Today, I have come to check on the well-being of the workers at this military equipment factory. This equipment is not meant for aggression against anyone, but for self-defense. It can be said that for several months now, we have not imported materials to supply our army and police. We use what is produced here instead of imports, which are both difficult to obtain and expensive.
Production here helps solve local employment, ensures our own quality, and addresses various cost issues ourselves. I know that most of you working here live in Battambang Province, and some are former workers from Thailand. What we are doing here is part of the defense industry, to protect the flesh and blood of those standing guard over our nation and people. I take this opportunity to thank His Excellency [?] who has led this work on my behalf. I do not have a clear job holding the position as Senior General Logistician, but people have given me the title. I accept it, as it aligns with my responsibilities in helping the government with defense industry affairs.
Whatever I can do, I do. Right now, the results have emerged. We are not only supplying our army, police, and gendarmes. Our goal is to move toward exporting to countries in need […] (voice trails off) — but with confirmation from that country, to ensure equipment does not fall into the hands of opposition groups in another country. We cannot allow that.
Separately, this factory, I have commanded to buy at a cost of US$7.5 million. I still owe US$1 million. In the past, we bought from abroad — which was difficult, expensive, and plus transportation costs. Transportation is hard, because each set, including helmet and vest, weighs 8.5 kg. Sometimes when we wanted urgently, delivery by air could only bring in a few thousand sets. We need tens of thousands.
On this occasion, I thank various donors who have previously contributed to buying bullet proof vest for soldiers at the front lines. While I thank them, I also ask the military to recheck, because sometimes those vests were not tested. It is risky to use them without testing. (If it is below standard,) however, we can still use them like they can be given to family members. It’s our products that have the guarantees.
To be clear, the vests and helmets produced here — the Prime Minister personally shot at them to test the quality. We have already checked its safety standard. We will continue productions to supply the army, police, and gendarmes. Even counter-terrorism forces and online fraud suppression forces need protective vests, in case of any confrontation — so they have protection.
I take this opportunity to address a few people who criticized me a few days ago. They are outside the country. When I publicly apologized for insufficient preparation (for the war), they attacked me (on social media). You know Hun Sen too little. When I bought many military trucks and weapons, you said I wasted money on weapons. As you have seen, it is because of those weapons that we could ensure success in past battles. I am pointing out shortcomings in the preparation, including these vests. You need to understand. If you don’t know Hun Sen well, you’d better study more. If you don’t understand in this lifetime, you’d better study more in the next lifetime — then you will know what kind of person Hun Sen is.
Even for small matters, we must dare to take responsibility. For example, leaving soldiers, police, and gendarmes without protective gears — a shrapnel would not cause harm to (our soldier’s life) should they have bullet proof vests. This is a point for which I have asked for public forgiveness with full responsibility. So, this is a message to those few livings outside the country, outside the fence, that they should stop barking. If you were to keep on barking, you should have waited to see the results first. Cambodia has gotten an ability to do it. Wait and see how far Cambodia’s military industry will go in the future. This is my commitment as a responsible person in the country to helping the government.
All of you working here must pay close attention to quality. If there is no effectiveness, no quality, then it cannot be equipped to the military. Soldiers’ lives matter, human life matters. So, production cannot be sloppy. You must be clear about what types of bullets this product can withstand. I am sure, however, that we produce with sufficient standards.
From what I saw earlier, although we are not too modern, we have the capability to meet certain needs — both for front-line troops and various operatives who may need to use them. At the same time, we are happy with the progress. How many months have we been operating in total? Six months now. We have started production from small scale to larger numbers. We are not talking about hundreds or thousands of sets — we are talking about tens of thousands. With that progress, please tell those few heads abroad – it is hard to address you as “Excellency” or “Lok Chumteav.”
Since I have gone this far, let me announce that last night, a raid was conducted in Phnom Penh. I announce from this location, last night, raid number one found frozen meat smuggled from Thailand into Cambodia, reaching Phnom Penh. Investigations will not spare anyone. Now gather everyone from the driver to all involved along the route. That is why these things never end. Inventory in warehouses never runs out — it has been a year now. It keeps coming in fresh […] I tell Khuong Sreng, (the Phnom Penh Mayor), and the National Police Commissioner, to fully investigate all. Do not let any Thai goods enter Cambodia.
Thai said we secretly buy their goods. Who secretly buy whose goods? Frankly speaking, when goods arrive in Phnom Penh, they already treated us as if we stole them […] I committed in clarifying from Battambang City to Phnom Penh and everywhere – a stop must be put immediately, withdraw immediately, and (those involved must) find other work. Do not transport their goods for repackaging. We don’t know how dangerous those goods are to public health. There are some products still filled warehouses. So where do they come from? Round them all up, from drivers on up.
Leave some bosses for me to question personally. When I return to Phnom Penh, I want to meet those bosses face to face, one by one. Please tell me frankly “who did you pay? how did you bring Thai goods into Cambodia? what names are involved in Thailand?” So, we can publicize it to Thailand. Thailand is also looking for those smugglers. So, if we catch the smugglers in Cambodia, we announce their names to Thailand for investigation.
We do not need goods from Thailand. Let me say that outright. I instruct customs to inspect thoroughly — making sure that all these goods come via Stung Treng […] Now let’s follow the news, starting tonight at the Battambang border, I heard businesses operate from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. So, watch closely. Your Excellency Sok Lu, (the Governor of Battambang,) please check carefully. Hit them until their legs break. If they don’t listen to words — there will only be batons to speak. Normally, when we catch them, they resist. After beaten with batons then throw them in jail. That’s all there is.
My visit here is not for leisure. I came to inspect and meet with officials. But it also involves border issues. I want to thank all the workers who have come to work here, creating our own production. Not only that, Hun Sen will move forward to help the government produce other materials related to national defense and security. We certainly can do it. Cambodia once built Angkor Wat — so doing this is not beyond the ability of the this generation of Cambodians.
We will not let anyone look down on us, not let anyone insult us. We must have dignity and responsibility. I hope all of you will continue working here. Indeed, being a worker is not as easy as being a boss, but if we don’t work as workers, what will we do? Indeed, a worker inside the country is better than worker abroad, far from home.
Today, there are 248 workers in total. Because you worked overtime, I will give each of you 500,000 riels extra. Normally the factory closes at 4 p.m., but you haven’t left yet — now it’s past 5 p.m. I add 500,000 riels for overtime. For the three pregnant women, I have given each 1 million riels, and I even named the three babies […] So, remember the names —when you get home you may not forgot the name to tell the husband. I gave each pregnant woman one million riels — there are only three. For one disabled woman, I give one million riels. None of you should be jealous.
I thank Samdech, Excellencies, and Madams for attending (this meeting). I speak clearly to those few heads living outside the country who always criticize me. Just because I publicly take responsibility — and responsibility is not only about lacking weapons […] Don’t see this as a trivial matter. I must declare responsibility because I did not think through everything thoroughly before leaving the post as Prime Minister. Those people went on to take it out to another context. You may be sharp, but perhaps you won’t have time to meet me — either you will die first, or I will die first. Life is uncertain, but death is very certain. If you’re reincarnated, we will be meeting each other again in the next life.
While you don’t want to unify the nation, you want me to unify the nation. You want to topple the Hun family […] So, what do you want me to do? When I see one rising, I will put one down; when two are rising, I will put the two down — you only talked about wanting to overthrow me. So, do you think I will let you play around hitting me? I will hit you before you hit me. I won’t wait until I fell and then asked someone to “please lift me up to hit them.” While I still have strength, I will kick you down. Let me be very clear. These people cannot be addressed with few nice words. This is being broadcast live. You may follow it, then go out on to your radio, etc. Then when I have the chance, I will scold all of you again.
That’s enough for today. Thank you all, and send my regards to your parents, grandparents, families who have voted for the Cambodian People’s Party — please continue to vote so we that we will have more jobs. It is not yet election time, but the past has shown clearly that people here in Battambang voted for the CPP. They have voted since their ancestors’ generation, through their parents, to themselves. I hope you will all continue to vote for the Cambodian People’s Party. Only the CPP can bring peace and maintain peace — even in the case that we have border issues, Cambodia is safe internally, not a single bullet has been fired fighting each other.
Some countries in the region, frequently have bombs explosions, and/or fighting here and they fight there. Cambodia is not like that. In the past, people here were all worried about security from Pailin along National Road 10 to Phnom Sampov, Traeng, Bovel, and Ek Phnom — all war zones. Now there is no war. Only the CPP could achieve this. I wish all of you well — may you encounter only happiness and progress, along with the blessings of the Buddha and the fivefold blessings: long life, nobility, health, strength, and wisdom may never be parted from you.
Responses to Media Questions
Samdech Techo: I think this is not a big deal. Each country may not get confused. Some countries buy planes from other country, tanks from another — does Cambodia object? Some produce nuclear weapons and missiles — does Cambodia prohibit or criticize any country? That is their sovereign right. Building military capability like this is not a threat to anyone. This is part of self-defense for the army, or an army for combat. As for tanks, every country has tanks, and (in the case of Cambodia it is) not just 30 — in the past, we had hundreds of tanks. This is just over 30 (new tanks they see), and more will come — nearly 90. That is not a lot for the Cambodian army, which already has hundreds.
Let me clarify that Cambodia does not invade anyone. Cambodia does not threaten anyone, whether that country is strong or weak. Cambodia has no habit of invading anyone. Look at history. Cambodia never sent troops beyond its own borders. Cambodia has sent troops beyond its borders — only in one case – what for? To join the UN peacekeeping operations. That is the only time troops have gone beyond our borders. In the past, under French colonization, some Cambodians crossed borders to other countries, such as going to Algeria, Morocco, and other places as French forces. But they did not go as troops of a sovereign Cambodian state. As an independent sovereign state, Cambodia has sent troops only for the UN peacekeeping operations — never beyond its own borders for aggression.
There is no threat, I emphasize, and no country should criticize Cambodia […] We adhere to peaceful resolution — meaning we do not attack others, but if someone attacks us, there is no peaceful resolution with them. These tanks are not even 10% of what Cambodia already has. So, it is a very small, trivial matter — not worth saying Cambodia is “showing off tanks.” Normally, before taking tanks into battle, you test them. They have not even been testing yet — some haven’t even been unloaded from containers — yet suddenly reports say they have been deployed along the Cambodia-Thailand border.
Samdech Krola Haom, even though he is not currently in active service, but he has military expertise; Ke Kim Yan, former commander-in-chief — all are commanders. What kind commander would bring tanks in and immediately send them to the border? What for? Just to waste fuel? What would be the point? If necessary, we can mobilize, and it wouldn’t take long. But along the border, we already have sufficient capability to respond to new situations in case of further violations. We cannot just stand with folded arms watching further violations.
Cambodia still maintains a peaceful resolution approach through existing mechanisms as laid out in the ceasefire agreement — including border demarcation. Your land, you take it. My land, I take it. Let’s talk clearly. Cambodia threatens no one. Well, let’s give you the floor for some questions. Now, who wants to ask anything?
BTV: After Samdech Techo inspected the progress here — international standards and the achievements of Cambodian children – such as the protective plates, helmets, and vests — Samdech said that Cambodia’s ambition is not only to supply domestically but also to export abroad. Besides this, what other military equipment does Samdech see that Cambodia capable of producing for domestic supply and for export?
Samdech Techo: Regarding this matter, first we produce for domestic needs. But we do not deny the possibility of having orders from other countries. What we need to be clear about is that we need confirmation from the purchasing country. In the world — even in southern Thailand — there are insurgent groups. It would be unfortunate if our products fell into the hands of those in the south who are currently attacking Thailand, or to Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao, Philippines, or to the Karen insurgents in Myanmar. So, this requires clarification from the concerned countries. I believe Thailand will not buy from Cambodia, but we need to know — we must not sell it to the wrong people, allowing equipment to reach terrorists or insurgents opposing their government. We have capability; if they put an order, we will supply what we can.
Regarding other questions related to defense, I just want to confirm that Cambodia’s goal is first to achieve self-sufficiency. We are studying and investing in producing other items related to national defense. I cannot say what they are, however, they are means for warfare and national defense. We must have enough production capability. As long as I am still breathing — even after retirement — I will help the government in national defense, in supply logistics, in whatever we can do. Old in strength but young at heart — to defend the nation, defend the territory. You must not get old. That is all. Thank you./.