) where our people were shot dead, these people did not condemn those who shot our people dead, but instead condemn the government […]
(7) Law on the Organization and Conduct of the Cabinet: “The Prime Minister Leads Domestic and Foreign Policy”
The generation (of us here), who have been in power since 1979, all know their roles very well – where to speak, where not to speak. That we have withdrawn from the government, should I speak for the Prime Minister? If we speak for the Prime Minister, what do we need to organize the Prime Minister for? The Constitution clearly states, especially the Law on the Organization and Conduct of the Cabinet: “The Prime Minister leads domestic and foreign policy.” So, Prime Minister has the role (to conduct both domestic and foreign policies, and in this sense,) Prime Minister Hun Manet has fulfilled his role in contacting President Donald J. Trump […] In relation to the government’s strategy, I think it is correct, and I even posted a message saying that this is the “early harvest” of the “quiet but not idle” strategy. The government is not sleeping. The Cabinet just doesn’t talk. It is not something to rush […] those people may be quick to insult. We would not boast about what we are doing, but we have the right to defend ourselves […]
(8) A ceasefire and a peace declaration between Cambodia and Thailand have been reached
For example, in the case of Prey Chan village, Banteay Meanchey province, there were those who wanted us to immediately return fire. Let us think, if we return fire immediately, what would the result be? Please help answer this question? […] We did not respond because we have reached the stage of a ceasefire that must be respected. That’s the first reason. Secondly, we reached a peace declaration between Cambodia and Thailand, which Malaysia, the United States, and China have heard about and friends in the world have heard about. They are watching. If we overreact, it will become what is called a verbal conflict. So, we adopt the strategy of “quiet but not idle” […] In a while, I will have DSS brand (bulletproof vests) manufactured to equip the army and exported, if need be […] We are not afraid of fighting, but if we fight, what will be the result (other than) destroying the ceasefire agreement, destroying the peace declaration. Is it worth doing? […] We must find a way to strengthen (effective implementation) to protect safety. We are using these vests for the safety of the army […]
(9) The goal is to return peace, build and repair good neighborly relations
In the past, some people took the slogan “We thank peace” as a joke. Only after the outbreak of war did they realize that the slogan is not that simple. Let us not wait until peace is lost to cry out. We must protect peace. Even though the conflict is occurring in a small part of the territory and time, it still affects the entire country. If we look at the conflict, it is very small comparing to the whole peaceful territory. The time and the inconvenience have been short and in a few small places comparing to (peaceful time and activities that we have) 24 hours a day. Even just like that, it creates problems that concern those in the rear. What if the peace in the whole country is lost? […] Our goal is to return peace and build and repair good neighborly relations. Now, many mechanisms are in operation, for example, the JBC Border Committee is taking measurements of the border area […]
(10) A message for Thai leaders, whether civilian or military: “Cambodia does not ask Thailand to open the border crossing”
As they have the right to speak […] I also have the right to explain to the people about the position of the Royal Government. Sometimes I speak on my own behalf. Perhaps Your Excellency and Lok Chumteav, and the people have followed my messages […] regarding this issue of opening the border crossing. I have said it before. That was from the previous government (of Thailand). The previous acting prime minister (of Thailand) talked about opening the border crossing […] Since Thailand closed the border, Cambodia has never asked for it to be opened, and Thailand may close it for another 100 years. Cambodians will not die […] I posted on Facebook that “Thailand may close its border (with Cambodia) for another 100 years or 500 years” […] I am absolutely opposed to any request from the Cambodian side to open the Cambodian-Thai border. They are the ones who close it. We are not the ones who close it. Why should we beg them? Let me send a message to the Thai leaders, whether civilian or military, that “Cambodia will not beg Thailand to open the border crossing” […]
(11) What Thai investors produce in Cambodia “must be protected, maintained, and considered ours”
Cambodia needs to strengthen its production capacity for local supply and find alternative markets to the Thai goods […] However, let me say one thing. Don’t go too far to even deny Thai investors produced goods in Cambodia, and refuse to buy them […] They produce goods in Cambodia, like CP, chicken, etc., we consider them Cambodian goods, let us buy eggs from it. Do not go too far […] I have always warned that what Thais invest in Cambodia must be protected, maintained, and considered ours. Our locally produced goods are our goods. Every day, PTT does not sell oil imported from Thailand. PTT sells oil from Malaysia and Singapore, why no one fills it. That’s wrong … Both sides are playing the same loss-lose game. By the way, Cambodia jumped low. When falling back, it didn’t hurt much. They jumped higher. When falling back, it hurt a lot […] According to figures recorded by customs in 2024, the trade volume between the two countries was over six billion (dollars), of which Cambodia exported 1,100 million to Thailand, and Thailand imported 5,400 million to Cambodia. So, Thailand has a trade surplus of over four billion. Who loses and who gains? […]
(12) “Let Thailand confront the US President and the ASEAN Chairman”
The whole world and all the other powers such as the US, China, ASEAN countries know […] That the Thai side tore up the statement and announced that it would stop everything, let Thailand do its own thing and confront the US President and the Malaysian Prime Minister who is the ASEAN Chairman. Cambodia will not take the blame for others or make up for others’ mistakes […] They may need to know (Prime Minister) Hun Manet clearly […] Everything is the role of the Prime Minister, in short, all the veteran leaders here have handed this job over to the leaders who are in the current government. They always report to the Party Chairman/Vice-Chairman and the Standing Committee about the principles to be adopted. When it comes to actual implementation, the Prime Minister is the one who does it […]
(13) Cambodia has not yet revoked anyone’s nationality, but will do so if it reaches the limit
Do you want more war or peace? Some say “land has been cut in exchange for peace.” The Prime Minister has already clarified that there is no agreement that talks about land loss … The key points of the ceasefire is to mobilize no troops and/or add no troops […] and the joint declaration of peace is reducing heavy weapons, demining, suppressing the Internet scams […] Demining must be done together. You cannot go alone and spread the barbed wire and set up occupation. President Donald J. Trump and Manet talked about it […] Let us not misunderstand that “there is land cut in exchange for peace.” No, there is no such thing. Otherwise, there is no need to fight […] Let me also advise – whether it is a monk or a layman, do not make (unconstructive) comments (in social media) […] you may be free if you are outside the country, but you are not free (if you are) inside the country, let me warn you. This is not a dictatorship, when you insult and demoralize the army. So (this) is an act of incitement, and some of the acts are treason. Up to this point, we have not revoked anyone’s nationality, while Thailand has already revoked the citizenship of two people […] In the world, almost 80% of countries have laws to revoke citizenship. Up to this point, we have not revoked anyone’s citizenship, but it will reach that level if it is done to that extent […]
(14) Unable to go on with regional connections is not due to Cambodia’s actions
Regarding the inability to work for the connectivity, in every meeting, whether it is the Mekong Sub-region or ACMECS or GMS CLMV, ASEAN, East Asia or the whole world, always talks about the connectivity […] (the fact that connectivity is not possible) is not the action of Cambodia. I hope that the return to peace is a path towards win-win activities. In the past few months, we have been in a lose-lose situation. Cambodia loses. Thailand also loses. The people have faced difficulties, displaced in addition to lost trade […] The Cambodian market, the volume of trade imports from Thailand to Cambodia is not small. Let us say five billion (USD) per year – for Thailand (as a country) is small, but for the Thai people, who lose because of the loss of vegetables, and fruits or products to bring to Cambodia, it is not small […] Let us trust the Royal Government of Cambodia. Let them do their job, and do not incite the government to use weapons as it will not bring any benefits. Now we need negotiations, and the negotiations have reached the highest level already, with major powers coming and signing the documents […]
(15) Strengthening national defense for the sake of everyone’s happiness, and strive to regain the lost peace on the Cambodian-Thailand border
I am not speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister, but I would like to appeal to you to continue to support the policy of strengthening national defense for the sake of all people, for the sake of everyone’s happiness, and strive to regain the lost peace on the Cambodian-Thailand border through actions towards and supporting peace. Please do not hold back on the words “we thank peace,” which have been taken as a joke. Now it has become a reality. They are making fun of the Prime Minister’s words “quiet but not idle strategy”. I am just pointing out for you (to see) one thing: before fighting, during fighting, and after fighting, did our troops have enough bulletproof vests and helmets? We are negligent because we think there were going to be no war. Now we have more than enough […]
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(16) Taking and holding Cambodian soldiers hostage after the ceasefire came into effect is uncivilized
(Regarding) the capture of our 18 soldiers a few hours after the ceasefire (came into effect), I consider these brothers to have already sacrificed their lives for the nation. Of course, they (the Thai side) will use this issue to exchange this or that matter. Those brothers of ours really understand, and their families really understand. They (the Thai side) will definitely try to connect them to this or that matter. Where is international law? Vitit Muntarbhorn, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Human Rights, who is a Thai, has not said a word […] Wars always involve the exchange of prisoners of war, but this capture of our soldiers took place on our soil and after the ceasefire came into effect, and taking them as hostages […] I consider these brothers to have already sacrificed their lives. There is no such thing in the world where a nation pretends to be a civilized and takes hostages for exchange (them to this or that). This is not a hostage situation. Our brothers are too gentle. They (Thai soldiers) came and shook hands, and asked for a photo. They then arrested them at gunpoint because they believe fighting had stopped […]./.
