His Excellencies the Deputy Prime Ministers, His Excellency the Senior Ministers,
His Excellency the Ministers who are here present, His Excellency the Governors,
the leaders, and especially the grandparents, uncles, aunts, and fellow citizens!
I would like to thank His Excellency Kim Rithy, Governor of Preah Vihear Province, and the team that organized this meeting. Thank you for the brief report just now about the efforts of the Provincial Government in setting up the safety center here as well as other places in Preah Vihear Province. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all relevant organizations, government officials, philanthropists, partners, national and international organizations, and friendly countries for providing support to the displaced persons. On this occasion, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to our military heroes and national police heroes who have sacrificed, been injured, and are still standing in the cause of protecting our land. And taking your presences here, most of you – (about) 90% – are families of our military and police who are standing to protect our land.
(1) Well aware of the tragedy of war, the RGC is working hard to end the war
Dear uncles, aunts, and all of you here have known already of the situation in the past 6 months. Our country has been badly affected by the war of aggression, which has caused the loss of life and property of our citizens, the army, and the police. Many homes and schools have been damaged. Cambodia knows the tragedy of war well. Therefore, the Royal Government is working hard to end and extinguish (the fire of war) as soon as possible. When the first outbreak occurred, we worked hard to establish diplomatic relations with other countries, both ASEAN and major international leaders, including President Donald Trump, and ended (the war, which had extended for) five days. At that time, we hoped that everything would be completely resolved and that there would be no more armed conflicts. We had had a tranquility for five months.
(2) Evacuating and preparing safe places for the displaced has been first priority of the Royal Government
Then, another fighting broke out and lasted for three weeks, and it took us till December 27, to be able to sign a ceasefire agreement. The people who know the tragedy of war the most are those directly involved, especially those on the front lines, both our army, police and military police who stand guard, both their families and our people who live in the conflict areas. This is a great tragedy. The goal of the Royal Government is to be with our people in all circumstances. When the war broke out, … the RGC’s first priorities were to order the provinces, local authorities, our forces to evacuate our people to safe places, to prepare safe places. I thank the Venerable Buddhist abbots, and the temple committees for allowing the temple site to be prepared as a safe shelter.
(3) Cambodia wants peaceful borders, and does not plan for war
We did not plan for war. We want peaceful borders with our neighbors. War has been tearing us apart for a long time. Cambodia does not want it because it affects the livelihoods and lives of our people. But it has happened. We must do what we can to ensure the safety of our people and support the forces. The most urgent is the innocent people. In the first fighting, we created a few safe havens. However, in the second time, the fighting was longer and more extensive. I thank His Excellency Kim Rithy who worked well and quickly since the first time and has also taken further measures this second time. I thank His Excellency Senior Minister Kun Kim for taking care of the problem, whether it is in Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, even in Banteay Meanchey and other places across the country, where this second clash has affected many provinces along the border.
(4) Providing accommodation, food, medical examination, schools … and establishing a permanent ceasefire
The Royal Government has been trying to resolve the situation as much as it can. The first step is to to make provisions so that people have accommodation, bathrooms, food (temporary schools so that) students can go to school … (when) they get sick, the Ministry of Health works with the Health Department to prepare to help (provide health care and treatment services). This is the first stage. The next stage is how to prevent it from becoming chronic. That is why we have reached a negotiated solution (to create an agreement) for this ceasefire – (to end) the first fighting of five days and the second fighting of 21 days as soon as possible to avoid further deaths of citizens and armed forces and destruction of homes.
Secondly, to ensure a permanent ceasefire (and) to achieve peace. We cannot allow the people, especially those on the border, to live in fear forever. I believe that it is very difficult for you here. Some people in the Orange and Yellow areas have not been able to go homes. Not only those in Preah Vihear here, even those in Battambang are worried because last time there was bombs dropped from 80 to 100 kilometers inland. We want to do something to restore peace so that our people, especially those on the border, don’t (continue to feel anxious for) not knowing when they will have to flee. (We want) to end it smoothly, to have relationships, to build trust so that we can ensure (that possibility).
(5) The displaced pain and concern for future are those of the Khmer nation
Some people mock the words “we thank for peace.” I think we should all know that if we keep fighting, people will suffer, especially those at the border. We all want to go home. We don’t want to run anymore. We just want a lasting peace and that the war won’t break out again. After this second battle, there are some places where we have lost control, and there are some places where people cannot go home yet. I know the difficulties, the pain, and the concern for the future. Please believe me that your feelings – either in this place or at the whole border area are that of the entire Khmer nation. As the government, we understand this feeling very well, so we are working hard to resolve it, particularly, the fear of what else to come.
(6) The Royal Government’s two major obligations are territory and people
In some places, even though the fighting stopped, people still don’t dare to go (back to their homes) because of landmines, unexploded ordnance, and other problems. We are trying to solve them because the Royal Government has two major obligations: territory and people. By people we mean their lives, property, and safety, whether it’s soldiers, police, military police stationed at the front, military families, or people all over the country … We hope that this ceasefire will continue. We seek to build a long-term peace. On Facebook, some people laugh at this word, but I believe that those sitting in this hall and those on the border who have been through the war (for the second time) for 21 days, our more than 100,000 people who have not been able to return, can certainly understand the value of that word. We want peace forever, not to have difficulties, not to have uncertainty (anymore) …
(7) CMAC accelerates clearance of UXOs, provincial authorities prepare for safety so that people can return
We must work hard to restore (this feeling). What does it mean? (It means we need to have) stability (through strengthening) the ceasefire, and where people who have fled can return, and we facilitate them (to return). When there was a strong fighting, (there were) 700,000 refugees across the country. We opened a lot of refugee camps. When it was over, there were many people who (so far) had already returned. Now, more than 500,000 people have returned. There are more than 100,000 left, including people in this center. So, we are scanning at where we can let out people return immediately … We facilitate. CMAC, provincial authorities, are preparing clearance of unexploded ordnance, preparing for safety, repairing schools, etc. Where there are still some problems, we are preparing, facilitating, and working hard to expedite clearance, so that people can return.
(8) Temporary shelters of well-being and livelihood opportunities while waiting for those who cannot return
For places with a medium to long-term settlement period, the Royal Government must consider arranging temporary shelters to be more stable than safe places or refugee centers. The Royal Government has established a committee to review and resolve temporary shelters for our brothers and sisters to make it easier to stay and be comfortable. Now we are arranging for hundreds of thousands of people in the pagoda area. We just put them in place because the war broke out already. That was an initial arrangement. In the medium to long term, for those who cannot return to their villages for the safety reason, we need to consider them. So, the National Disaster Management Committee, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction, and the Ministry of Interior have studied and prepared some places so that at least while waiting to return to their original places, they are not in such (uncertain and poor-state) centers … to help with welfare and provide livelihood opportunities during the waiting period …
(9) Settling border issue through law, diplomacy, and technology will bring about a long-term peace solution
Some citizens ask, if we set up a new site (for these displaced), does that mean we stop claiming the old site? No, we will continue to claim our territorial integrity. We have not given up the right to claim sovereignty over all our areas. We have not signed a ceasefire in exchange for land transfers. The work of measuring and managing the border issue must still comply with the international law. The Royal Government does not support the use of violence. We strive to settle it peacefully, using law, diplomatic mechanisms, and border techniques. This is of course slow and not as violent as shooting each other, but it ensures that this solution (when achieved) will be long-lasting and bring peace to all. The Cambodian-Thai border, technically speaking, is an international border, a border between states, governed by treaties and conventions. So, it must be resolved according to (legal, diplomatic, and technical border rules), not (should be) resolved by armed force.
(10) Demanding legal territorial sovereignty, and taking care of the displaced livelihood
Therefore, please allow me to clarify to you that this shelter is only a temporary shelter to provide comfort and livelihood to you while waiting (for when you can return to your original location). What the Royal Government is trying to solve is … on the one hand, demand legal territorial sovereignty based on existing mechanisms, techniques, diplomacy, and laws, rather than fighting, and on the other hand, while waiting, taking care of the displaced livelihood, not leaving anyone citizens behind. We are trying to do it before the rainy season (arrives). In this tent … how many people are there in each tent? four families. We can see that this place may be good enough for this month, and if it rains, even if it may provide some shelters, but you don’t want to stay like this for a long time. If we find a suitable, stronger place, we can move to a better settlement temporarily. This is the Royal Government’s effort.
(11) Let us maintain the spirit of Khmer national solidarity
In retrospect, I am asking for firstly understanding (because) our solution in the past may have been too much or too little. Please understand. What we (try) to solve (so far) is for the benefit of our people. Even if it is may be more or less, we will try to improve. Whether you are here or refugees elsewhere, we will try to solve it. (2) You maintain the spirit of our Khmer national solidarity … This is a difficult time for our nation, but the difficulties of out aunts, uncles, and brothers and sisters here are the difficulties of our entire Khmer nation, from the King to each citizen, who feels pain, pity, and cares for our entire nation. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Khmer people throughout the country and the world for their spirit of solidarity during this time when we have been facing the invasion for the past 6 months.
(12) Strong national unity and support for the heroes of the army and the police
Our citizens throughout the country are united in spirit, supporting the heroes of the army and the national police, and our military families. And our military families here are also willing to support their husbands who are doing their duty. May this spirit of solidarity and unity of the Khmer nation continue to be strong in all circumstances, especially in these difficult times, for you here … let there be no division. This is the strong strength of our Khmer nation, as well as for you all – across the country and abroad, as the Khmer. This is a great spirit. May our entire Khmer nation be strong through national unity. This is my request to you all here, as well as to the 17 million people across the country and around the world./.