Your Venerable Buddhist Patriarchs;
Your Majesties King NORODOM SIHANOUK and Queen NORODOM MONINEATH;
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
Dear Our Compatriots;
Today, people in the entire Cambodia are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Independence Day (November 9) with greatest honor and pride. This commemorative event is presided over by our most respectable King and Queen, – theirMajesties King NORODOM SIHANOUK and Queen NORODOM MONINEATH SIHANOUK. All of us are greatly delighted, because this event is being organized during the period that our country is enjoying full peace and social and economic stability, while the process of building the rules of law, the implementation of democracy, the respect for human rights and the development are being steadily strengthened and expanded.
Indeed, our efforts to claim full independence of our nation had been made not in one or two days, even not in one month or two months, or even more not in one year or two years! The struggle for independence of the nation requires highest level of sacrifices and commitments, and the combination of wisdom and flexible and artful leadership with political and diplomatic means.
In his Royal Letter, dated 14 October 2003, sent to his fellow Cambodian people informing them about his contributions in bringing full independence to Cambodia during 1940-1950s, His Majesty the King has indicated that the realization of independence from France in 1953 was “not only a result of his two year leadership, 1952-1953…”.
Indeed, the November 9 represents the date that Cambodia under the wise and determined leadership of King Sihanouk virtually reached the final and great victory, forcing the Republic of France to give up all power and authorities to the Kingdom of Cambodia, including the civil administration, judiciary, security, military, diplomatic powers and the internal and external politics. However, the struggle under the high leadership of the King had started in 1945. Thus, his leadership during 1952-1953 was just the final political and diplomatic struggle that leaded to freeing Cambodia and Cambodian people from French colonization thus achieving full national independence.
Under the his bright and wise leadership, King NORODOM SIHANOUK sacrificed his mental and physical strengths in a long struggle before and during his tenure, thus Cambodia could enjoy full independence free from the influence of a great power who had a strong political, military and economic power without loss of people lives and any territorial partition. This is indeed a historically courageous and respectable record for our children to learn and remember, using it as a lesson in their efforts to protect and build our beloved nation in the future.
Thus, it was a great luck for the Royal Government and Cambodian people that the King has let all of us know about his activities and leadership in bringing full independence for Cambodia during 1940-1950s, which was stated in his Royal Letter dated 14 October 2003 to his compatriots. This Royal Letter will serve as an important historical record for study by our children generations to go. The Royal Government has also published a brief history of his royal activities in bringing independence to Cambodia in order to dedicate this to the great achievements of our highly respectable King, His Majesty NORODOM SIHANOUK, provided to our motherland of Cambodia.
We all wish this “national aspiration” of the King’s activities be remembered and recalled in the memories and hearts of all Cambodian citizens, for the firm and long-lasting independence, integrity and sovereignty and development in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Independence Day (November 9), the Royal Government and all Cambodian people wish to express our most gratitude and appreciation to Your Majesty NORODOM SIHANOUK, the King of Cambodia, and to all the Dignitaries and Predecessors for your contributions to the cause of national independence, integrity and territorial sovereignty of Cambodia, scarifying all your physical and mental strengths.
All of us, the children and grant children, would like to wish their Majesties King NORODOM SIHANOUK and Queen NORODOM MONINEATH SIHANOUK the best wishes. We wish you longevity, good health and strength and wisdom!
I wish Samdech, Your Royal Highness, Your Excellencies, – the Presidents and the Deputies and Members of the Senate and the National Assembly as well as the members of the Royal Government and civil servants at all level, success in your endeavors to serve the nation and Cambodian people!
May I also wish the Buddhist Patriarchs and Monks and Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen and all the compatriots, the five gems of Buddhist Blessing!
May the national reconciliation, peace and development remain and last forever in our wonderful land!
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