Venerable Samdech Preah Akka Moha Sangreacheathipdey Tep Vong, Great Supreme Patriarch of the Kingdom of Cambodia,
Venerable Samdech Preah Aphisereysokunthea Moha Sangreacheathipdey Bou Kry, Supreme Patriarch of the Dhammayuttika Order of the Kingdom of Cambodia,
The Most Respected His Majesty NORODOM SIHAMONI, King of Cambodia,
The Most Respected Her Majesty Queen-Mother NORODOM MONINEATH
SIHANOUK, Cambodia’s Mother of Freedom, Dignity and Happiness,
Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei HengSamrin, President of the National Assembly and Lok Chumteav,
Samdech, Your Royal Highnesses, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen
Beloved Compatriots,
I am overwhelmed with heartfelt feelings of deepest gratitude andindebtedness to have a chance to accompany the most revered His Majesty NORODOM SIHAMONI, Kingof Cambodia and the most revered Her Majesty Queen Mother NORODOM MONINEATH SIHANOUKof Cambodia to inaugurate the Memorial Statue of the Most Revered His Late Majesty Preah Borom Ratanak Kaudh at Independence Monument Park to pay tribute to His Late Majesty Norodom Sihanouk, The Great Heroic King, King-Father of Khmer Independence, Territorial Integrity and National Unity and express our deepest indebtedness to His Late Majesty for his great personal sacrifice for the nation, religion and Cambodian people.
The unveiling of the Memorial Statue of Preah Borom Ratanak Kaudh is part of the commemoration of 1st anniversary of the passing of Preah Karuna Preah Borom Ratanak Kaudh, which will be held on October 15, 2013. Although His Late Majesty Preah Borom Ratanak Kaudhhas passed away, his name and good deeds will always remain in our heart and be the holy water for all of us.
On this auspicious occasion, please allow me to point out some of the great and historic achievements of His Late Majesty Norodom Sihanouk, The Great Heroic King, King-Father of Cambodia for the cause of the interests of the nation and his people during his lifetime. The late King managed to reclaim Cambodia’s full independence from the French Protectorate on November 9 1953, which marked the nation’s jubilant day and earned His Late Majesty Norodom Sihanouk the title of “Father of National Independence”. After having claimed independence for the nation, the late King then orchestrated a very successful stage of development of the country, under the motto of “Nation, Religion, King” in accordance with the principles of People’s Socialist Community (Sangkum Reastr Niyum). The late King also granted equal rights for men and women in the society and in Royal Government institutions from central to local level. During that period, the development of the social sector experienced remarkable progress in all places across the country, comprising of all levels of educational institution, hospitals, roads, bridges, ponds, canals, pagodas, factories, ports, airports and so on. Although Cambodia went through a period of destruction during wartime from 1970 to 1975 and the Khmer Rouge regime, many achievements of the People’s Socialist Community remains until today.
His Late Majesty was a hard-working King who loved peace and carried out countless work for the cause of peace in Cambodia, in the region as well as in the world. In particular, while Cambodia experienced internal conflicts in early 90s of the last millennium, the most revered His Late Majesty Norodom Sihanouk, The Great Heroic King, King-Father of Cambodia accepted the position as Head of State and presided over national unification and reconciliation process as well as national rehabilitation and development that gained Cambodia’s recognition on the international stage.
After the resurrection of the Monarchy and second Kingdom of Cambodia, all the Cambodian people were proud and joyous to be under the shelter of a King with tenfold virtues and brilliant wisdom who gave them great hope of peace building, political stability, national solidarity, national unification, and social development in all sectors and improvement in livelihoods.
Step by step, the Kingdom of Cambodia has been moving forward in the context of internal and external conditions conducive to the realization of such remarkable development. We have done and will do our utmost to follow through the path taken by the late King under the motto of “Nation, Religion, King” in order to protect the Constitution and strengthen peace, political stability, national unification, national reconciliation and development with both internal and external support.
Through the implementation of the national reconciliation policy and Rectangular Strategy of the Royal Government of Cambodia, we have garnered extensive support of our compatriots, either Buddhist monks or normal citizens, which is the vital determinant of the success of national development, protection of national revitalization and happiness of the people, protection of national independence and sovereignty, national rehabilitation and development, that resulted in the recognition of Cambodia from the international community. These achievements result from the grand spirit of solidarity of our nation which has taken root in all sectors in order to ensure the sustainability and progress of Cambodia under the brilliant initiative by the most revered His Late Majesty Norodom Sihanouk, The Great Heroic King, King-Father of Cambodia and Her Majesty Queen-Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk of Cambodia, in setting up the national unification and reconciliation policy. The most revered His Late Majesty The Great Heroic King, King-Father of Cambodia and Her Majesty Queen-Mother of Cambodia have always donated their wealth to build schools, pagodas, rural roads, ponds, canals, bridges, hospitals and so on, and to Buddhist monks and people across the country.
Their incomparable reputation and good deeds will be eternally remembered in our heart. The last message of His Late Majesty on 30 October 2011 that “May all the people who are my sons, daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren be united and live together in harmony….to show the world that we are truly united as one” has always been in my heart.
On this historic and auspicious occasion, I would like to dedicate the merits resulting from our deepest gratitude to Preah Karuna Preah Borom Ratanak Kaudh to wish His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia strength, healthiness and longevity to be the shelter for all of us and guide Cambodia toward prosperity.
May the Triple Gem, all sacred figures in the world, all Tevadas protecting Cambodia, especially the Tevada protecting the Royal White Umbrella protect and maintain the Kingdom of Cambodia, especially Her Majesty Queen-Mother of Cambodia to ensure her longevity, healthiness and strength to be shelter of all Cambodian people.
I would like to wish Venerable Supreme Patriarchs, Venerable Monks, Royal Highnesses, Excellencies, distinguished guests and fellow compatriots the four gems of Buddhist blessing: Longevity, Nobility, Healthiness, and Strength./.
