In addition to the prepared text, Samdech Techo Hun Sen gave following adlib comments on color revolution, instability in the Middle East, refugees, terrorism, etc.
It Is Time to Assess Color Revolution
A moment ago, HE President of the Senate of Pakistan raised a number of recently emerging issues. I would like to take this opportune moment to seek your opinion if it is time for an assessment of the so-called color revolution. As of now, where have those who initiated and those who aided and abetted the color revolution gone into hiding? Places where there happened to be war to overthrow (someone or regimes) by military means and/or color revolution, disguised under democracy and human rights, are now suffering severe devastation.
What have the people of Iraq benefitted from the removal of Saddam Hussein, or Ben Ali for Tunisians, or Muammar Gaddafi for Libyans, Hosni Mubarak for Egyptians. Who would take responsibility for the war against the regime of President Assad in Syria or that of Yemen? Who are responsible? Was it worth it to have tens of thousands lives killed just for the sake of removing one leader or government? It is now time to see if color revolution is acceptable. What should the International Criminal Court (ICC) do to those war chieftains? Bring them to justice or give them Nobel Peace Prize?
Aside from daily reported deaths in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, etc., how many refugees have had to cross the sea to get themselves to Europe? Europe has been hash on those people too. What responsibility should Europe take to help those people? These issues are for us to ponder on to prevent recurrence of such actions by individuals or countries.
Take the case of Cambodia for instance, in detest of Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, (certain elements) conducted a coup to remove him, the action of which brought about war, destruction and deaths. In between 1970 and 1975, tens of thousands of Cambodians died. In between 1975 and 1979, over three millions Cambodians died. We were able to put an end to war in 1998. We Cambodians have tasted wars. We need to have a door opening to peace. However, we are not narrow-minded nationalists.
That we have a meeting here today, a big family of Parliamentary Assembly in Asia, we should see that it is our responsibility to bring this issue to attention. For the moment of speaking, I think fighting rages in Mosul and other parts of Syria. People fled their homes in Libya, Syria, Yemen and others for Europe, who has its door shut. I am calling on countries in Europe to open their doors for refugees, give them appropriate shelters, works, etc. because they are the ones with responsibility for supporting the color revolution related US policy.
An International Conference on Anti-Terrorism
I think it is also time for us to figure out why terrorism does not subside? It has evolved from a small Taliban group in Afghanistan to Al Qaeda, and now to ISIS or IS. Where did they come from? We should discuss this too. In the ASEAN-US summit in last February in the US, I raised this issue asking should we have an international conference on counter-terrorism. However, no one answered my question. Now, from here, I am appealing for an international conference on fight against terrorism, which should embody reasons why there arise terrorism? Why some countries have become targets of terrorist acts? Why some hated not only some individual leaders but also their allies? In order to defend peace we must prevent peace destroyer from taking their beings. To keep peace, there must be no war-makers. We may not blame the countries in wars but those who colluded and interfered to make and support wars.
Speak Out for a Peaceful, Reconciliatory, Cooperative and Sustainable World
Well, I seemed to have gone far beyond our subject matter but I think that maintaining peace is encompassing everything – development and peace has dialectical relation. Without peace, there would certainly be no development. Without development, it is impossible to keep peace. Alleviating poverty is therefore an important reason in our efforts to prevent war and to keep lasting peace. In this moment, people of different nationalities are fleeing the Middle East to Europe and they are not legal settlers yet. I just heard days now that Turkey threatens to open the gates and send refugees to Europe. If that is true, I think it is a good point because it is indeed Europe’s responsibility for supporting the US policy in waging color revolution in the Middle East. They are obliged to provide descent shelters and works and not leave them deserted in the sea or keep them in dense camps like rats.
I have spoken the truth. I hope our foreign friends who have concerned themselves with wars in the Middle East and formerly the sufferings of Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos, must step out and accept responsibility. There would not be smoke, if there were no fire. Nowadays we seem to have sit fanning the smoke and do not extinguish the fire. Countries with ability to make war are not weak. We just blamed what has happened and what brought them up? Look into the case of Cambodia, why war came to our country. As to who had caused war, we have not actually spoken openly about it. Some did not dare to spit it out because they need those countries’ helps. For justice, no matter who that would be, (I) must dare speak out for a peaceful, reconciliatory, cooperative and sustainable world.
North Korea Nuke Issue, US Campaign Topics, US-Russia Reconciliatory
Well, also from this forum, I am expressing my deep concern on the North Korean nuclear issue. We have news, true or not there is no way to certify, that the leader of North Korea said he would fire missiles to welcome President-elect Donald Trump at his inaugural presidential ceremony. If it is true, it seems that firing missiles is just like making fireworks at any given ceremony. I may want to stress about the various topics campaigned in the presidential election this year in the US. They are worth having a look and studying. They had brought to light many issues – ISIS existence is whose mistake or responsibility, included.
I have no interest in interfering in the US affairs. Whoever wins the elections will become the president. It is a normal procedure. In Cambodia, 99% of onlookers bet that Donald Trump would lose. I could probably be only one person who said Trump would win. Well, winning or losing is problem of the American people. We would have to work with whoever wins the elections. I did not criticize Hillary Clinton as some people did. I see that it is now time that the US and Russia seeks reconciliatory term as the two countries’ tense relation has caused regional and world concerns.
I do not give my consent to so and so wins the elections. My comment rests on analysis of the relation of the two nuclear great powers – Russia and the US. According to what Donald Trump promised during the election campaign, I hope that the two nuclear great powers will move for rapprochement. I also understand that my voice would not cause dissatisfaction from outgoing President Barack Obama or conceded Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton./.
