In addition to the prepared text at the closing session of the Annual 2015 Review and 2016 Directives Setting Conference of the Ministry of Interior, Samdech Techo Hun Sen stressed and listed out certain orders and recommendations dealing with issue of public services and social security as followed:
Minister of Justice and Prisons Heads to Reexamine Release of Criminals
… We must pursue a serious campaign because lately we have found out resurge of armed robbery and drug trafficking. We must have all measures combined to manage and control weapons of armed forces on the one hand, and to launch a large-scale operation to suppress dangerous targets on the other. Lately, we have discovered that thieves are same persons who did not seem to spend time in prison long enough. On 2 December 1999, you may still remember, I ordered to arrest them back. I was at the Calmet hospital then and HE Chea Sophara was first deputy mayor of Phnom Penh. Again, I had a report on release of a number of thieves from Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng. Now, those conducted armed robbery said to have just released from prisons. Why it was so easy for thieves and drug traffickers to get out of prisons? They would just rob the property before. Now they even killed people. I am calling for a serious inspection and conduction by the Ministry of Justice on this matter.
Those of you who look after prisons (must affirm) that so and so had really corrected themselves. I am demanding that from today onward, for every request for me to sign before submitting for approval from HM the King to set them free, there must be indications on the list as to who were thieves, and who were drug traffickers. I would spend my time to go through their cases attached, if possible. It is very suspicious why some did not get a prison term because of robbery. Some did not get a trial on ground that there were insufficient lawyers or they spent overextended detention without trial. I am calling on our people in the whole country to cooperate in suppressing these thieves/robbers for the sake of our country’s security. Taking drug trafficking into consideration, criminal offense does not go down. I had brought up this idea with ASEAN to reschedule its commitment for a free-drug ASEAN to a newer date but they did not. Now the deadline of 2015 is over … we would have to re-discuss this matter.
Arrest Order for Truck Causing Damage to Tsubasa Bridge
I was so shocked to have received the news and the overloaded truck caused damage to the bridge at Neak Loeung got away with a compensation of USD 150 in fixing the damage. I heard Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng issue an arrest order … about 24 hours now and we do not have news if we are going to have it or not. We must pursue it whether it would be now in Vietnam. I would say that maybe we in Cambodia must close down some transporting companies or the same mistakes would repeat. The big problem stemmed from their bosses. If they paid insufficient attention to safety, we should close them down and order them to fix their problems …
Transports and Agriculture – Two Ministries of Grade F
… Well, I should talk more about transport and public works. The Ministry of Transports and Public Works is the most irresponsive … frankly speaking. I do not see Minister HE Tram Iv Toek here today. Why the Ministry has been so clumsy? I would not allow myself to slide down with you. I am speaking for people to know and hear it. I do not have any more patience. It is beyond my comprehension. Agriculture too, with HE Ouk Rabun, that I have given grade F along with public works and transports. I think I will give them grades since we also have grades for cities. I have allowed more than enough time to take bath, to clean dirt and reflect oneself in mirror. Now it is time for treatment.
I am of the thought whether I should reshuffle the cabinet this year. I could not let it go on. I would be the one to bear the burden. Too much understanding brings about danger. I am thinking at this moment if I should have cabinet reshuffle this year. It is difficult. When I had my hand in and resolved the problem on their behalves, people said power concentrated only in one person. When I give them power, (the result is like) yesterday’s order that until this time, the truck causing damage to the bridge is still nowhere to be seen.
Requirement to Have Attention before Request
As far as public service is concerned, I wish to stress out that we should divide it into two parts – people’s requirement versus request. What every institution and section should try to fulfill is to answer to people’s requirement as demanded by law such as ID cards, family logbooks, birth certificates, marriage permission letter, death certificates, etc. Concerned authority must issue for people, quickly and with transparency. They are people’s requirements or needs. As for request, people may ask for schools, hospitals, pagodas, infrastructures, etc. We would answer to their request according to financial ability.
Today I wish to stress on this issue. We must concentrate our efforts to resolve this issue. There has been a mixing understanding between requirement and request of people. Requirement is a kind of service defined by law and there is no need for people to pay money for it. The national working teams also do not have to bother with them. Sub-national authority knows how to do it. It is so simple to understand what one person would require. S/he would require an ID card. There is no need for the person to ask for. When it is time, just do it for them. It is a requirement. We have determined that people of 15 years of age upwards must have ID card. Concerned officials must take it as their obligation. The same is true for family logbook. When a baby is born, s/he must have registration. People are unhappy when they had a hard time or even spend money to get what they entitle to by law. That is the problem.
I would urge the governor of every province to look after this matter. People voted to choose officials in communes/sangkats and they have to serve voters. For request, we already have stated in the five-year and annual national development program and they will carry out with communal fund. However, people are displeased with obstacles that prevent them from getting what they entitle to by law. I think we must concentrate in resolving this matter in the first half of this year. I may take a trip to local offices. I may need to scale down my program in Phnom Penh. I wish to learn what the problems are down there. I would have a small number of bodyguards with me. I will get on to Facebook.
“Do for Them, Do in a Speedy Manner and Do with Transparency”
We all should know that not only interior that has service for people’s requirement but every ministry. Take for instance, the Ministry of Trade, they also have a section dealing with this, such as trade registration. I have three words to guide us all – “do for them, do in a speedy manner and do with transparency.” I returned from the office of the Prime Minister late yesterday but I underlined the concept and determined to talk about it today. Our people already benefit from peace and development of infrastructure – roads, water canals, schools and hospitals, etc. Their income increase clearly. Comparing to 1979, their living conditions are very much different. John Kerry, the Secretary of State of the United States of America, who visited Cambodia and I met him during recent visit to the US-ASEAN summit in the US … guided me to a waiting room and he said it loudly (of his impression on Cambodia) …
People are not happy with complicate issues around them in the lower levels. That had annoyed them to a level that they would hit the cart while being unhappy with the oxen. Please excuse me for talking it out loudly. I wanted people to listen to it and point their finger at those who do it on contrary to the Prime Minister’s advice. I will see through in this period of first six months. I think we can do it. In fact, we are doing it and there is no need for additional materials to make it work. I wish to see every province or even provincial governors actively compete in fulfilling this task … Now I let the campaign go on. I would not interfere. The other day I called Sao Sokha and asked if I should visit some of the warehouses. Sao Sokha said he had just finished some of them and suggested I waited. I heard that there are legal and illegal logs. I wish to see with my own eyes as to what are and what are not legal./.
