I am so happy to return and join all of you for the graduation and diploma presenting ceremony for 3,769 graduates of Royal University of Law and Economics. It is my fifteenth presence here since I started coming to preside over graduation ceremony in 1980s. I am so pleased with efforts made by the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports, in general and particularly those of RULE in the past recent years. It is true that what we have been doing together from scratch up to the present is a sacrifice for our nation and people. Our sacrifices – professors, students who are in their study and pursing works, are invaluable. Few people, though, have disgraced Cambodian diploma to be of no value.
It is a grave insult, not only for students in pursuit of their study and/or already in career development after 1979, but also for parents, professors, teachers who have done many great things for this country, including those who support them too. For us who value local education, we have made great efforts in taking part, especially family, to contribute and share whatever they have so that their children, grandchildren, husband, wife to have education and possess knowledge. You may have noted that every time (there is graduation and diploma presenting ceremony) we always have family members waiting to take pictures with newly graduates in uniforms.
Moving Far from “Knowing More Teach Those Who Do Not Know”
I am so proud with what we have achieved and are happening in the pity land of ours. After 1979, how many intellectuals and teachers did we have left? Now, we have parted far away from the starting position, where students took their classes under empty Buddhist monks’ residences or under people’s houses. They learnt at night under light from torch and teachers were not paid. It was the most difficult time when we applied this theory of those who know more teach those who know less and those who know less teach those who know nothing.
Now we have come to a new phase of education. We have now classified what level do teachers of 12 years of education plus two years of pedagogy training (or 12+2) teach and those who have bachelor or master do? It has grown in response to evolution of the country and its need. We are working still to raise quality of education. RULE has contributed in human resource training and education from 1982-83 through to 2014-15. It has enrolled now 13,767 students. According to report of the university and by Minister of Education, Youth, and Sports, 95.5% of those with bachelor degree are getting jobs after leaving their studies, while 95.7% of those with master degree do. I hope the rest will continue to find jobs as we have more jobs created in our country.
I just learnt the other day that one of my daughters in law who graduated with a Ph D in Public Health in UK after achieving a Master Degree of the same subject in Boston, USA, has taken courses for a Ph D in Political Science in Cambodia. Some have not gone that far but dare say other people’s education is not valuable. I must applause for the efforts made by the university and we have here former students of this university – HE Bin Chhin (Deputy Prime Minister), HE Var Kimhong, HE Hang Chuon Naron, who did his Ph D abroad and knows four foreign languages. He served as translator when Prime Minister of Russia conducted a visit to Cambodia. I am picking up this issue because I have the wish to defend honor and dignity of those who did their study in the country and are insulted.
Success Comes from Own Efforts
I would take this chance to express my sincere appreciation to efforts of Buddhist monks as well as our students who have made efforts to gain knowledge in local universities. I must share my thought with you that there is no success to gain without personal effort, especially the fact that no one can infuse knowledge from one person to the other. Growing a tree, one needs between 5 and 6 years to get the fruits. However, to educate a human being, one needs up to 20 years. Take for instance, you had to finish your 12 years secondary school level and you have to take another four years in tertiary education to get a bachelor degree, which has taken you in all 16 years. To get a Master, in all you have to spend 18 years and more for Ph D degree. That is the difference between growing a tree and a human being in education. However, with own efforts and support given by families, parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, you have travelled this far.
To achieve this, it is also important to have political framework (on education and related issue) set out by the Royal Government and ruling party. The ruling party allowed liberalization of education, where state education institutions can provide education service for students with scholarships as well as fee-paying ones. Many of you here are fee-paying students. There is only certain percentage of those who learn with scholarship provided by the state. If we were to follow no liberalization of education service policy, universities might have closed. Moreover, students who have finished their studies at secondary school level, where would they go for continuation of their studies? We have given them chances to continue with their education and I hope everything will function synchronously in response to demand of our nation’s progress.
People to Pay No More in Using Veng Sreng Road
Please allow me to take this chance to say on one point. Last night, a few people who were on Facebook might have learnt already. Though it was a rather hasty decision to make, I think it is a correct one, though. The Veng Sreng road has its commencement since the time when HE Chhim Seak Leng was mayor of Phnom Penh. Three BOT agreements signed in those days – Veng Sreng, Sar La and 598 roads. I canceled the 598 road first. I then did the same for Sar La road. The Veng Sreng road, despite new agreement made and signed, it was worse. Firstly, I posted one message at 930 pm. I told people that I just learnt that people who used the road, either passing by or living along it, had to pay 1,100 Riel every time they go in or out or they had to purchase a sticker or a pass from company at a price of 132,000 Riel. The authority told me 40,000 Riel, though.
I wrote that no matter what price it is, people must not pay. After posting, I keep monitoring and I saw that there were more than 10,000 “Likes” and hundreds of “Comments.” I called up (Phnom Penh Mayor) Pa Socheatvong and Minister of Economy and Finance, HE Aun Pornmoniroth. Some commented that the road investment was about ten million USD so (the state) should allow people to use it free of charge. It was hard to respond with a decision. Some said people living along the road may have some 300 cars only but some might have in mind that though they are passing by, they would also stand to get a chance to use it free too. I then decided to take the investment back and return construction cost to the company.
I decided starting from 1200 hours last night people cease to pay for using the road Veng Sreng. Early morning the next day, I posted another message, telling people in the whole country who travel using Veng Sreng road, to pay no fee. I also told them what I wanted in return is for our people to respect traffic law and rules to avoid accidents. Maybe our Buddhist monks can help by telling people, wherever they go for Buddhist rituals, to respect traffic law which is in force from 1 January 2016. It is a strict law aims to protect people from lethal traffic accidents […] I hope that those companies with containers who had to pay every time they move through Veng Sreng to use money meant to be road fee for better living condition of workers. Truck and/or factory owners who used to set a sum of money as road fee for their transportation and who benefit from this decision must save road fee for workers, for instance a banquet for them on every May 1.
There is one other point that HE Pa Socheatvong will have to discuss and sort out with the company. Some have already purchased stickers/pass for travelling on the Veng Sreng road. Please return money to them and return stickers to company. Last night I also instructed HE Aun Pornmoniroth to lead a meeting on use of national road 4. As for the national road 4, it is complicated. People who live on either side of the toll booths have had to pay one time to go to the other side and another to come back. I just suggest that we will take counting of number of vehicles and perhaps issue them a special permit. As for people going from Phnom Penh to Kompong Som, they will continue to pay. Please organize a meeting to study this and define policy for those who live along BOT roads.
People Should Know What They Comment About
Last night, there was one thing I could not believe it. Some people, when I was in the UN (General Assembly) holding a phone, criticized “while everyone is paying attention to the UN meeting, he is with Facebook.” I was surprised that they could find thing to bother me. The other day there was a spread of news that Hun Sen patted Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s back and he shook his head. I just patted his back to remind him for translation. They said Prayuth shook his head because I patted his back. For this young man, Ieng Sanghar, I asked him to use polite language and comment on what the topic is. I must tell you that since I decided to go into Facebook, do not take me wrong, I must be well prepared and should be able to know who I am talking to. I was talking about road but he brought in issue on salary and “chasing Yuon (Vietnamese) out.” I just warn you, this is what Hun Sen about.
I would not bother if I do not use social media. However, once I am in, please do not get angry while we play with each other. Some people bothered me again and again, when I sent a few slaps, he got bewildered. “He should not expect (that I would sign for his pardon again)” I declare. Should I do that for so and so, I would have maimed my hand. The policy of “either you or me” comes from you. It is “already over, my dear.” After many returning slaps, he talked about the fact that only Khmer would resolve Khmer problem, but he went to ask Europe to suspend aid to Cambodia. I did it once and I did it again twice but not the third time […] I cannot accept repetition (of low act).
Use of Facebook for Information Feedback
I also ask Facebook fans to make their comment easy to understand and there was a case in Peam Koh Sna. Peam Koh Sna is my birthplace commune. Someone came in and commented in my Facebook page that “rice have gone dead in drought and requested for a five-decimeter diameter pump.” I ordered governor of the province to have a look. However, I was in doubt as that was my birthplace and I knew it very well. When they asked for a five-decimeter pump, from which water reservoir are they pumping? When we found him, he thought of pumping water from the Mekong to irrigate rice cultivation three times a year. It was too much. I could take decision to resolve matters when they are pragmatic. There is another man, 71 years old, requested a look into unresolved conflict of infringement on road since 1990s. He sounded his displeasure to me on Facebook. I sent it to HE Pa Socheatvong through Whatsapp for further research.
I am not a Facebook Prime Minister but I need information and feedbacks from all sources. I have Facebook, Twitter, Website and I receive information from officials, people at large and even from opposition […] I would soon send through Line, SMS and other social media which is my real Facebook account as there have been many fake ones. We claimed to Facebook, Inc. to close them down. One closed down, new one created and posted more irrational message. Good people who support Hun Sen would never do that […]
Circulation on Use of Water for Irrigation
As a third point, I wish to clarify one thing. I issued a circulation instructing relevant institutions about use of water for irrigation in accordance with low level of Mekong flood this year. The water level was low not only in Cambodia but also in others. Take for instance the river Lancang in China also was low. In Vientiane, bordering by river with Thailand, the Mekong was low that people could walk across. There is not much water in reservoirs. That is why in the circulation, it appeals to people to cultivate dry season rice only once in order to keep water for other use. In 1994, you may have remembered that buffaloes did not have water to survive for a period of about six months. Cultivating flood recession rice is one thing but to grow dry season rice would take up to 12,000 cubic meters of water for one hectare.
It is in this knowledge we are seeking our people’s understanding to diversify their dry season rice cultivation to other crops or vegetables that is consuming less amount of water. In Thailand, people are told to grow no rice, and in certain places, they would reserve water only for people’s use. That is why by issuing this circular, we need our people to understand that there would be demand for water for human, animals and trees.
Culture Dialogue Guaranteed by Law
Just now, I slipped words off my mouth about maiming my hand […] but it is a good thing to remind him from afar. I said so because some people have gone around saying that “their boss gains votes each time he is to be jailed, one time and again. For the third time, he would get the power.” If I were to do so, I do not need my hand anymore. I am sending a message so you cannot go on lying people. Which foreign country would pressure Cambodia? Cambodia is not hostage to a few people. In the near future, political parties will prop up level of culture of dialogue. I would affirm that dialogue culture is to be guaranteed by law. Whoever violates the law must be charged. Everyone must abide by the law […] that I went silent for a while, some analysts seem to have no work to do.
As I have said it now, I am sure today Free Asia, VOA, France Inter will be quick to comment. Some even said I lacked virtue. I went live and reminded that when they got off the car pointed to the picture of three people and proclaimed them all, especially the middle one, as thieves and selling the country, was that what you called virtue? They compared me to Gaddafi, who was shot to death, was that a virtue? They called me thief, was that a virtue? Analysts should be independent and neutral.
One Nationality for Top Leader
Forthcoming law will define, let me share, that head and members of the National Election Committee must be of Cambodian citizen only. I am sure law of political party will also have to define that president of the party must be of only one Cambodian nationality. When president and members of the NEC are to be Cambodian nationals only, why not presidents of political parties? (We then have to make) President of National Assembly, the Senate, Supreme Court, General Prosecutor, head of Anti-Corruption Unit, General Auditor, etc. of Cambodian nationality too. If the person has two nationalities, s/he has to cancel one. The Cambodian People’s Party has enough voices (in the National Assembly) to adopt this. It is an ending-year message.
Samdech Techo 40th Wedding Anniversary
Soon will be my fortieth wedding anniversary … on 5 January, I will post my story in three parts. The first part will go out on Facebook on 3 January, the second part on 4 January and the last part will be on 5 January. On 5 January, which is my wedding day anniversary, I will also declare construction of more overpasses. I would just want our people learn how my wife and I had met and come through to the wedding ceremony (under the Khmer Rouge era). Our story will remind similar fates of many other couples. With greeting for progress of education sector and RULE, in particular, I wish everyone the best of 2016./.