Samdech Hun Sen and Madame visited one of the former royal cities of Cambodia – the city of Sanlob Prey Nokor, historically believed to have been constructed and ruled under the reign of the former King Sdech Kan or Preah Srey Jeddha, who was born an outcast, in the 16th century. Samdech ordered the restoration of walls and water reservoirs of the former city of Sdech Kan and gave his views on historical facts in that period and related them with the current political development.
Last Thursday I know there was a religious ceremony to ask permission from spirits of other world, especially the soul of the former King Sdech Kan or Preay Srey Jeddha, and others for the restoration aimed at conserving in development this area of the former city of Sanlob Prey Nokor. I have a memorable history with my wife in this area as well. Some of the senior CPP leaders had been passing or living in this area during the time of the struggle. After marriage, my wife and I had been separated for two months before we met again in this area. Many songs with lyrics describing about life of a woman in separation from her husband have been written. My story in those days was not less pitiful than that of King Sdech Kan.
Let me first talk about what we want to do to this historical site. First of all I would like to set up a commission to be in effect immediately with HE Lim Kien Hor as chairman and HE Nut Narang and HE Chuch Phoeun as deputy chairmen and some officials as members. What we are looking for as the first move is to provide irrigation system which would bring water for cultivation activities within the inside area of the former city or palace which covers an area of 213 hectares and of almost 2000 hectares in the vicinity. The first step to take is that we will rebuild the wall or fence of 519 meters over the total length of 9343 meters, at seven meters high. Second, we will restore the water reservoirs around the palace and as having looked at them from the helicopter I have seen that three of them have been shallow and needed restoration. People working on the land belonged to the state will be compensated so that the areas of the reservoirs would be redeemed for restoration. The local authority should try to find land for them to swap, and in case of need, cash will also be given.
Third, we need to dig a canal to let the water into the reservoirs at the total length of 2750 meters – 6.8 meters width on top and two meters width at the bottom. Fourth, we will need to make another canal for relieving water pressure and damp at the total length of 4 thousand meters. It could be considered not only water relieving channel but also an irrigation system. Fifth, we will have to put in two new water gates at the waterworks at the point of Bak Ai. Sixth, we will implant two water gates in existing water system aimed at increasing the level of water to flow into the reservoirs. Seventh, we will build a water system that extends water current from the canal and places two lines of .80 centimeter pipes of 650 meters. Having done this work, our people will continue to be able to till their rice field as pipes are covered deep in the land. This means an open canal is not necessary.
Our second move is to continue to restore and dig the 300 meters canal January-11 together with a number of water regulatory and control mechanism. This should the first thing to do in the second move. The second thing to do is to dig the canal of Kroham Kor together with a number of water capture systems that would collect water from the area of Oreang Ov toward addressing water need in the vicinity of the city area. I think we have a long-term involvement here. From now to 2008, when the general election is due to take place, and if I were to be re-elected, as CPP already approved my candidacy, I would stay as Prime Minister till 2012 and I would be 60 years of age.
While implementing these projects, I wish to have the attention of our project leaders that because of historical data we had, this area had been a fierce battle and all sides of conflict had been using canons, care and consideration must be exercised when excavating any of them. We had some in the former city of Udong Veang Chas. I have invited HM the King Preah Borom Neath to visit Udong because it was his great grandfather who built and ruled the kingdom from there. Any weapons foundd must be taken care of and they should not be brought to Phnom Penh but reserve them here in Prey Nokor. According to historical records kept by the French, the Cambodians, etc., HM the former King Preah Srey Jeddha ruled the Kingdom, at least in his part of kingdom, in prosperity and peace. It should be noted that it was Sdech Kan who introduced for the first time the Sloeng – or coin as currency in the country. It was made of gold and on one side of it is imprinted with dragon. It is worth researching further to find out for example where in this area is the place where the coin is produced.
After the Ponnhea Yat reign, Cambodia was ruled as a Kingdom that was divided into three separate areas – one part covering Kompong Chhnang through to Battambang was ruled by Preah Srey Raja, another part from Chadomuk to Samraong Tong was ruled by Preah Srey Borom Raja who was younger brother of Preah Srey Raja and ruled the area of, and the last part covering the area of Srey Santhor was ruled by Soriyotey. The war later broke out. It is interesting to study its cause for the sake of preventing mistakes in the present. King Preah Srey Sokunbot had a concubine whose brother was named Kan. One day the King dreamed of a fire spraying dragon and fortune tellers spread rumors of instability believed to be originated from Kan whom everyone was unhappy of his promotion from an outcast.
A plot to kill Kan was planned but Kan was saved by a secret letter from his sister and fled to gather forces which later fought and won over the forces of the King Srey Sokunbot. He became King himself and was named Preah Srey Jeddha. It is worth noting that Sdeck Kan or Preah Srey Jeddha did a wonderful work in what should be termed a democratic revolution because he liberated all outcasts under his area of control. Because of this he became the strongest commander and King in his own right. Sdech Kan gathered an army of 190,000 soldiers to fight Preah Chan Raja – the size of the army is larger than that of the former State of Cambodia’s forces.
I just had an audiance with HM the King Preah Boromneath Sihamoni as there were some rumors in the last few days concerning the recent political development. The first remark has it that the reconciliation approaches taken by the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) would eventually lead to the downfall of Cambodia’s monarchy. It is the most severe remark of all. The message has been sent to foreign countries and has widely been disseminated throughout the country. Some foreign embassies sent us the message they received. Some parties declare to be royalist, what about CPP whose control the majority of seats in the National Assembly? Should not it be called the supporter of the monarchy if not the monarchist? I must make clear today that anyone wishes to abolish the monarchy has to first get me out.
The second remark has been that once the Constitutional amendment from the two-third majority to 50 + 1, the faction of Chea Sim and Sar Kheng would force me out. There is no such tendency in the CPP. Those making these remarks do not want to see changes to the Constitution and keep me a hostage of the process. One other remark is that as soon as Sam Rainsy is taken to the fold things will get destroyed. As is seen by all Sam Rainsy has campaigned and committed his activities against me for a long time and he finally requested for cooperation. I told him I am happy to hear that. Now anyone is welcomed into the Government if only they should refrain from launching demonstration and heed the Government’s obligation.
I humbly informed HM the King that the Constitutional amendment aimed indeed for an avoidance of the political deadlock. The two most difficult conditions are the decease or retirement of HM the King, for which a week of time is an obligation for the election of the new King and the decease, incapacitation for which not only that a new Prime Minister is to be chosen but the fact that the whole cabinet will be dissolved after the Prime Minister’s incapacitation and death. The hard part is to form a new cabinet.
From the city of Samlob Prey Nokor of the former King Sdech Kan, I wish the police, the military police and bodyguard unit to review their bodyguard service if they have provided protection to concubines of senior officials. They should not be allowed to be fed by the Royal Government’s allowance and protect those concubines. I once ordered the crackdown on youngsters who performed negative activities in society. Today I order for similar action on “elderly gangster” – some of whom purchased villas in foreign countries for concubines. I request France, Canada, the USA, Australia, etc. – where those people purchased their houses – to investigate seriously from where they got the money to purchase the house. Is not this a corruption?
Anyone who is through lobby of high class lady would be readjusted as I cannot afford to make further mistakes. I demanded that a list of officials proposed and appointed with the help of the high-class lobby lady be prepared and sent to me while I would not hesitate to demote them from their ranks. We should draft a bill and propose it to the National Assembly, with my signature along with 14 others of the CPP women, for those officials with more than one wife, which is against the Constitution. The Royal Government is embracing the rectangular strategy of growth, employment, equity and efficiency, while doing whatever it can to meet the four objectives…
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