Your Excellency Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior
Your Excellencies Ambassadors to Kingdom of Cambodia
Your Excellency Hok Lundy, General Commissioner of the National Police
Your Excellencies Ladies and Gentlemen
Commissioner, Non-Commissioner, and National Police Force!
Today, it is my great honor and pleasure to join you all to commemorate the 62nd Anniversary of the Establishment of the National Police Force; which is being organized at appropriate time when our country is celebrating a new historical achievement, the success of the second commune council election. Moreover, we are organizing this event at the time when our people across the country are joyfully and happily celebrating the birthday of the King Norodom Sihamoni.
I would like to sincerely thank the King Norodom Sihamoni for chousing the 16 of May 1945 as the birthday of the Cambodia National Police under the Royal Sub-decree dated on 8 August 2006. This highlights a “proud historical event of the nation” because the “Cambodia National Police” was formed within the 5 months time during the first term of the independent government (18 March – 16 August 1945) and during the period when Cambodia had gained its independence for just 7 months (March-October 1945) after 82 years under the French protectorate ruling (1863 – 1945).
According to the executive summary report and achievements of the national police force, it reflected the establishment and heroic and brave fulfillment of historical mission for the causes of independency, peace, security, social order and county development. Through the report of H.E. Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, who just presented to the meeting a moment ago, it has clearly manifested the important of continuity or transformation of “Cambodian Police” agency to “Cambodia National Police” from 1884 to 1945. Indeed, this continuity is important as the “Cambodian Police” agency has strengthened its foundation for the duration of 61 years before the creation of the “Cambodia National Police”. In fact, within the period of more than half a century, may other units have be established, including the strengthening of the implementation of existing command and adoption of other measures to improve the efficiency and enhancing stability, security, social order as well as straitening political stability.
At the same time, we can clearly see that the establishment of police agency and its process can not be separated from the national and international events, social conditions, national and international economies. Within this context the technical units, mechanism and other measures have been created and introduced in order to respond to various situations. For instance, the creation of the Intelligence Police Force (A-3.86) in 1986 was a respond to cope with the changes in strategy of Pol Pot’s gorilla army that wage a partisan war against the government. Thus, the police agency at that time has a main responsibility to maintain the safety and security of the back front forces to create environment for the government armed forces to remove and fight with the large forces of pol pot’s army at the Cambodia-Thai border areas. Furthermore, the formation of police battalion, intelligence force, security battalion, and border area security battalion in 1989 which aimed at strengthening the forces in the battle field by cooperating with the Cambodian People Army after the Voluntarily Viet Names armed forces completely withdrew from Cambodia and also to strengthen and enhance the force on the negotiation table.
Taking this opportunity, on behalf of Royal Government of Cambodia and myself, I would like to express my most profound gratitude and appreciation to great sacrifices and efforts, to overcome every obstacle, made by the Cambodian national police force of all generation, who have made their contribution for the sake of peace, stability, security, social order and social development in Cambodia. Particularly, I would like to thank and compliment the police force which was established under the flag of the Khmer People’s National Liberation Front and have been rightfully contributed to security, order and preventing the return of Democratic Kampuchea regime, and retaining its role as local force in collaboration with multilateral forces during the UNTAC regime with strong will for high national interest and Cambodian people. Furthermore, our national police force has also contributed significantly to the strengthening of peace and security, which are the foundation as well as an important part of the covering environment in successfully implementing the policy programs including the Triangle Strategies and the Rectangular Strategies of the Royal Government of Cambodia.
At the same time, I would like to highly appreciate the great achievement made by the national police force under the leadership of His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, Minister of the Ministry of Interior, and under the direct command of His Excellency National Police Commissioner, General Hok Lundy, who have continuously helped to strengthen the national police force with quantity, quality and ethic, gaining credibility of people from all walks of life and wide recognition from friend countries all over the world.
For 123 years (1884-2007), except during the Democratic Kampuchea regime which last almost 4 years, the Cambodian national police force had made numerous activities and achievements with pride in keeping social security, safety and public order.
I would like to recall that for more than 3 decades, internal conflict and chronic war, especially, the Democratic Kampuchea regime had destroyed the root of our national police force. Just after the 7th January 1979 that every thing has revitalized. And the police institution have resumed and made progress till today.
At this point, I would like to reaffirm that after the national election in 1993 with the withdrawal of United Nations, even though the Kingdom of Cambodia was reborn, the internal war still exist in the situation that one country was divided into two zones and has two governments because Khmer Rouge was still fighting in some regions of the country and at regions adjacent to Thai border. At that time, Khmer Rouge was still firing and killing Cambodian people and foreigner, in addition they rejected not only the cease-fire agreement proposed by the Royal Government of Cambodia but also the new constitution. Let me remind you that, however, the government tried to compromise until having a negotiation in May 1994 at Pyongyang, the capital city of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
At the final stage of reuniting Cambodia, I had laid out the win-win strategy in order to accomplish the national reconciliation objective by guaranteeing the lives of those who defected from Khmer Rouge, their professions, property and immovable property rights through integration with the government. This win-win strategy has effectively responded to the benefits of those belong to the Khmer Rouge network as well as those people living in the Khmer Rouge zones. This has led to the collapsed of the appointed government and the military of the entire Khmer Rouge regime.
In this circumstance, the unit of police force was reorganized based on integration of force of former counterpart who jointly applied the Paris Peace Accord. This re-founded unit of police force is the only national police force of Royal Government of Cambodia that has played the core roles to maintain political stability, stability, security, safety and order of society, actively participated in national defense, sovereignty, territorial integrity, protection of constitution, strengthening rule of law, promoting democracy, respecting human rights, economic development, good governance, and endorsement for poverty reduction policy of Royal Government of Cambodia.
Obviously, for the causes of national security, the national police force has significantly participated and played key role in preventing every poisonous trick of potential foes who intend to break up the national internal solidarity and harmony with neighboring countries, which might trigger new war and destruction, particularly preventing the occurrence of terrorism on our native country. Furthermore, for the cause of tightening security, public order, although there are complicated subjects, which were brought about by impact of political stability, legal loophole and poverty of people as well as some personal and impersonal views, our National Police has overcome uncountable difficulties and complications in their duties to crack down all type of offenses such as crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and robberies as well as cross-border crimes and has protected many lives, wealth, safety and public orders of our people in the cities, urban areas and gathering places of politics, diplomacy, economy, tourism and culture.
To congratulate the 62nd anniversary of the establishment of the National Police Force and to keep its profound culture and legendary in the future, I would like to put up some recommendations for officers, non-commissioner officers and policemen as follows:
First, we have to continue to strategically strengthen the National Police Force to become a force with skill and modern equipment, with high responsibility, respecting the law and order, respecting human rights, truly serving the people according to policy of the Royal Government and contributing to the implementation of decentralization and de-concentration policy by building the management capacity at local level. Under this framework, administrative police post is an effective mean to maintain security and public order that contribute to socio-economic development and poverty reduction.
Second, continue to appropriately implement the roles and duties as stated in the statute law and discipline of the National Police Force. Must be honest to the nation, religion and the king and dare to take up all forms of sacrifice for the sake of our nation and citizen. Must continue to successfully implement the Royal Government’s policies including the Rectangular Strategy and the National Police Reform Strategy to enhance criminal justice system in Cambodia.
Third, continue to strengthen the political quality of every policeman through education on respecting national laws, disciplines and orders of the force. Put more efforts to minimize abnormalities among our forces to improve the confidence on Cambodia National Police Force from national and international publics. Continue to work on these areas at all units, from the local to the central level, aiming at assuring the culture of peace, enhancing the rule of law, improving the respect for human rights, democracy, morality and behavior that are suitable as being a modern and discipline force.
Fourth, pay attention on capacity building of the National Police Force at all levels. Organize, strengthen the framework and equip the police force with skill and modern techniques. Put efforts into building management capacity for the administrative police post as the core to prevent offenses, maintain community and local security. Indeed, to make good progress on these works, we have to pay attention on arranging a separate framework for teachers at Royal School of Policing and Regional School of Policing to improve the quality of curriculum and to provide incentives to those teachers.
Fifth, must pay attention on the making of rules and other standard documents which aimed at enhancing the cooperative management of the society by the rule of law and strengthening the cooperation of law enforcement institutions, for instance, Law on Policing, Law on Public Order Management, Law on Casino Management, Law on Technology Crime, Law on Peaceful Demonstration and quickly participating in the making of law drafts such as the Law on Counter-Terrorism, Law on Human Trafficking and Law on Sexual Exploitation on Women and Children etc.
Sixth, Ministry of Interior and the National Police General Commissioner have to cooperate well with relevant institutions, especially, the Ministry of Defense, RCAF General Commander and Commander of Military Police to crack down all offenses such as robberies, gangsters, homicides, extortions, drug production-use-and trafficking, human trafficking, and national resources destructions and help the customs and excise department, and the tax department to fight against smuggling in order to collect revenues for the national budget. At the same time, must put efforts into issuing identity cards to all legal-age people, enhance the management of weapons and control the use of illegal arms and explosives, prevent terrorist activities, the stealing of national heritage and to take action against cross-border crime aiming at improving security, public order and social stability.
Seventh, must help people with difficulties, especially, during national disaster such as floods, draught, fire etc.
Certainly, “to really love a nation is to love its history”. “Love its History” is to seek the clear understanding of the past of our nationality and “proudly uphold the history” of our people as well as to deeply inform the public by organizing the 62ndanniversary for the establishment of the Cambodia National Police Force. Such an event is a prideful action since it significantly contributes to nurture stronger sense of nationalism, strengthen national solidarity and unity that are the main factors for peace, prosperity and progress of Cambodia.
On behalf of the Royal Government, I would like to deeply thank our Great King Norodom Sihanouk, the Father King of Khmer, and the Mother Queen of Khmer who have exerted their physical and intellectual energies help the Cambodia National Police Force during the independent period and wish them with good health and long life. I would like to wish thePreah Karuna Preah Bath Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihanmoni, the King of the Royal Government of Cambodia with good health for the coronation and warm shade of Cambodian people.
I would like to pay respect and deep gratitude to Samdech Chea Sim, the President of Senate, and Samdech Heng Samrin, the President of National Assembly, who support the Cambodia National Police Force since its establishment till now.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to deeply thank the governments and police institutions of friend countries, national and international organizations that provided mental and physical supports for the establishment and reform of the Cambodia National Police Force so far and please continue to provide your technical support to further strengthen the capacity of the Cambodia National Police Force. Finally, I would like to wish all of you all the Five Gems of Buddhist Blessings.
EndItem.
