Revered Samdech Preah Akka Moha Sangha Raja Dhibdei, and all Buddhist Monks Samdech, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Honorary National and International Guests, Respected Members of the Meeting and Dear Compatriots Today is the 32nd anniversary of the historic victory day on January 7, 1979 that liberated the Cambodian people from the genocidal disaster under the regime of Pol Pot’s Democratic Kampuchea. It is based on this victory that the Cambodian people and fatherland have revived, existed and developed to the present. We celebrate this victory day so as to remember always the crimes of Democratic Kampuchea and the historic meaning of January 7, to renew our gratitude for the heroic soldiers of the Cambodian revolutionary army as well as for the heroic soldiers of the Vietnamese voluntary army for their supremely heroic sacrifices and fights for the cause of revival of the people of Cambodia. In this very moment, we wish to indicate our respect for the soles of millions of Cambodian compatriots who died in the most injustice manner under the barbaric regime of Pol Pot, and to pray for their soles to find the world of serenity. On this meaningful occasion we would like to express unwavering loyalty and profound gratitude to the most revered Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, Preah Karuna Preah Mohaviraksat the King Father and Samdech Preah Mohaksatrei the Queen Mother, who devoted their strengths and intellectuals for nation, fatherland and people. We wish their Majesties good health, wisdom and longevity to stay as cool shade for us Cambodian people. Samdech, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Meetings, The Cambodian history in the last four decades recorded many major events that have extensive impacts on existence of the Cambodian nation. In some stages, the country almost disappeared. The creation of the regime of Democratic Kampuchea after the fall of the regime of Republic Khmer on April 17, 1975 drove Cambodia into the darkest era in its history. In the period of three years, eight months and twenty days, under the regime of Democratic Kampuchea, the regime’s leaders brought Cambodia that was inflicted already with disaster from the five-year war to the helm of the abyss of complete vanishing for its policy of genocide that is unprecedented in the history of mankind. Over three million people shockingly died whereas national infrastructure was destructively uprooted. The Cambodian fatherland was left in ashes, and soaked in people’s blood and tear. Those who survived lived in slavery, shocks, family disintegration, hunger, chronicle sickness, and were waiting to be killed. It was in such a dangerous circumstance that many cadres, soldiers and patriots who escaped the control of Pol Pot’s clique had convened and founded the National United Front for the Salvation of Kampuchea (NUFSK) on December 2, 1978, which is currently the National United Front for the Development of Cambodia to lead the people struggle for national liberation. With the cooperation and assistance provided by the Vietnamese voluntary army, on January 7, 1979, the NUFSK’s army liberated Phnom Penh and regions throughout Cambodia and eventually ceased the control of the regime of Democratic Kampuchea. The victory of January 7 is like a bright light that is shining over the fatherland of Cambodia for effectively ending the darkest moment of the history. The people of Cambodia remember always that ‘January 7 is their second birthday. If it were not for the January 7 victory day, we would not have everything we do today.’ Members of the Meeting, Dear Compatriots, One day after the liberation, on January 8, 1979, the People’s Republic of Kampuchea was founded under the leadership of the People’s Revolutionary Council of Kampuchea, which is the only legitimate representative of the people of Cambodia. The people’s authority started to restore the country from naught and in the situation where there was peace and war altogether, because we had to fight to prevent the return of the regime of genocide to protect the national revival. Nothing could prevent the advancement of our nation despite the fact that there were numerous obstacles to overcome. Under the correct leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party, the People’s Revolutionary Council, and the NUFSK, the people of Cambodia have continued to raise high the banner of national solidarity, defense and construction of the fatherland, while making gradual steps in restoring the nation until its eventual phasing out of the most difficult period, creating primary conditions and necessary facilities for national progress to the present. Over the past 32 years, after the January-7 victory, the Cambodian People’s Party has yielded numerous historic national achievements. In between 1979 and 1993, the Cambodian People’s Party had: 1. Prevented the return of the genocidal regime from coming back, which was effectively safeguarding the revival of our nation, 2. Brought for our people their rights and freedom, democracy, honor and dignity, that were lost completely under the regime of Democratic Kampuchea, 3. Restored and built the country’s socio-economics from zero, while ensuring revival and progress in all sectors so as to realize transformation into primary conditions for national restoration and development to the present, 4. Served as core in the process of national reconciliation, whereby contributing to the achievement of the Paris Peace Agreement on a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodian Problem on October 23, 1991, and also the main force that was indispensable in its implementation, In between 1993 and the Present time, the Cambodian People’s Party has: 1. Defended unreservedly national achievements, especially defending the Constitution that is the brilliant achievement of the Paris Peace Agreement, preventing the hostile actions, guaranteeing political stability, security, public order and sustainability of the state institutions, 2. Defended legitimate rights of our people, employments of Government officials and investment contracts from the State of Cambodia’s time, 3. Strengthened and widened pluralistic liberal democracy, while ensuring its constant progress, realizing national and sub-national, universal and non-universal suffrages that are free, fair and just. While resolved the post electoral political deadlocks in 1998 and in 2003, it also helped with the stability of the throne and amendment of the Constitution from the two-third majority to absolute majority system. 4. Put a complete end to the chronicle war, while achieving through the win-win policy a full peace and national unity in the whole country for the first time as of late 1998, 5. Restored and developed a sustainably progressing economic sector with achievement of 9.8% average growth from 1993 through to 2008, assured an ability to alleviate poverty, to uplift people’s wellbeing and sustain environmental and natural resources, while taking effective measures in cushioning impacts from international financial crisis on the Cambodian socio-economic situation, 6. Performed deeply state reform program with fruitful achievements which include fight against corruption, legal and justice reforms, public administrative reform, decentralization and de-concentration, reforms in the armed forces, public financial management reform, and reforms of land, forest and natural resource management, 7. Resolved border problem with neighboring country by peaceful means, while defending entirely national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national cultural heritages, 8. Integrated Cambodian into international community, within the regional and world frameworks, while strengthening relations with countries the world over and international institutions, actively participated in all regional and world affairs along the efforts to build the ASEAN Community by 2015, realized the registration of Preah Vihear temple with the World Heritages Committee, as well as become a member of the Permanent Committee of the World Heritages Committee, and later become Vice President of the said Committee. Cambodia has also served as a model for other countries to take lessons from its successful missions in de-mining and peace keeping operations under the banner of the United Nations, international cooperation in safeguarding, maintaining, conserving and developing cultures, as well as cooperation in the process of trying former senior leaders of the Democratic Kampuchea. These magnificent fulfillments have brought our nation pride and honor, cooperation and numerous assistances for the country’s development. In 2010, as the world, especially Asia, is making a recovery from financial crisis, the Royal Government of Cambodia under wise leadership of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen has ascertained various prideful achievements in the process of national development. We have ensured peace, political stability, while firm social order, democracy and rule of law have strengthened. In the economic sector we have achieved a 5% growth while maintaining a stable macroeconomic and people’s livelihood. These have ensured a prediction that Cambodia would achieve a 6% growth in 2011. The poverty line has slipped from 47% in 1993 to some 30% in 2007 and to 26% in 2010. This has proven that we have achieved a poverty alleviation of 1% per annum as planned. Along with this, Cambodian international relations in the year 2010 has been raised high with pride as witnessed by exchanges of high-level delegations with other countries, the visit of His Excellency the Secretary General of the United Nations to Cambodia and the country’s hosting of various international meetings within the regional and world frameworks, which have promoted cooperation, investments and developments in all fields, while clearly showing that Cambodia is in peace and stability. These results are in fact widening favorable conditions for further successes in continued implementation of national development plan in 2011. Members of the Meeting, Dear Compatriots From war to peace, from ashes and devastation to development and from social tragedy to harmony, we have carried out astonishing changes for our nation. We have achieved not only peace and development for the present, but also we have eliminated completely interior motive that would lead to war, while deep-rooting a firm peace and fortifying confidence for a better future for our people of all generations to come. On this occasion, on behalf of Samdech Akka Moha Punnhea Chakrei Heng Samrin and Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, I would like to express our profound gratitude to our compatriots from all walks of life for the supports they have kindly and confidently provided for the leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party no matter how hard those in ill-willed circles have sought all means to distort the Cambodian People’s Party’s just actions, and/or to destroy relations between the Party and the people. It is indeed the close bond between the Party and the people that is determinant factor of all successes of our nation. The Cambodian People’s Party firmly believes that in witnessing all national achievements and with spirit of responsibility for national supreme interest, the Royal Government, the National Assembly and the Senate as well as other state institutions that are representing people’s power will eventually realizing further successes in strengthening national stability, raising high rights and freedom, democracy and rule of law, socioeconomic development, and defense of sovereignty and territorial integrity. While adhering to the policy of the great national solidarity, the Cambodian People’s Party will continue to build up cooperation with other political parties and all patriotic circles aimed at gathering national energy for the cause of building and defending the fatherland. It is with this note that I believe that all political parties that are preparing for upcoming elections will adhere firmly to the principles of democracy and rule of law that is corresponding to the aspiration of our people, while reflecting national honor and dignity. The Cambodian People’s Party supports responsible and effective implementations of the laws for anti graft, land ownership and policy, forest and fisheries, etc. for the sake of defending and raising high people’s interest, while maintaining public order and improving further investment environment. The Cambodian People’s Party supports the process of trial in the Extraordinary Chamber in the Court of Cambodia on crimes committed by the most senior leaders of the Democratic Kampuchea, while appealing to international community to continue to provide spiritual as well as financial supports so that the trial process would complete in success on the basis of safeguarding all national achievements, especially the Cambodian hard-won and maintained peace and stability. The Cambodian People’s Party highly evaluates efforts of the Royal Government of Cambodia in the works of demarcation and border pole mounting with Vietnam and with Laos, while supporting continued efforts for completion of the job as planned, and condemning resolutely individuals or circles that are continuing actions aimed at deterring this important task. The Cambodian People’s Party welcomes results of the recent CLV (Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam) Summit, the CLMV (Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam) Summit, the ACMECS (Ayeyawadi-Chao Praya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy) Summit and the 6th ICAPP Meeting in Phnom Penh and will transform all resolutions therein into reality. It is indeed a great pride as the 6th ICAPP Meeting was participated by some 94 political parties and six international organizations that have appreciated and evaluated the Cambodian successes in its national reconciliation process through the win-win policy. Cambodia has been considered a model for the world in peaceful conflict resolution, national reconciliation based on political solution and the achievement of a strong political stability – the foundation on which our fatherland has made progress to the present. The Cambodian People’s Party would like to express contentment toward detent and steps towards normalization of situation along the Cambodian-Thai border that is corresponding to the aspiration of the peoples of the two countries, while reaffirming its entire support for the position of the Royal Government of Cambodia in continuing to resolve border problem with Thailand through peaceful negotiation on the basis of guaranteeing sovereignty and territorial integrity aimed at building a border of peace, cooperation and development. The Cambodian People’s Party pays high attention to maintaining stability of the current bilateral coalition Government and will carry on cooperation with Funcinpec. At the same time, on behalf of the Cambodian People’s Party, I would like to solemnly declare once again the support for the candidacy of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen for the position of Prime Minister for the coming fifth term and terms thereafter. Members of the Meeting, Dear Compatriots Over the past 32 years, the spirit of January 7 has enlightened us always and stayed as a source of strong encouragement that enables us to overcome obstacles of all sizes and times. The spirit of January 7 is solidarity, heroism and victory. On this occasion I would like to appeal to our compatriots from all walks of life throughout the country to hold on to the magnificent spirit of January 7 while continuing to strengthen national unity around the Royal Government under the lightshade of our revered HM the King so as to lead the Cambodian ship towards a brighter future. Finally, I would like to deeply thank Samdech, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, national and foreign guests, as well as members of the meeting, for their valuable presences in enlivening this event. May the four blessings go to Samdech the Supreme Patriarch and Buddhist monks, Samdech, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, national and foreign guests, as well as members of the meeting. Thank You!
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