In addition to the prepared text, Samdech Hun Sen addressed the graduates of Laws and Economics on issues of traffics and accidents in the capital city of Phnom Penh and the request for power offered to the Head of the Supreme National Border Council (SNBC)
… May I take this opportunity to speak to our new graduates of laws and economics on two issues that my reactions was anticipated. I bring this matter up today because of the audience and the place are right for such a topic to be discussed. First I would say a few words about public order in the capital city of Phnom Penh. About two weeks ago there was a remark that the city is plagued by traffic accidents because of the recent installation of dividers along the main roads. Let me have your attention here, not only the divider that is small, even the Independence Monument, which is huge and standing right in the middle of the roundabout was knocked in with sudden and far-heard noise of brakes. So, divider is not the cause of the problem, but driver’s behaviors and/or his drunkenness driving should be the guilt.
… In relation to this remark, I heard police Gen. Heng Peo responded to the Free Asia radio reporter that it was because of Samdech Hun Sen builds many good roads, while people also improve their living condition proven by their increased number of car uses leading to the jam of traffic everyday. If we were to have a situation like in 1979, when everyone walked instead of driving, we may not have a traffic problem like today. I would accept the responsibility of building new roads and creating an environment in which more cars are bought and used by our people, but I would not accept to keep our people living in the 1979 situation, which there were no traffics indeed, but also no food to eat.
… Let me now turn to power. Samdech Krom Preah (Norodom Ranaridh) and I have taken the efforts to propose for the establishment of the Supreme National Border Council (SNBC) with Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk as its Chairman. The proposal was then signed by HM the King Norodom Sahmoni, outlining clearly its role and duty. The National Assembly, the Senate, the three main political parties with seats in the National Assembly have been requested to assign a representative to the SNBC. It is absurd that in its meeting, some have requested for the power offer to the Chairman of the SNBC, I stress — not Samdech Preah Norodom, but some people driven by their personal or clan interests, who have demanded so. I was talking to Samdech Krom Preah twice on the phone clarifying this matter and to stress the importance of leaving the work to be done by the Government.
… This is Constitutional issue. Whether or not we keep the current Constitution, which I think is very well balanced by the fact that the King rules but not reigns, power comes from people through the National Assembly, or the parliamentarian regime. Taking political development in the country, despite previous stalemates after the elections, Cambodia always come out of problems without having had to establish a provisional Government. I would make clear to all that Cambodia would allow no provisional Government, and there will only be one formal Government, and it will continue to rule if the new Government is not yet in the making. Any move for a provisional Government is tantamount to a coup, which would bring about legal actions to be taken against immediately.
… This recalls me of a man who proposed to Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk to take power from Samdech Krom Preah, at that time the first Prime Minister, and me, at that time the second Prime Minister, while the man himself would take the actual leadership. This analogy appears to have resurfaced. One should go back and study the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, while refreshing all existing power system in the world. One may have to decide on three options – 1) should we keep the current Constitution as it is, the Constitutional parliament, liberal democratic and pluralism, and 2) should we suspend the current Constitution, the political parties, and all power will have to come only from the King, which to my mind is outdated, and 3) should we once and for all amend the Constitution, as I once said in Kompong Cham’s Koh Sotin district, and call for a new election. This option costs dearly as we no longer have the Kingdom or the King. This is the move to give power to the President. However, above all else, I would suggest that we keep on the Constitution, the Constitutional monarchy and pluralism.
… Well as is said the move was not initiated from the Chairman of the SNBC but from those driven by mounted interests. It is ridiculous to have come up with such a statement that Cambodia maintains only 120,000 square Kilometers, and the 140,000 square Kilometers. How could this territory be chipped away so easily? The map, as is said by them, shows no loss of land but it happened in reality. If they are that competent of where the land is lost, they should come and indicate to the Government the coordination on which the territory is lost. I have warned all members of the meeting that they should not make border issue a political contest.
… I would warn the power- and interest-driven groups behind this move to be cautious of their actions as I would not tolerate a coup at all. As for the land, Cambodia lost to its neighbors since before Hun Sen’s birth. Take for instance some of our land was traded for some women by Jaya Chedha II, what would they do on this count? As of now I have acquired more documents, especially the recent publication of the Cambodian history by the French protectorate in 1914. We all must take a good look into this publication to get the matter into light.
… May I humbly report to HM the King as well as the King Father who chairs the SNBC that what I have just said is basically responding to those ill-will people who would see their interest and power driven behind the call for power offer to the Chairman of the SNBC, because of which there could be some misunderstanding from the people in general on the role of the King Father. My only wish in this clarification is to get the Government free from repression by inappropriate use of influence of the King Father, which could lead to more trouble for the country.
EndItem.
