… First of all allow me to share with all of you some of the difficulties that happened and affected 5013 households in seven communes of the district of Dangkao. This natural calamity was unpredictable as it took place in early rainy season. I think it is an unforeseeable incident that could be an experience for us. It was because of this reason that right after the electoral campaign and the election period were over, no one could prevent me from coming to see our people after my absence over one month. I am showing up again today for the first time and I also make my address for the first time within the a fore mentioned period to the people of Cambodia all over the country, and especially our people in west of Phnom Penh as they had been affected by flood.
… Once again in the name of the Royal Government of Cambodia and in my own name, I wish to express my appreciation and gratefulness to the affected families and the Ministry of Water Resources as well as the authorities of Dangkao district for their efforts to overcome altogether all the difficulties. Though we had so many things to do while flood affected the area, an rescue operation was in fact organized in a timely manner and as you all could see that one tractor is still in water. This could be said the second time rescue operation since the first one in 2000, in which HE Minister of Water Resources, Lim Kean Hor, had requested my permission at midnight to break open the national road 2 at the Prek Roteang area. The action was conducted with an aim to divert flood disaster from the districts of Kandal Stoeung and Dangkao, and a small part of Angsnuol.
… We conducted a study of the water current very well in the flood time of 1991 from the western part of Phnom Penh and since then we had projected to raise fund for the construction of the flood protection damn along the canal. The dams were built with the Japanese Government’s counterpart fund and a part from loan from the Asian Development Bank. The Royal Government of Cambodia also used its counterpart fund in purchasing land from our people in order to dig it open and increase the width of the canal so that water could be channeled to the lake of Choeung Lorng. The dams have been used as both the protection of villages from flood and road access for villagers to outside. The dams have proven to be efficient but unfortunately we also have a bridge construction on the national road 2 because of which water could not flow as planned. The construction of bridge is nothing wrong, but the timing is…
… I am here today not only to give you a small package of rice, which is only an immediate response, but to tell you that we have to rebuild the dams for your long term interest. The dams should be of previous sizes and covered with laterite, and the request for enlarging and asphalting them would be taken for consideration against the Government’s budget. All I could say now is that the dams will also be a road connection around the city of Phnom Penh. It is a long term vision though. Our people in this area have given a good judgment between those who work and those who just comment. They know that making promises is easy, but keeping them is difficult and our people proved that through their votes recently.
… I wish to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to the people of Cambodia, the local authorities of all levels and the Cambodian Armed Forces for taking my appeal into account from before the electoral campaign through to the voting and ballot counting days, making the general election going in calmness, which has been satisfied by our people and national and international observers. Various countries like India, Japan… issued their remarks already that the election was conducted in a free, fair, just, violence-free, transparent and acceptable manner. One behalf of Samdech Chea Sim and Samdech Heng Samrin and leaders of the Cambodian People’s Party, I would like to publicly thank members of the Party and all of the Cambodian people for casting their votes for the Cambodian People’s Party, and for the approval of Hun Sen’s candidacy for Prime Minister in the next term.
… Though the official results have yet to be announced, but the preliminary results had proven already that CPP is taking unassailable lead in communes, districts and provinces throughout Cambodia. CPP will not only maintain its 64 seats but get over 70 seats in the National Assembly. However, we will wait for the official results that will be announced by the National Election Committee between August 15 and September 07. CPP won 51 seats in 1993, 64 seats in 1998 and now we may add up to over 70 seats. This implies that CPP will continue to be the leading party and myself Hun Sen is its only candidate for the post of Prime Minister. The elections have been conducted. It is now NEC’s role in fulfilling the remaining duties as the Royal Government will abide by its role of keeping public order and providing NEC with fund only. The Constitutional Council also will have a role to play in matters concerned. For the period between now and the formation of a new Government, or the swearing in of new members of the National Assembly and the swearing in by the new Government, I wish to appeal to our people to continue to stay united for the sake of keeing security, social order, while making efforts in cultivation.
… All 22 contested parties have had some votes, if not many, and this means that our people from all corners have expressed their rights and I am glad to see that our people in villages, no matter which party they may vote for, have maintain their coexistence in peace. Let’s leave the politicians work with one another despite the fact that they did a lot of cursing. So all political parties should practice the sportsmanship by giving due respect to the will of our people and should not underestimate their will. I heard and our people heard call for changes and I am saying yes we have changed from the second term Royal Government to the third one, and I am the elected Prime Minister. But there have been some comments that I wish to explain to our people on the basis of constitution and laws.
As far as election matters are concerned, it is the mandate of NEC and the second term Royal Government of Cambodia to continue to be in power. After what has been done by NEC, it is going to involve HM the King’s role because the first National Assembly session has to take place, according to the constitution, within 60 days at the latest after the election, under the presidency of HM the King. So I am sure that HM the King would not prolong the constitutionally required time for such a meeting. Thereafter, a Member of the National Assembly, the most senior in age, will convene a meeting to select President and Vice Presidents of the National Assembly.
… Instead of thinking about this, some politicians are thinking about the creation of a coalition Government, and they have claimed to create one without Hun Sen. I used to know that the winner will set a standard for the losers, but this is on the contrary. It is strange and probably a “Cambodian-style” democracy. Taking this matter into consideration let me declare that I will set up a coalition Government only with two political parties and I will choose a party that is sincere. Which party (to join with CPP in the coalition) I have in mind already, but I am not saying it out now as I am waiting for the National Assembly first session to take place. If some MPs do not join the meeting convened by HM the King, they would lose their privileges because they would retain or possess them only when they come to the swearing ceremony or they would not be validated. So they risk being stripped off the old privileges and get no new ones.
… Also relating to this matter I learned that there has been a suggestion for a provisional Government. I wish to respond that any attempts to set up a provisional Government is tantamount to a military coup and I warn that in Cambodia, not just days, months or years or even decades or centuries to come, according to our constitution, absolutely we will not allow for a provisional Government to take place. The constitution reads “the current Government continues its work until the new Government swears in.” I wish no politicians are deceitful on this issue. In 1998 when we could not form a new Government, the old government continued its work for a few months with HE Ung Huot then being the First Prime Minister.
… So in this situation, if I am not mistaken, I would go on to be Prime Minister until there will be a new one coming, and it will be me – Hun Sen will be Prime Minister of the current Government and also of the new one. Or we will have a new National Assembly but old Government. Next week I will convene a Cabinet meeting of the Royal Government as usual and I am sure that all its members will report to the meeting. Of course we would not be able to introduce any amendments but we still have the power to make decision and rule by sub-decree. May all Government employees go back to work and abide by the Code of Conducts for the Government Employees.
… One may ask whether Hun Sen would resign. I wish to make clear that I will not do so because the people voted for (my party and for) me to be Prime Minister. My candidacy has been declared since 1998, again in 2002, in January 2003 and again in April 2003 at the CPP Congress. Nothing could change this and I will not resign as well. One may ask if I do so because I love power. My response is “no” but I have been re-elected by the people. If they say I am clinging to power, I would ask them “aren’t they doing the same?” Some have even proclaimed themselves as Prime Ministers while not winning the election yet…
… I wish to appeal to all CPP members that they go on with their works and should not wait till 2008 to start again. We should apply the method of training soldiers in five years for a battle of just one day. From now on CPP has to stay by the people and go right to their work fields. Ill intention to force Hun Sen out of power by the so called “people power” like in some countries would not work because I have the people’s supports. Giving away power is a betrayal of our people’s confidence. Whether a new or the same Prime Minister is not anybody else’s affairs as only the Cambodian people could decide…
EndItem.
