Selected Comments Samdech Moha Bovor Thipadei Hun Manet, at the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the end of the civil war, the successful implementation of the win-win policy, and the fifth anniversary of the construction of the Win-Win Monument
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CMF:
We thank peace, thank the win-win politics, and are grateful to the founding leader, and operators of the win-win politics who bring about the complete peace and national unity!
[1]
This (win-win monument) place is a favorable location. However, the achievements that we see today do not come naturally. (1) Both the location and the land, the negotiations, the fundraising and the preparation of the master plan with meaning and construction had to be carefully considered/planned and worked hard. Without high commitment, it would be impossible to achieve it. I witness the determination and commitment of Samdech Pichey Sena in building this historic monument from the beginning. I thank Samdech Pichey Sena for his wise leadership and hard work in organizing this historic monument […]
I thank and commend the efforts of the leaders of all parties of the Construction Committee (2) for promoting and paying attention to make this historical monument connecting with numerous historical aspects of Cambodia in the period of harmony through to the break of war, and the war’s aftermath […] on one side, we have a number of temples that represent harmony when our country grew and united. On the other side, we have the Techo Santepheap Park, where we display the war equipment […] and nearby, we have a park where the CMAC (Cambodian Mines Action Centre) and the Peace Center have set up a display of various kinds of bomb (used during the war) […] at the center, we see that the Win-Win Monument was designed to describe the efforts and leadership of (the win-win policies) founder and leader, Samdech Techo, as well as the key operators who not only ended the war on December 29, 1998, but making rooms for further description in connection with current developments […]
(3) (We have come up with this arrangement) so that those who would be here could see the evidence of war and the efforts to end the war and to build up peace in just a moment or in one round tour. That will make them know the value of peace more firmly. To know the value of peace one has to see how miserable it is when peace is lost. The data of the deadly bombs and the military tools that used to kill each other can also confirm to us the next generation of Cambodia that war is not what we want. We must work together to protect peace […]
(4) There has been a question if this Victory Monument is built to glorify Samdech Techo or some core operator and/or leaders? […] Indeed, Samdech Techo is the founding leader, who set out the win-win political strategy and lead a smart execution. However, it would not have been successful for the win-win politics leader to do it alone, without the honest participation of operators. Many of the core operators and leaders are here present on this forum, and they have been involved as key and loyal actors. Without sincere participation, we cannot end the war and ensure the sustainability of peace […]
(5) The win-win politics comes from the leadership and the wise policy of Samdech Techo, the infamous founding leader, with the sincere participation of all core operators and operators, and the people. If we talk about the results, everyone, those who criticize, who do not trust, and who do not believe, and remain skeptical of the win-win politics benefits from the peace that the win-win politics makes […]
Now, why the Win-Win Monument? […] everyone certainly wants an end to the war, does not want (his/her life and country to experience) misery. (6) This Win-Win Monument was built for all Cambodians to celebrate the achievements realized by all Cambodian parties, as well as to reminder our history so that the next generation of Cambodians will remember the value of peace and the historical facts. If we do not remember history, we cannot move forward. We will be lost. We need to have a clear historical identity […]
Researching, compiling various documents to disseminate to the next generation of Cambodian children to learn, and to keep records of various pieces of important evidences of military histories. Let this peace continue forever to ensure the development of our nation […] (7) Hopefully, these and other achievements will continue to be built and carved on these walls. Let me emphasize that this Win-Win Monument is not for honoring someone or any groups, but for the record keeping as a testimony for Cambodian children and foreigners to see our historical journey […]
[2]
[…] (8) Why did the win-win politics in Cambodia end the war sustainably? […] let me emphasize that we have the key principles such as the three guarantees and the DIFID strategy. However, the real key is trust. These three guarantees cannot end the war without trust […]
Samdech Techo, who is the guarantor (of the implementation of this win-win policy) himself […] confirmed that there is no document written and/or agreement signed. It is purely a a guarantee with trust. (9) (If there were an agreement on) paper, it would not have mean anything, because it would just be only the contract paper […] however, (the parties to the implementation of this policy), first of all, have trusted Samdech Techo as a guarantor and second of all, the Khmer Rouge leaders at all levels believed in themselves, trusted their own eyes, and trusted their own ears […]
They have seen with their own eyes and heard with their own ears that those who joined the government previously (are really safe) and (10) the two smart elements of the DIFID strategy – integration and practical development – have indeed increased credibility. This is why the win-win politics is successful as it increases trust, and this trust is not on paper, but on the ground (obviously) – impunity, assurance of wealth, life, and retention of their official functions […] this is different from a ceasefire in which all parties would cease fire, but there are no conditions for building trust. Some places stop for decades, but one day, explosion could have happened anytime again because both sides still hate and do not trust each other[…]
[3]
As for the question if the war is not over 25 years ago, what will the situation be like? (The answer is to ask) a simple question. For the army standing here, the police standing here, if the war is not over, how many can be absent due to deaths and injuries. How many of our officers on this platform could have lost their lives? How many women, how many children, became widows and orphans? […] (11) officers from one side in the former state of Cambodia and the other in the former Khmer Rouge have now discussed combat experiences, […] had food together, and lead the national defense plan together […]
(12) There is no benefit (from) war […] nothing but taking lives, especially the war that the Cambodians would kill each other. On the contrary, great benefit comes from peace. We can measure […] we ended the war 25 years ago and you are all here. Our officers and soldiers have the opportunity to unite irrespective of who they formerly beoned, but as the unified Royal Cambodian Armed Forces who together protect the peace and stability of the country and for the people […]
(13) I went down to many provinces to declare mines free area/provinces. By this time, more than half (of the provinces in the country are mines free). If there is no win-win policy to end the 1998 war, one may ask how many provinces would have the chance to declare mines free? Not only that it would not be without mines, but also the number of mines would be increasing. In that case, one can ask how many more people will continue to die from landmines? (Declaring mines-free provinces) is the result of our win-win politics and the end of the war […]
[4]
The word “former battlefield” means it was a place where people killed to conquer. They laid down mines not only to take people lives, but also make the areas ghostly, and/or uncultivated […] (14) Now along the border, we have transformed the misery war-torn areas into the development areas. The simplest development we can see and say is to make people rich, have peace, have the opportunity to learn, have the opportunity to do business, and have the opportunity to build a pagoda, etc. […] (15) We clear all the mines, and we build villages. This is the definition of transforming from war, division, doom of human and animals, risky geography and land into a place for the development of our nation […]
[5]
The win-win politics does not only benefit us. As Cambodia is peaceful, the region is also peaceful […] the current conflict in Myanmar also extends its impacts in the region […] (16] As Cambodia has peace, Cambodia strengthens its role in maintaining peace and economic development in the region. Not only that, we also participate in peacekeeping in other countries in the world. We now have more than 8,000 peacekeepers on missions in many countries. Demining troops have been involved in demining training, and humanitarian assistance in some war-torn countries. Therefore, (17) the fruits of the win-win politics are not only for the Cambodian nation, the descendants of Cambodia now and in the future, but also for other countries in the region and in the world […] ending the war helps us improve the economy and reduce poverty for the people […]
[6]
There is no more fighting (in Cambodia). People learn to work, to help families and the nation […] (18) peace creates choices/opportunities for the younger generation, especially our children (of the next generation) in areas where there had been war activities before. (There are) veterans who have survived (the war and have) their children benefited from this development. All these benefits are not only for the present, but for future Cambodian children and for hundreds of thousands of years to come. We must be committed to maintaining peace and national development, (thanks to the) end of infighting/war (that divided Cambodia) in 500 years, on December 29, 1998, and will continue to bear fruit in the future for Cambodian generations to come […]
[7]
Before I finish (19), please join together to fulfill the following five points:
First, encourage continued research and documentation on the win-win politics, and processes related to the search for peace and the end of the war in Cambodia […] there are more experiences to learn and more angles to look at […] since the compilers/researchers are the ones who executed the policies personally, they know a lot of information and can gather more ingredients to compile for future generations. Otherwise, in the next 20-30 years, or 50 years, new researches would be the results of the authors who conducted the paper researches […]
Second, continue to disseminate the content of the win-win policy through seminars, forums, as well as integrate historical content related to win-win policy in the curriculum so that students have a deeper understanding and value of the win-win policy […]
Third, continue to research and organize the win-win monuments in key areas, as well as organize some important military sites with historical significance for evidence and for study visits […]
Fourth, pay attention to mobilizing and finding partners to build and maintain the win-win monument, a symbol of our country’s peace. I would appeal to the benefactors, the tycoon, and the generous people to continue to support this work […]
(5) I thank the efforts of the leadership in the construction committee, as well as the participation of our people from all walks of life in the records keeping as well as historical evidence through building and organizing various historical sites […]./.
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Selected Comments Samdech Moha Bovor Thipadei Hun Manet, at the inauguration of the Choeung Ek Wastewater Treatment Plant built with grant from the Government and people of Japan
[ Unofficial translations]
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CMF:
Today, I am pleased to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the Choeung Ek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Phnom Penh, a project to develop a sewage system in Phnom Penh, a grant from Japan. The groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, former Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, currently the Chairman of the King’s Personal Advisory Council, on February 22, 2022 […]
Third inaugurations with the Japanese Ambassador in four months
This is the third time that HE UENO Atsushi and I, in a period of four months, have jointly inaugurated the major achievements of the more than 70 projects in Cambodia resulting from the cooperation between Cambodia and Japan. We have a lot on the list for further works. Yesterday, HE Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol chaired an inter-ministerial meeting with the Japanese side to consider further strategic cooperation frameworks, especially strategic projects to strengthen and connect our two national economies. I thank the Ambassador, embassy officials, and Ms. KAMEI Haruko, Director of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JIACA) in Cambodia, as well as the Government and people of Japan for their continued assistance and support to our people […]
History of Cambodian-Japanese people over 400 years old
(Diplomatic relations between our two countries) is 70 years old but the people of Japan (and the people of Cambodia) have a historical relationship of more than 400 years. According to research, during the Udong period, there was the presence of the Japanese people and we had a Japanese village in the Udong capital, and there were connections of many historical records […] (during the diplomatic relation of) 70 years, it was severed for a while under the Khmer Rouge and war, and we have connected this relationship again and ensured the sustainability of this relationship […] our relationship of these 70 years, although there have been some bumps, after this reconnection, especially after Cambodia achieved peace in the early 1990s, Japan played an important role in helping Cambodia, including its efforts in the (Cambodian political settlement) negotiation phase […]
Upgrading Cambodia-Japan relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership
The other day I called on the Emperor of Japan in Tokyo. The father of the Japanese empress was originally a diplomat, an official who played a role in facilitating peace talks (for Cambodia). “Let me tell you a personal story,” the princess said to me. “I have a personal relationship with Cambodia because my father used to play a role in the (peace) mediation.” As a result, from the dynasty to the Japanese people were associated with Cambodia. Therefore, from the Japanese royal family to its people, they have connection with Cambodia. Therefore, it is a magnificent effort to strengthen and further develop relations, especially this year, not only for the sake of the 70th anniversary, but also the elevation of the Cambodia-Japan relations to the highest level in history – a comprehensive strategic partnership […]
Wastewater treatment plant – a symbol of Cambodia-Japan cooperation to improve the environment
[…] We thank our Japanese friends for helping build this wastewater treatment plant for the benefit of the people living (in Phnom Penh). Today’s wastewater treatment plant is a symbol of the country’s continued development, as well as a symbol of Cambodia-Japan cooperation that will continue to improve. The construction (of wastewater treatment) here will help make the environment better and the comfort of the people better […] this is a special achievement of the wastewater management plan in Cambodia, which in the past the Japanese side also helped in the development of the master plan, as well as the implementation of various projects related to flood relief in Phnom Penh […]
Transforming Choeung Ek from the burial place of more than 20,000 people as an achievement to serve hundreds of thousands of people
[…] If we talk about Tuol Sleng prison and Boeung Choeung Ek, probably everyone imagines the skulls of the victims unfortunately killed by (the Pol Pot regime). If you look back a little […] and look around you, (you will see that there are) about 3,000 people. If you multiply that number by 7, you will get 20,000 people. Do you know what 20,000 people (that I am talking about) are? It is the number of people who were taken by Pol Pot from Tuol Sleng prison (to be killed) at that place […] the burial place of 20,000 people today has become a lively place where 3,000 people come to celebrate the achievement for service to the lives of hundreds of thousands more […]
These 20,000 people die for what reason? […] They died because of an incident that happened 53 years ago. The March-18 coup set war on our territory until the Khmer Rouge came to power and killed those people here. Without the outbreak of war in the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge would not have taken power and killed the 20,000 people […] if we were to look back, we would have learnt the history of this place, and disbelieved that such a place where 20,000 people were killed in 1979, inhabited by a mass grave, is a place of economic achievement today – a symbol of the lively relationship between Cambodia and Japan, a place that serves wastewater treatment to help the environment and the comfort of the people of Phnom Penh […]
The profit we get today is because (of the peace achievement) of 25 years ago when we ended the war and our economy (has been) growing positively (ever since) […] while talking about our present and future achievements, we also need to talk about defending those achievements so far realized and ensure further progress, not to let it slow down (like more than 40 years ago). We must absolutely protect peace […] if we look at the achievements here, do not forget to stop for a moment and look back as to what had happened here […]
Memorize history to know how far we have traveled and where we are
Some accused Hun Manet and Samdech Techo or the leaders of the Royal Government of talking only about historical facts over and over again. We talk about it so as to memorize history, to know where we have gone, so that we can be confident and proud that our Cambodians have come together to this point […] and in the future, as long as peace is guaranteed, and there would be no more division, this place will continue to develop. We, the Cambodians, must be proud and must protect this opportunity […] when we talk about achievements, we must also talk about caretaking, […] which means there is no more fighting each other, but building a country, maintaining peace, national unity, that we have achieved with difficulty […]
Japan helps Cambodia in the peace talks and in the reconstruction phase
In the process of finding peace, before we found peace and started rebuilding this country […] we must acknowledge and thank the contribution from our Japanese friends. The hotel where the Cambodian delegation (stayed) in Japan (since the stage of peace talks) is the New Otani […] and it has a history there […] during the period of rebuilding the country, our Japanese friends played a coordinating role. During the (peace) negotiations phase, as well as the organization of the SNC (Supreme National Council, we had) HE Yasushi Akashi, a Japanese, as the President of UNTAC (United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia), and for the first time, the Japanese army was sent abroad, after World War II, to participate in maintaining peace in Cambodia. The other day, I met General Watanabe, who was then the Commander of the Engineering Corps […] and he showed me pictures of him and his team working on a road in Takeo […]
Japan and Cambodia continue to support, strengthen and expand mutual relations
HE the Ambassador (of Japan) requested that the Royal Government as well as the people of Cambodia continue to support, strengthen and expand Cambodia-Japan relations. I would also like to request through His Excellency to the Government and the people of Japan to continue to support the cooperation and to strengthen Cambodian-Japanese relations even more […] if we are in good term with each other, we can build more and understand each other better […] once again I thank the Government of Japan for providing grant assistance for the construction of this water treatment project and for the provision of technical assistance in the use of related equipment. I agree with HE the Ambassador that the job is not finished with the construction, but it has (to make sure that the recipient party know how) to use or carry out maintenance to get the most out of it. If we just build it and leave it, in one or two years, it will be useless and will not be responding to our need. The construction (of the water treatment) here used the latest Japanese technology, so we need to have our technicians and engineers trained to be resourceful and to continue to use and maintain it properly […]
The bigger Phnom Penh grows, the more people reside, and the more important the clean water is
[…] Phnom Penh has grown (and there are now) more than 2 million or nearly 3 million (people). It will soon expand […] (here where) it used to be a lake has now economic activity, reside tens of thousands of people, families, schools, and jobs. Take for instance in this Aeon III super market, there are thousands of jobs […] there will be more economic activity in the area. Soon the residents in this area will grow to hundreds of thousands or millions of people here. In this case, wastewater treatment and infrastructure are needed to support people’s livelihoods […]
The Royal Government acts on disease prevention by growing economy, creating jobs, increasing income for people to have good nutrition
The wastewater treatment project here will greatly benefit the national economy, where the health of the people is the big task. Regarding the health of the people, we have set out many principles. The seventh legislature Royal Government focuses on strengthening the provision of social protection systems and strengthening services. Last evening, I had a meeting with (the Minister of Health,) HE Chheang Ra and the working group (to discuss) key measures to strengthen the local health sector, referral level health center – level one, level two, level three and prepare an action plan to promote the better organization of this referral health center, to provide better services to the people, better quality of medicine, better quality of materials […] and to increase the level of medical treatment capability for the people. However, treatment is the last resort. As for the most important stage, the Royal Government acts on preventing people’s illness through efforts to improve economy, create jobs, and increase income for people so that they can get good nutrition […]
The percentage of people choosing to have kids will be smaller, the life expectancy will be longer because of medication
The discussion with (the Health Minister,) HE Chheang Ra (came to the issue that possibly) in a few decades, we will have more old people than young people because fewer people (who are still young) will choose to have kids […] in the future, the percentage of people choosing to have kids will decrease and the people’s (life expectancy) rate will be longer. Thus, there will be lower rate of birth […] (along with this) with availability of medicines, we can take care of the people’s health […] and prevent and protect our people through increasing nutrition to ensure the living standard of more people, […] if prevention does not work, we have to come to treatment stage. We need to improve the health system to make people healthier […]
Winston S. Churchill: “You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks”
A group of people, […] maybe less than 20 people, who wrote this piece and spread it on both online and offline media, attacking the Funan Techo canal project that we plan to carry out to serve the economic activities, and the water transportation of our people (between the rivers and the sea). The slogan of former British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill during World War II is: “You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.” (Having repeating this slogan,) some said that I called them a dog. I did not call anyone a dog […]
Reporting the Royal Government borrowed Chinese money for the Funan canal project is a fabrication
Yesterday, (their writing and publicity in the press) came out saying that “the well-informed source, a senior official of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, who asked not to be named, whispered that the Royal Government has borrowed five billion USD from China to invest in the Funan canal, which that(?) official thinks are useless for the nation” […] they kept on discrediting the Government for not being responsible to have borrowed the loan putting the country in debt for building the canal […] all these (that they preached) are completely fabricated. It is not that they do not know. Samdech Techo has already confirmed that the government will carry out this project not with a loan, but in the form of BOT […]
(The point here is what they say) “according to a source from a high-ranking official who asked not to be identified.” It is a psychological attack […] (and) the press posted the story without knowing where it comes from […] I do not believe that there are senior government officials at the Ministry of Economy and Finance […] ignorant to the point that they do not know the difference between a loan implemented project and a BOT project […]
What I want to emphasize to the Cambodians throughout the country who are following the news on the Funan canal project that (what we are planning to do is) to combine (the canal) with other infrastructural projects that Japan has built, that are built with Chinese assistance, with the ADB loans, other banks and by ourself to connect the (transportation) arteries. Who do we work for? It is for the sake of our nation and people, to grow our economy for benefit to distribute to the Cambodians everywhere […]
It is a good thing that this group did not lead the country. If they were on the contrary, (the country will) melt (inevitably). To develop a country needs investment. Investment needs capital, or money, in other words. Part of it is the national money […] (part of it) we need from other sources […] to address investment, build infrastructure and create jobs. First, we apply for a grant like what we did with the project here. Second, we borrow at a reasonable interest rate so that we can invest according to our repaying ability, and third, invite both domestic and foreign investors to invest in private money (BOT) […]
All of them claim to be economists (and they see) everything not right (according to them). The Japanese grant provided (during) the Samdech (Techo) time (as Prime Minister) and they said the Cambodian government was a beggar. It was not right. When the government takes the loans, they say the government will not be recoverable from debt. As the government calls for foreign investment, they say the government allows investment and that the government will lose sovereignty. Finally, there would be no money to do anything. It is a good thing that our people had chosen Samdech Techo and the CPP to continue to lead the country for 40 years, and to put in place the correct policies […] (they blamed) me weak and a bébé(baby). They blamed me a dictator. Perhaps, according to their theory, there could a dictator who is still a bébé […]
I do not ask them to stop criticizing. It is their rights. But they should have ethics, and respected the rights of the people. That they impersonate themselves analysts and informants, they have to search for the true facts to share with the people, and they should not trouble people with their fabricated and fake news […] they have not been serving the people, and ultimately exploited the people by misinforming them for political gain, and frightening the people […] the government is not afraid to take responsibility for negative actions and facing with criticism. In the past, we learnt of many issues and we solved a lot of problems, like traffic accidents, land issues […]
By the way, I thank all the journalists who try to share information quickly, but please do that comprehensively, and if it is wrong, please correct it so that our people/readers/viewers (know right from wrong). Please do not go silent fearing of embarrassment when you know that your report is an incomplete fact. There must be a code of conduct that “if one does not tell a complete fact, one should make a correction.” This is the (professional) duty (of a journalists) […] I wish you all practice democracy, rights and freedoms with ethics and responsibility […] if one lies, one will hurt others. One slanders others, one violates the rights of others. Giving wrong information to the people purposefully, one violates the people’s right to receive true information about the future of the nation […]./.