Speech of Samdech Akka Thamma Potisal Chea Sim

		Independence, Peace, Freedom and Democracy Neutrality and Social Progress
Cambodian People’s Party
Central Committee
Speech of Samdech Akka Thamma Potisal Chea Sim President of the Senate and the Cambodian People’s Party At the Commemoration of the 31 Anniversary of the January-7 Victory
Samdech Preah Akka Moha Sangha Reachea Thibdei, Samdech Preah Reachea Gahna, and all Buddhist monks, Samdech, Lok Chumteav, honored national and international guests, Members of the meeting and national compatriots,
Today we celebrate the 31st anniversary of the great victory on January-7-1979 that saved our nation and people from the genocide disaster that was caused by the regime of Democratic Kampuchea. With this, the people of Cambodia have made their revival, survival, and progress up to the present. Like our people in the whole country, here we celebrate a historic event to commemorate the January-7 victory that carries the most extraordinary meaning always. At the same time we bend over in respect for souls of our three million people who died miserably under the Democratic Kampuchea regime of Pol Pot and wish their souls to rest in peace. In this blessing event, we would like to express our faith and unfathomable gratitude to Preah Karuna Preah Baat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, Preah Karuna Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, the Heroic King - Father, and Samdech Preah Moha Ksatrei Norodom Munineath Sihanouk, the Heroic Queen - Mother, for their devotions of physical and intellectual forces for the nation and people of Cambodia, and staying as the supreme symbols of independence, unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national prosperity of the Kingdom of Cambodia. We wish the blessings from Preah Ratanak Trai, the world sacred objects, and the spirit in protection of the Throne, as well as those souls of the former Kings and Queens of Cambodia, for their protections with good health, strong physical and intellectual forces and long lives so as to stay as shade for every Cambodians forever. Meeting Participants and Compatriots, Over the past 31 years, after the victory on January 7, 1979, the people of Cambodia have striven to stand up and advance forward on a correct path, whereas creating a proud history in the cause for restoration, construction and defense of our fatherland. Still we remember always a dark period of the genocide on our people. In the period of three years, eight months and twenty days, taken power on April 17, 1975, leaders of the Democratic Kampuchea committed the most heinous crimes in all fields, while plunging the fatherland and people, who had already been destroyed heavily by a five-year war, to the edge of the abyss of complete elimination from the face of the earth. In this most severe circumstance, only those cadres and soldiers, who are faithful to the Cambodian People’s Party, have stood together in a struggle to mobilize forces and fight against the regime of Pol Pot. The establishment of the National Front for the Salvation of Kampuchea in Snuol district, Kratie province on December 2, 1978, has become a new turning point in the struggle against Pol Pot and determined the meaning of national salvation revolution. The Front issued an historic declaration of “Eleven Points” policy bringing about energetic participation from the Cambodian people of all walks of life and support from peoples of peace and justice loving countries in the world. On January 7, 1979, heroic army of the National Front for the Salvation of Kampuchea, with assistance rendered by the Vietnamese voluntary army, toppled the Democratic Kampuchea while liberating Phnom Penh and winning back for our people full rights and freedom. The victory of January-7 ended the darkest period of Cambodia while ushering in a new era of independence, peace, freedom, neutrality, democracy and social progress. The people of Cambodia remember always that “January 7 is their second date of birth, because if it were not for January 7, there would be no life and present condition.” Having said so, our people of all ages could not let go from memory their gratitude for the services of cadres and soldiers of the National Front for the Salvation of Kampuchea, who fought courageously and sacrificed their lives for the course of national salvation, defense of fatherland and national revival. At the same time, Cambodia forever carves in its heart invaluable services of the voluntary army and people of Vietnam, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, for their effective and timely-mannered response to the call of the people of Cambodia to overthrow the genocide and to protect our national revival. Meeting Participants and Compatriots, After the January-7 victory, the Cambodian People’s Party took power and led the country in a state that war and peace prevailed. Established on January 8, 1979, the People’s Revolutionary Council of Kampuchea of the People’s Republic of Kampuchea solely and legitimately represented the country and people of Cambodia, while restoring the country from zero and facing with the fact that the country was suffering an unjust economic embargo as well. At the same time, the defeated Pol Pot armed forces, as they enjoyed a lifeline of assistance, had continued war against the revival of the people in their strategic maneuver to infiltrate and topple the People’s Republic of Kampuchea (PRK). It was because of this that the people of Cambodia had had to shoulder two tasks altogether at once. They had to produce and restore the country in one of their hands, while taking up arms to defend the country and to prevent the return of the people’s revival in the others. Truthfully, those who oppose the people’s revival, wish to strangle the PRK to an immediate death by all means – politics, spirit, military and security, economics and diplomacy. However, all of their actions have failed one after the other in face of the national forces in great solidarity, with support and assistance provided by friends from near and far. The Cambodian People’s Party, the Front and the Government of the People’s Republic of Kampuchea defended our people’s lives while making efforts to cultivate strong real forces in all sectors and gradually stabilizing living condition that created a favorable condition for the restoration and reconstruction of the country. Within a period of just ten-year time, successes have bridged us away from the most difficult period, while reaching on to expanding and strengthening its revival. It was the real forces of all sectors of the PRK, which was later changed to the State of Cambodia (SoC), that stay as core forces in the process of seeking and implementing a political solution to the problem of Cambodia. From 1993 through to the present, on the basis of achievements realized in the past 14 years, the people of Cambodia have made further new achievements in all fields reflecting clearly that Cambodia is continuing its march on a correct path. The war has ended whereas the whole territory and people have reunited with a complete peace that was first of all reached through a win-win policy in 1998. National development process has advanced smoothly in accordance with the country’s Constitution. Rule of law, human rights and freedom, and human value have been raised high, whereas democracy and pluralism have taken a deeper root in the Cambodian context. Various fronts of profound state reforms have been underway with fruitful results. Honor and prestige of the country in the international arena have also been promoted whereas the country has been fully integrated into international community in regional, sub-regional and world levels. In the spirit of supreme national pride, CPP wishes to join in great pleasure with the Royal Government and people of Cambodia for having successfully registered Preah Vihear Temple in the list of World Heritages in 2008, and the fact that Cambodia is taking its stand as a nation of equal rights and footing with others, as well as making good cooperation within the region and the world. As far as socio-economic development is concerned, under wise leadership of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, the Royal Government of Cambodia implemented with successes the Triangular Strategy, the Rectangular Strategy – Phase I, and is in progress of implementing the Rectangular Strategy – Phase II. On this basis, from 1998 though to 2008, national economy had achieved high growth in gradual order. Stable macroeconomics has been guaranteed, whereas national reserve capital also regularly grew. Construction of physical infrastructures have been promoted determinedly, while the rate of poverty has been reduced to 30%, as we have achieved a one-percent per-annum reduction, coupling with increased care being given for people’s wellbeing. Particularly, in 2009, because of impacts from world financial crisis and economic downturn, national economic achievement has slowed down but we have been able to achieve positive economic growth. This clearly suggests pace of energetic progress of Cambodian economy aimed at reaching a new phase of development, while uplifting efficiency of the policy for equitable distribution. Successes that have been achieved in the last 30 years are common achievements of the whole people of Cambodia who have united in making them possible, while doing away concepts and deeds causing internal national rifts shrouded our nation for decades. This clearly affirms that when our people have got correct leadership, strong solidarity and self-confidence, really we would realize our objectives. On this occasion, on behalf of the people of Cambodia, I would like to express my deep gratitude for the international community for their provisions of truthful assistance and cooperation for the people of Cambodia in the course of national salvation from the genocide, seeking for Cambodian peace and reconstruction. At the same time that we take pride of victory in our hands, we should look to medium and long-term challenges in the march onward as, for instance, a few people have always assigned themselves enemy of the January-7 victory while taking actions that are contrary to principle of democracy and rule of law, in opposition to aspiration of the people, all in the aim of preventing the country’s progress. On other reason, some ill-intent circles have abandoned no harm schemes against Cambodia. The country’s development, which is currently being fostered on a narrow and externally impacted, fragile economic growth, could not firmly respond to demand of sustainable development at the time that the world financial and economic crisis has yet to cease. Poverty reduction and people’s wellbeing upgrade, good governance, anti-graft actions, and sustainable natural resources maintenance, etc. are major demands which require package of specified actions with high determination and responsibility. At the same time, hostility generated from some neighboring countries in negligence of their people’s aspiration, as well as common regional and world tendencies, would provide no interest to people of both sides but tensions and losses. On other reason the Royal Government should increase further effort in strengthening national defense capability aimed at guaranteeing sovereignty and territorial integrity of the fatherland. Meeting Participants and Compatriots, 2010 is the second year in implementing of the Royal Government political platform for the fourth legislature of the National Assembly. We all must double our efforts for the guaranteeing of socio-economic development process and poverty reduction among our people. Maintaining peace, stability and national reconciliation, and strengthening of national defense infrastructure continue to be our prioritized objectives. Beholding firmly the spirit of January-7 victory, CPP continues to implement strictly policy of people solidarity from all political tendencies, strata and circles for the sake of strengthening social harmony and winning further successes for our nation. CPP supports efforts of the Royal Government of Cambodia in urging for successful implementation of the Law on Finance for Management in 2010, which is an important political tool for putting into action the national development strategy, especially the Rectangular Strategy – Phase II, and responding to impacts from world financial and economic crisis on national economy. The law and package of actions to be implemented in all related fields clearly reflect an unbending political will of the Royal Government in maintaining economic growth, public investment promotion, private sector development, improvement of people’s well being, and expansion of people’s participation in development process. CPP supports draft of the recently adopted anti-graft bill by the Cabinet, which has reflected common wills between state and people aimed at building a Cambodian society of equality, justice, dignity, harmony and progress. We are confident that after adopting the law by the National Assembly, mechanisms would be strengthened and promoted for guaranteeing efficient implementation in response to urgent demand of our people. CPP offers its support to the current process of the Extra Ordinary Chamber in the Court of Cambodia in trying crimes committed by senior leaders of the Democratic Kampuchea regime. Concurrently we oppose attempts for using the Chamber for ill intention with impact on peace, national reconciliation and development, which have been our hard-won achievements. CPP highly appreciates results from border demarcation efforts with Vietnam and Laos, while continues to fully support the process of completing border pole mounting for the sake of leaving them as historical inheritance for Khmer generations to come. The Party strongly condemns circles that neglect national interest while bringing about actions aimed at preventing the above efforts. The Party also supports positions taken by the Royal Government of Cambodia in practice of diplomatic relations and border issue resolution with Thailand by peaceful means, in spirit of good neighborliness aimed at building a border of peace, friendship, cooperation and development. CPP would like to vehemently declare once again its support for Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen as its premiership candidate for coming terms. Meeting Participants and Compatriots, Stemmed from January-7 victory, in the past 31 years, Cambodia has marched onward always though many flexibilities required to overcome numerous obstacles and hardships. Our nation has ceased a time in history that is full of internal conflicts, wars, tragedy, and the state of being invaded and underrated. We have got out this darkness, which actually gave us valuable lessons and experiences. Currently, the Cambodian people - as family, community and society - are living in harmony, while making physical and spiritual efforts to continue to build and defend for a brilliant future of the fatherland. On this occasion, in the name of Samdech Akka Moha Punnhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, and in my behalf, I would like to express my respect and gratitude to our people from all walks of life for their provision of wide ranging and firmer supports for the leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party, making it capable in implementing mission of serving our people’s final reaches of independence, peace, neutrality, democracy and social progress. I also would like to take this opportune moment to convey my deepest sentiment of respect for soldiers of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and National Police who have been on duties to defend our nation heroically in area of Preah Vihear and other fronts, both land and sea, of our fatherland. I would also urge our Party officials and committees at all levels to hold tightly onto the spirit of January-7 victory and intermingle themselves with our people, strengthen solidarity, internal unity, and at the same time regularly improve virtue and capacity so as to realize tasks, while avoiding totally from wrong actions with negative impacts on national and people’s interests. Finally, I would like to express my deep thanks to and wish Samdech, Excellencies, Lok Chumteav, Gentlemen, honored national and international guests, members of the meeting and compatriots from all over the country the four Buddhist blessings.
Thank You