My wife and I are so happy to be here with all of our people to put into official use the Steong Mean Jei Bridge this day which is a day before the 30th anniversary of the January 7 victory. Phnom Penh was in fact liberated on January 6, 1979. This is my first appearance for 2009 after my speech on December 22 last year. I remember I was presiding over the inauguration of the Prek Jrei Bridge (not far from this one) on March 18, 2008 I took that opportune moment to inform our people of the Stoeng Mean Jei Bridge to be rebuilt … so as to relieve traffic jam problems from the fact that the bridge had been too narrow for an increasing load of traffics …
Why did I choose to make this bridge of Prek Jrei to be inaugurated on March 18? It was because I wish to review the date which 38 years ago the country suffered a coup led by General Lon Nol against Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, and from there the country was plunged into war and the Pol Pot’s genocide … Our regime uses March 18 not for making war but for construction and making new achievements … and the Prek Jrei Bridge of over 100 meters and 5000 meters road are the achievement to mark that day with … The road links Phnom Penh to the National Road 2, which people could travel to the provinces of Kompot, Takeo and parts of Kandal province.
HE Kep Chuktema, the Representative of the Royal Government for Phnom Penh (mayor) has put it rightly that effort to liberate our people from poverty has gained momentum, whereas road link is indeed playing a major role. In Khmer we used to refer to road as hope and I am sure we will continue to mean that for a long time to come…
I would like to share with all of our people here and in the whole country that these achievements are new on our fatherland, and they are here not because they are supposed to be or promised to be but because of our efforts … there were many Prime Ministers in example during the elections campaign last year. They made a lot of “if” statements for what they are supposed to do … As for me I have been doing things in concrete and I would argue that my way and the Royal Government’s way is to move in toad’s leap pace … and this is what we have achieved with that …
The bridge was supposed to be ready in 12 months but our efforts has made this bridge ready just in nine months despite the fact that there had been so much rain that we could not even ignite fireworks during the international new year … I have mentioned many times that the military engineering team is the core intervention force of the Prime Minister who has now possessed the skill to build not only dirt road in rural areas but also roads in the city with international quality …
In one of HE Khieu Kannharith’s remarks with the press that after this inauguration, the Sampeo Meas Island (Gold Ship Island) in Pusrsat province will be next … in fact, we have hundreds of achievements if not thousands, to inaugurate only that we do not have time to do so. I have reports from the Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology and from HE Kung Ieng, Head of the military engineering team of the Ministry of National Defense of their project implementations, what have been completed and what will be soon …
Because of border tensions with neighboring country we have sent units of military engineering teams to build up roads and bridges so as to improve access to the areas … May I take this chance to remind us of 30 years ago when at this moment our armed forces, with the support of the Vietnamese voluntary forces, crossed the Mekong River at Neak Loeung already and were on their way to Phnom Penh … to put an end to the Pol Pot’s genocidal regime … Leaders of the Cambodian People’s Party were in their third Party’s congress of only 62 members, who had laid down the leadership directives that are still valid up to the present…
This means that after the country established its National Salvation Front of Kampuchea, we have carried out the reorganization and reconstruction of the Party, which later we have the central committee and eight important persons were central to its leadership. At this time in that year, some areas had been liberated – such as Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri, Steong treng, Kratie, Kompong Cham, Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, etc. whereas others were being liberated but they were uncertain of their fates and lives … At 12:30 am, Phnom Penh was completely liberated but places like Pursat was liberated on January 14 – but we have decided to take January 7 as a common date of victory …
In fact I started building up armed forces since mid 1977 Samdech Heng Samnrin and Samdech Chea Sim took to the forest in 1978 after which we united to enlarge our liberation zone in Snuol of Kratie and Memot of Kompong Cham … We had our armed forces ready but we needed to set up our political movement and organization … I was then selected to be Minister for Foreign Affairs, a member of the Revolutionary Council of Kampuchea at the age of 27 – perhaps the youngest Minister in the world … But if I were to have no forces under my leadership, perhaps I would not be accepted to the fold … that is the historical fact …
Now we have one united Cambodian People’s Party and one Royal Government … the country unites and I also re-united with my family – which includes my wife and my son, who, sadly, called me uncle instead of dad … I suffered severe psychological impacts … That was life of a Cambodian leader … I had three people with me to start building up Ministry of Foreign Affairs … we had to collect plates and other kitchen utensils in preparation for up-coming foreign guest banquet, etc. Our start had been so hard … On top of this we were under pressures of external punishment, the attempt to return by other Khmer reactionary forces aimed at crushing our revival, while Pol Pot was recognized at the United Nations … that is our fact …
They did not give us development aid … The city was left in disarray while leaders of the Party like Samdech Heng Samrin, and myself had to go to the river to fetch water for home use … It is so good for some politicians here who have started their political careers with luxurious vehicles … I have watched a TV program which a survivor from Pol Pot’s time was interviewed. She reminded of all the things we all had encountered those days – three years eight months and twenty days …
The win-win policy put into practice in between 1996-1998 to put an end to the political and military organization of the Khmer Rouge has brought colossal opportunity for socio-economic development and I have pride to say that the past 30 years has been full of each and individual, family and social efforts. With the key and correct political leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party, and other Parties’ roles should not be neglected too, the country has evolved from various political and economic reform stages – from centrally planned to market economy – a grand opportunity has come to reality for the cause of national construction and development …
Based upon experiences, I have drawn a conclusion that in order to liberate our people from poverty, there have been two major points to consider – 1) there needs a correct policy of the leading political Party and 2) there needs the efforts by individual, family and community… At the present Phnom Penh as well as the whole country are making ongoing development …
… We started from having little to having more, and we are in the process of increasing 20% salary for the armed forces … In fact we have made increments annually only at a small rate unlike that was promised and supposed by opposition politicians … However, the rate of 20% has been maintained …
As we are here with the municipal achievements I would recommend to the Royal Government’s Representative to Phnom Penh – HE Kep Chuktema, to better the kindergartens in every Khan (district) in Phnom Penh and/or to transform them into both schools and children playgrounds … they must be kept for this purpose and I would not allow you to sell them … Repair must be done and excuse would not be accepted in leaving the vicinity and building dilapidated …
One more thing to talk about is that I encourage our people to put on helmet in protection of their lives when making traffic in the city… I notice that there seem to be about 50% of them using the helmet … it is for your own sake …
One last issue and I wish to beg Samdech Krom Preah for his pardon that there has to be a clarification here otherwise people might get confused … Samdech Krom Preah has been appointed chief advisor of HM the King with his honorary title as the Prime Minister …
I wish to make this point clear that it does not mean we have two Prime Ministers at all … The title is in fact honorary and only entitled to salary but not to have executive power of any sort …
… That means the title should not allow him to assign a different cabinet, assistants, etc. I am convinced that I have made the point crystal clear now …■
