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(1) Having participated in awarding UME university degrees multiple times, at various locations, and to many graduates
I think that among all universities in Cambodia, UME is one of the universities where I have participated in awarding degrees the most. This “most” does not mean just the number of times, but rather across many locations because UME has campuses in multiple places. I have been to Battambang a few times already. Secondly, Kratie, Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kampong Cham, and Koh Kong provinces. So, there are many. He told me that in the past, he was also worried. When I took over the higher position, he feared I might stop coming. I said I would still come, only that I would not be able to visit every location anymore. Today, we meet again at UME. Another major memory of UME involves the actual distribution of degrees. Now, he can no longer ask for it […] whenever I came to brother Tun Pheakdey’s place, he would ask for only 100 people at first. Two days later, he would ask for 200 people. As the graduation day approached, he would ask for 500 people.
On the final day, it would be everyone. Handing out degrees at brother Tun Pheakdey’s place sometimes meant sharing the task among 2,000 graduates. I was not alone; we passed it on consecutively. I remember one time with the former Governor, His Excellency Chan Sophal, we stood in line to hand them out. That is why I said I have distributed a lot of degrees—at many locations and to many graduates. He had his own way of lobbying. But now, lobbying is no longer possible because the protocol does not allow it. Wherever I arrive, they invite me in. When it is over, they invite me to return. We cannot stay behind. Importantly, the MC says, “Welcome Samdech to leave” […]
Today, I am very happy to come and meet you. A few days ago, I asked to check if it was possible to hold this event because 14 districts/towns were flooded. However, it has now receded a lot, with only Thma Koul remaining according to the report of His Excellency Sok Lou. Today, we meet in a spirit of celebration with the graduates who have worked hard and succeeded in their studies […] You do not study today and get a degree tomorrow. It takes 4 to 6 years. During this period, there are many challenges we face. We face not only homework, because the level of students is different from children. Children only know about coming back from school, and when they get home, their parents handle the meals… Some children have to help their parents due to livelihood, but most do not face too much hardship. As for students, most have had to take responsibility for themselves, and in some cases, they have already become parents.
(2) Expanding lower secondary schools to communes, enriching upper secondary schools, establishing higher education in every province, and providing learning opportunities from a young age
Today, I call you student brothers and sisters, or even student nieces and nephews, but in some places, there are even student uncles. When stepping up to receive the degree, I noticed an uncle who was already over 70 years old. He told me, “My nephew! I have wanted to study since our country was at war. During the Pol Pot era, there was no opportunity. After emerging from Pol Pot, I worked continuously. Now that I have time and am retired, I started wanting to study for a Master’s degree.” I remember one time in Kampot, at the UME Kampot campus located opposite a lower secondary school, a student came up to receive a degree. He was a teacher at that lower secondary school. So, crossing the street made him a teacher, and crossing back made him a student.
This demonstrates the growth, the opportunity, and the coverage of our education sector. Back when I was studying, the number of universities was limited upon graduation. At that time, after finishing high school, we did not enter the first year directly—or what some places call the foundation year. Today, the foundation year and the first year are the same. Back then, we had to take a preparatory year just to sit for an exam to win a seat. Provinces faced hardships because there were not many universities open. Now, in Battambang, we have many universities; besides UME, there are the National University of Battambang, Dewey International University, and many others […] which facilitates the absorption of citizens and youth who finish high school and need to pursue further studies.
This abundant opportunity enables Cambodian people, whether in the capital Phnom Penh or in the provinces. Currently, among the 25 capitals and provinces, there is not a single province that lacks higher education institutions. Now, we have pushed primary schools down to the village level. In the future, we will strive to expand lower secondary schools to the communes, and make upper secondary schools more comprehensive and accessible so that our children and grandchildren have had the opportunity to study from a young age. Let us prevent them from dropping out of school.
(3) The future of each individual is the future of a family and of a nation …
Just now, His Excellency Tun Pheakdey mentioned that from high school to university, we lose about 10 percent of students, but if we look from primary school all the way to high school graduation, we also lose a significant amount. Ten percent is not a small number. That 10 percent represents Cambodia’s human resources—the future of each individual, the future of a family, and the future of a nation where 10 percent of its cells did not grow to full potential. This is true whether counting from primary school to secondary school, from secondary school to lower secondary school, from lower secondary school to high school, or from high school to higher education.
Over the past years, and throughout several mandates, the Royal Government of Samdech Techo has strived to expand schools everywhere. How can one attend university if they have not even studied in the first grade? I always say that in this era, no matter what AI can do, it still cannot download skills directly into our brains. I can read speeches, write, and complete higher education because I started from day one, learning the letter “Ka” and the number 1. If I did not know the letters Ka, Kha, Ko, or the numbers from 1 to 10 and up to billions, I would not have evolved to this point. Basic education and training continuous all the way to higher education.
Higher education represents the quality of our human resources in terms of the duration of learning. Nowadays, we do not only learn in school. We have opportunities to learn through work by expanding employment across multiple sectors to the provinces nationwide, along with various other learning and working possibilities, not just within training schools. The important point is where to go after graduation, what the job opportunities are, and what skills are needed. It is not just about schooling and general education, but also about skills training in TVET, technology, and various other fields of knowledge to equip students according to actual demands, which is absolutely necessary.
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(4) As a border province, Battambang faces two unforeseen challenges: aggressive war and flooding
Before concluding, allow me to take this opportunity to praise the Battambang Provincial Administration, specialized departments, civil servants at all levels, authorities at all levels—provincial, district/town, and commune—as well as all armed forces in the province who have worked actively to promote development in all sectors and have strived to assist citizens in all circumstances. Battambang is one of the provinces along the Cambodian-Thai border. Over the past year or so, it has faced many major unforeseen challenges, two of which stand out. First: aggressive war that has affected border districts and the economy along the border. Second: flooding. Thus, Battambang is a frontline province that must directly confront these issues. The people of Battambang province are also those who have directly faced these unexpected affairs and challenges in 2025–2026. Hopefully, in this year of 2026, the bad things will come to an end, and the year 2027 will bring peace and prosperity to the people of Battambang and to the entire country. We cannot just pray. We must strive to maintain and prevent suffering from recurring by implementing solutions and continuing to strengthen ourselves across all sectors.
(5) One hand holding the defensive line alongside the military, while the other hand assists citizens fleeing from war and flooding
We cannot just sit around and wait for angels to bless us from the sky or for our ancestors to grant us blessings during the Pchum Ben festival to create things for us without striving to work hard ourselves. In fact, during the recent outbreak of armed clashes, some border districts in the province, including Phnom Proek, Kamrieng, and Samlout, experienced fighting, shelling, and attacks on certain points, though it was not as severe as in Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, and Pursat. The border locations caused a number of Battambang citizens to become displaced refugees who require continuous assistance. Our armed forces—the police, the army, and the gendarmerie—together with ordinary citizens, civil servants, and community security guards, have worked hard to help one another. One hand held the line with the military, while the other hand assisted the citizens. It was the same with the floods.
A few days ago, I went to Banteay Meanchey. Coming here, I came secretly. When using the phrase “came secretly,” people wondered where I went and why I sneaked out. Why be so afraid? I said I was not afraid. What I feared was not a safety issue; I feared causing a disturbance to others. During a flood, if it is announced that the Prime Minister is coming down, I dare to bet 100 percent that even if there is an order not to deploy security forces, some forces would still have to provide protection. Brothers and sisters would run to security posts because the Prime Minister is visiting. Who would be there to help the people if forces are being pulled back and forth or deployed? We do not want to create an extra burden for them. Ever since I was with the Army, it has been the same. I travel with just two cars. Regarding my personal safety within Cambodian territory, there is absolutely nothing to worry about.
(6) “Whether at the border and/or inside the country … my bodyguards all along the way are the citizens”
There was a time in Kampong Cham during the 2013 election campaign. At night, I traveled from Tboung Khmum to Kang Meas. Upon reaching a certain road, the car slipped. The road had just been graded. When it rained, the mud became slippery, causing the vehicle to slide off the road. A few of us could not push it out. I got behind the wheel myself because the driver was not very experienced with that. I drove but still could not get it through because it was stuck deep. An elderly uncle walked over to peek from a distance. Looking through the window, he exclaimed, “Oh! It’s Hun Manet.” He then ran back to the village. I thought to myself, “Oh, why did he leave like that?” It was around 9:00 PM at the time, pitch black. About 10 minutes later, he returned with almost the entire village, bringing ropes and tools to help. They helped pull the car up. I said, “If we do good deeds, if we work to help the citizens, we have nothing to fear.”
An interviewer once asked me, “You travel around without worrying about safety?” When I was the Army Commander, wherever I went, I did not have a security detail; I had only one driver and one bodyguard. There were no escort motorcycles or trailing security vehicles. They asked if traveling like that was fine. When I was a prime ministerial candidate, people asked, “Aren’t you worried when walking around?” In America, if someone is a candidate or holds such a position, they start providing bodyguards and security to protect them because they are afraid something might happen. I replied, “My bodyguards all along the way are the citizens.” I shared this experience with them. Whether at the border and/or inside the country, traveling quietly like that is convenient […]
The other day, I went to Chi Phat in Koh Kong, a natural ecotourism site that does not have a bridge yet. I arrived there and took the ferry back. No one knew about it at all. Later on, I posted a video. I went to look at the scenery. Some people guessed I was in Koh Kong, Kampot, or somewhere else. We went to observe the actual situation and the development in that area to see how we should plan for the future. The most important thing is not causing a disturbance. If I had provided information ahead of time, the district governor probably would not have been able to get any work done that day. He would definitely have come down to wait for me, and the commune chief would have done the same. We went to work directly with the citizens, which is a good thing.
(7) Whether it is war and/or flooding, the Royal Government’s approach is to prioritize saving lives
The other day, when I came to Battambang, the provincial governor knew about it. I instructed that there should be no publicity to avoid disturbing the citizens. Since the water was flooding, there was no need to call the citizens out to welcome me. There was no need at all. Wherever we could go, we just went. When going to Banteay Meanchey, no one was asked to welcome me either. They led me to see a flooded area near a stream inside a gated community (Borey) to look at the situation on the ground. Going down like this makes the work much easier. I saw the assistance provided here by the province, the authorities, the police, and the gendarmerie who went to check Ek Phnom; however, it was not just Ek Phnom and Battambang municipality that were flooded. It affected 14 districts/towns. His Excellency the Governor has routinely reported to me regarding the situation before the floods, the border situation, where problems occurred, and how our troops were doing. During the floods, the armed forces went out to rescue the citizens. I followed the situation closely.
As of this hour, the two challenges I mentioned were unforeseen because they were beyond our control. First, we did not predict the aggressive war. We thought there would be no armed clashes up there, let alone knowing it would spread across the entire border line. Second, the flooding. We cannot tell the angels or pray to them to stop the floodwaters. Some people even joked that someone must have prayed too hard, causing too much water to come. However, as of this hour, the water has already receded in some areas, while it remains high in our neighboring countries. As the water receded, we began the recovery process. Striving to help the citizens is an important task. In Battambang province, the priorities that must be addressed for both—whether war or flooding—are identical. These two issues fall under a single priority for the Royal Government.
The approach is the same: save lives first. Whatever you do, do not regret losing material possessions or property. If shells are incoming, evacuate the citizens out of harm’s way first; if floodwaters are rising, find high safe grounds. When floodwaters rush in, rescue them to safety first. As for soaked mattresses or belongings, we can dry them out later. Save their lives first. The other day when I went to Banteay Meanchey, I met an elderly uncle from Steung Bot. In the evening, the water rose normally […] an elderly aunt said she would not leave because the water was rising slowly and she would be fine. But when the water rushed in heavily, she had to flee wearing only a sarong tied around her chest (Chong Pung). Our forces had to carry her out on their shoulders.
(8) For displaced people, handling specific situations where they can return or must wait; for floods, restoring/repairing damaged roads as water recedes, and providing seeds if crops are destroyed …
The first priority is life. The second is their well-being. This means evacuating them from dangerous places to high safe grounds. During war, it means helping them escape from shelled areas. During floods, it means getting them out of flooded zones to a safe area or region where we can manage their food, shelter, and health. Seven hundred thousand displaced people nationwide is no small matter. However, the cooperation among ourselves, the participation of our citizens, philanthropists, and venerable monks everywhere—both inside and outside the country—has provided immense encouragement. Combined with our armed forces and local authorities, they have done an excellent job, and Battambang province in particular has performed this task very well.
This is the priority approach to solving the problem. Next is the consideration for recovery. I explained this yesterday, so I do not need to repeat it. Recovery for displaced refugees means determining which places they can return to, and how we handle the situations where they must wait during the initial phase of negotiations to reclaim our territory. It is the same for floods; as the water recedes and people return, we must restore the roads if they are damaged. If crops are destroyed, we must consider providing seed rice and crop seeds to help them recover. No matter the war, the flood, or the severity of the disaster, the Royal Government’s approach always prioritizes people above all else. Among the people, life is the absolute number one priority that we must care for. Wealth, property, and other things are secondary priorities […]
(9) Authorities, armed forces, disaster management, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance dropped relief kits to relevant provinces in a timely manner
As of this hour, I believe that across the nation, and particularly in Battambang province—which is one of the frontline provinces—we have implemented all these tasks very well. Floods look like a misfortune. Yesterday, we had a village chief whose boat capsized, but generally, there were no citizens who suddenly went missing with the water when the flash floods hit. Some motorcyclists fell into the water, but cases where the burden became unmanageable, where soldiers could not evacuate them, where people were stranded on roofs, or where the water swept them away, simply did not happen.
We resolved it in time. Most areas in Battambang are not like Banteay Meanchey. Banteay Meanchey suffered major flooding. In Ek Phnom, people could still stay inside their houses, though there were some districts where evacuations were necessary. I would like to take this opportunity to praise, highly appreciate, and thank once again the authorities of the province, districts, and towns, all the armed forces, national-level authorities and institutions, the National Committee for Disaster Management, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance for distributing rescue kits to the relevant provinces in a timely manner.
Relevant ministries and institutions must also prepare themselves to help with recovery, whether regarding infrastructure or rice crops. This year, the flood is immense. In some years, we have heavy rainfall but the river water is not that high, so the water recedes quickly. In other years, the river water is high but rainfall is low. This year, both the river water is high and the rainfall is heavy. However, rainfall and short-term flooding are still not quite the same as a 21-day war.
(10) Having experienced a history of foreign occupation twice, the people of Battambang understand the risks and dangers of war
During the 21-day war, let me ask the people of Battambang: “How many of you were within the impact zone of incoming shells?” […] did anyone experience bombs being dropped, or is there anyone here from Banan? In Banan, it was like F-16s coming down to drop bombs on Phnom Touch […] how many of you were frightened during those 21 days of fighting? […] Let’s see how many would raise their hands. Were you scared? When I was young, we only heard about B-52s. Nowadays, people no longer know B-52s; they know F-16s. How many felt terrified before the second round of fighting ended on December 27? Or during the first round of fighting? How many thought about what might happen again tonight or tomorrow? […] How many felt a heavy chest knowing that war was raging every single day? Everyone? […] Everyone felt a heavy chest. We saw the bombings getting deeper and deeper. We didn’t know when they would reach the town.
How many thought that if it continued, they might bomb the town? Let’s see those who think so raise their hands. Think about that moment, not right now. Think about then, because day by day, it was penetrating deeper. How many thought Battambang could become a target, especially the 5th Military Region Headquarters here in Battambang? How many thought about that? How many lived near the Regional Headquarters? Were you still staying there at that time? Yes. But you hoped they wouldn’t come? Because Battambang had been bombed before in 1941 when the French fought the Siamese. There is historical precedent because Battambang has experienced wars of occupation twice already. I believe that you understand the risks and dangers of war. In the past, people used to say the younger generation was born after the shelling, after the UNTAC era, or those born in the year 2000.
(11) “Peace is most valuable when it is lost”… hoping that from this moment onward, misfortune will fade away from Cambodia
Now, it is no longer about being after the shelling. We can say this generation is the generation during the shelling and bombings—which is not a point of pride for us, but it has already happened. Those who know the true value of peace, as I mentioned before, only do so when that word “peace” disappears. During those 21 days, especially during the second outbreak of fighting, that word completely vanished, particularly here in Battambang province. At that time, perhaps you understood more clearly how valuable that single word “peace” truly is—precisely when it was lost. Day by day, everyone sat with an anxious heart, not knowing how deep they would penetrate. Drones were seen flying all over town. No one knew where they would target next. Becoming so paranoid about drones, even when seeing regular airplanes, people claimed they were drones too.
Let’s see, who mistook airplanes for drones out of sheer panic? Speaking with those who know war and do not want war, with those who encountered it firsthand—the people of Battambang province are the frontliners, the ones who experienced it directly. Therefore, you understand why we always use the phrase “Thank You, Peace.” What is the value of peace? Peace is most valuable when it is gone. In fact, 21 days have already passed. For those in Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear, it was 27 days, and they have known it since years ago. This is about finding solutions and setting a forward direction by maintaining a clear approach, with the hope that starting in 2027, or starting from this very moment, all bad luck and misfortune will end across the entire country of Cambodia, including Battambang province.
(12) Resolving territorial integrity by choosing an approach that avoids deaths/injuries, enabling livelihoods and economic recovery
Let us prevent F-16s, 155mm artillery shelling, and reconnaissance or attack drones from flying, where citizens have to dodge bullets without knowing what the future holds. I believe that when the fighting was happening, there was no mood to study. Let’s see, how many woke up in the morning thinking, “What else is going to happen today?” Just seeing more fighting and more explosions made some people unable to get out of bed, feeling depressed. As for me, the one resolving the problem, I had to sit and monitor the situation continuously. There was a brother—one of our citizens in Phnom Penh—who said that just seeing that in the morning made him depressed […] even if the sun rose and the sky was clear, it still looked like dark clouds. Let’s see, who else felt that way when the shells were falling?
We must act to prevent those dark clouds from returning. Territorial integrity is an obligation that the Royal Government must resolve, but we choose a method that avoids deaths and injuries, creating conditions for you to run businesses and recover. The global economy is currently facing difficulties, Cambodia’s economy is also struggling, and our citizens—especially those along the border—have suffered consecutive issues from war, border closures, and floods. Now, we must rise up, continue the journey forward, and strengthen ourselves. This is the approach of the Royal Government. The loss of control over certain areas does not mean that we agree to cede them to others; let me clarify this. Previously, I spoke about “loss” versus “loss of control.” Image-wise, it looks the same: we can no longer stay in that place or enter it. But do they own it legally? No, they do not, as long as we do not sign it away to them.
(13) “Demanding solely the implementation of the 1904 Convention and the 1907 Treaty … with the attached annex maps …”
The Royal Government has not signed anything away to anyone. We are only demanding our land in accordance with the 1907 Treaty. We are not going to demand Buriram, nor are we going to demand Surin. We ask solely for what is stipulated in the 1904 Convention, the 1907 Treaty, and the attached annex maps […] we take only that much. We protect our legitimacy. The conventions and treaties already exist. We must enforce them. Some brothers and sisters said, “It is all the same; how can you talk so foolishly like that?” […]
Regarding the illegality of their control, we will continue to demand our rights going forward. If we talk about the loss of control and its eventual return, Battambang is a province that has already experienced this in history. From 1795 to 1907, there was a shift in control. At that time, the neighboring country came to govern Battambang province and several surrounding provinces. It was the same in 1941 when the Japanese entered. It was not until 1946 that they left. Let me ask: today, are you in Cambodia or elsewhere? You are in Khmer territory, in Cambodia. You are not under any foreign country.
Even though during certain phases, control was lost over some parts of Chouk Chey and Prey Chan villages, the rest of the province plus several other provinces remain ours, and our necessity and demands will never end. We press on. Let us look at history, which shows how we reclaimed our provinces. It was not through fighting, but through utilizing international pressure. At that time, there was France and other nations acting in accordance with treaties and conventions. It was the same in 1946; after Japan lost the war, they withdrew due to international diplomatic pressure from third parties, France, and others.
(14) “Losing control over certain areas … continuing to demand them back through diplomacy and legal channels … at all times”
Defending our territory remains our obligation. It is regrettable that clashes occurred. We have lost control over certain areas. We are not happy about it, nor do we recognize it. Let me ask: did we retreat? Everywhere, there has been the sacrifice of our soldiers’ blood—including those from Battambang—who laid down their lives on the battlefield to defend every millimeter of our country. Currently, we continue to fight, but we fight through diplomacy and legal channels to demand it back. When some people claim it is completely lost, there is no truth to it. As long as we do not sign to recognize or agree to cede it to them, it remains our legitimate territory.
We will continue to use the law and diplomacy, and demand it back through these mechanisms at all times. We do not expect or want it to take 100 years like before 1907 to reclaim it, or 5 years like during World War II between 1941 and 1946. We want to resolve it completely. That is why our pressure and movements continue on a constant basis. We understand that without mutual agreement, the fighting will never end. Using military force to fight each other will never end. In the very end, it cannot be concluded by force. The year 1907 concluded with a treaty. The year 1946 concluded by leveraging international enforcement to apply pressure for their withdrawal from our land. We will use this method as long as the methods of diplomacy and international law still provide opportunities for resolution.
(15) We may built houses and provided a new livelihood, yet desiring for citizens to return to our legitimate land
We have the JBC and MOU mechanisms through which we work together. Regarding Border Markers 52 and 59, we have already conducted measurements. Currently… we are building roads, and they are also building roads along the border, in line with what exists. It is just that the JBC has followed different procedures for the sections not yet completed, but our troops remain there to protect it every day. Some brothers and sisters see them building fences and claim they are taking our land. No, they are building inside their own territory. In some areas along the border where our citizens’ plantations extended into their side, they built fences and reclaimed it.
In other places where they entered our territory, they had to withdraw. The other day, in the Thai newspapers, Thai citizens living between Border Markers 52 and 59 came to demand compensation from their government because several plantations had to be demarcated over to our side following the measurements. However, we do not want to dig up the details publicly; we will wait for the right time to explain it technically. I do not want to speak on behalf of the JBC because this phase is the operational phase. We clarify. We work. I see some pages and some individuals—some of whom are politicians looking for political gain—claiming that “whenever you see them building a road, it definitely means we are abandoning it to them.”
That is not the case. In some places, adjustments and precise measurements have been made. If the negotiation mechanism, the mechanism leading to the definition according to the existing conventions and agreements through the JBC and MOU, remains valid, we will continue to resolve it […] we want it resolved quickly and promptly so that our more than 20,000 citizens can return. The government wants that. We are not happy. Even though we are capable of resolving the issue by building 4,000 to 5,000 houses for the citizens to provide them with a new livelihood, we are still not pleased with this situation. We want our citizens to be able to return to our legitimate territory […]
(16) “Absolutely not recognizing the use of force to seize territory …” and requesting AOT to witness the next measurement inspection
I believe the people of Battambang understand. Solving matters through bullets yields no long-term influence. Territory can be seized in the short term, but it cannot be occupied for the long term without an agreement between the two nations. Cambodia absolutely does not recognize the use of force to seize territory. This is Cambodia’s stance. It violates international law. Some brothers and sisters argue that it takes too long and we should not place hope on international law, yet they demand that we file a lawsuit. Let me clarify that we reserve the right to use all means to reclaim our legitimate territory.
As an immediate priority, we must utilize existing legal possibilities and agreements through diplomacy, without the need for further bloodshed. The people of Battambang, Kamrieng, Samlout, and those affected also want to live in peace. Let us finish the measurements, measuring in accordance with the treaties and conventions agreed upon more than 100 years ago. Let it be measured by the committee that has been mutually agreed upon.
I raised a request that during the next measurement, the AOT (Border Action Team) from both sides be involved as witnesses to inspect, as it falls under their duty to oversee. We have also brought the AOT to inspect all locations. We went to inspect the area around Border Markers 52 and 59, as well as the problem areas where the Thai military controls territory beyond the border line, in order to verify as witnesses. The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights also went to inspect. We do not hide anything. We display it to ensure justice for the brothers and sisters studying here.
(17) “No war is ever ended by war” …
I believe there is no shortage of patriots who would dare to take up arms and fight to reclaim it. However, if we have choices other than bloodshed, we should give our brothers and sisters the opportunity to breathe, strengthen themselves, work to support their families, and help the national economy make Khmer stronger while we look for a peaceful resolution. Would you choose this method? I believe we will give priority to choosing this method first. Fighting never ends. Believe me. No war is ever ended by war. This is the principle of the government.
In our generation, the civil war could not eliminate the Khmer Rouge through weapons. We ended it through the Win-Win Policy. Every country fights and then negotiates. The US and Iran fight; a superpower with another country still tries to negotiate to end it anyway. If they cannot agree yet, it bounces back and forth. Whether a large country or a small country, blood is the same; it is just a matter of more or less blood. I believe that our citizens, especially those in Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, and Pailin—this time Pailin was not hit yet, but the people of Pailin were also frightened.
They do not want a next time. And we cannot be sure there won’t be a next time either. The Governor of Pailin is right here. In Pursat and Koh Kong, if fighting breaks out along the border, displaced refugees will rush inland. With 700,000 displaced refugees having emerged, setting up shelters within the affected provinces alone was not enough. We had to push them to Siem Reap, Kampong Speu, and other provinces to expand the shelter locations. If the fighting had lasted longer than 21 days, there would probably have been no fewer than 1 million people […]
(18) “Is it necessary to push people to their deaths in combat if other solutions exist … let us exhaust all possibilities first …”
If we choose war, these situations will not end. When the US and Iran fought, it was hoped that it would end within 48 hours. Now, how many months has it been, and it is still not over? For Russia and Ukraine, it was hoped the fighting would last 72 hours… now it has been 4 years, and it is not over yet. Even a small country has hands to fight back. The Cambodian people are not cowards, but as a leader, is it necessary for us to push people to their deaths in combat? If there are other solutions, let us exhaust all possibilities first. Talking is very different from bearing the responsibility of making a decision […]
I say that if we want peace, from now on let us breathe, let us build and recover our economy which is facing difficulties. Hundreds of millions in budget have to be deployed to help restore the economy and ease the burden. When oil prices rose, we reduced the special tax on all imported fuel to prevent oil prices from spiking too high. We spent nearly $500 million, including $50 million for the EDC (Electricite du Cambodge). Yesterday evening, a brother calculated back and forth, multiplying our hydropower numbers and claiming that the state subsidizing this electricity price benefits this or that person […]
Hydropower is not affected by price fluctuations. No matter how fuel prices go up or down, the government’s purchase contract price remains exactly the same; it does not affect the price. However, what makes electricity expensive is that renewable energy production accounts for only 62%. For the remaining 38%, we rely on coal and diesel, which require a massive amount of heavy machinery. That type of production is what drives the cost up.
(19) “… Territory, human lives, and the livelihoods of the people are choices that have been carefully considered at all times …”
Goods inflation. If oil prices rise, transportation costs rise as well. If we use one liter of fuel that used to cost this much, and if we did not intervene, gasoline would spike by 500 to 600 Riels per liter, and diesel would also spike by 500 to 600 Riels per liter. Even though our intervention could only absorb about 9% to 10% of it, that stabilization alone cost us $500 million. If we took that money to wage a war, it would be gone in a flash. Firing weapons is extremely expensive. However, what is truly priceless is human life—whether of our soldiers or our citizens. If a war breaks out, your homes and opportunities will be lost once again. If bombs were dropped on Battambang municipality, would you be able to sit here and study, work at banks or various workplaces, or open shops?
No. Everything would close, and everyone would flee. That cost is immense. It is more expensive than anything we can count. We can say that there are methods to resolve and end the problem. Please believe that our considerations at all times are for the citizens. Territory, human lives, and the livelihoods of the people are choices that have been made. For the people of Battambang province, I say it again and again: in every forum, we must remind ourselves of the obligation to strive to defend our territory… These are a few thoughts I wanted to raise for our students and intellectuals, who are the future of our nation and territory.
(20) Allowing time to breathe, study, and work … strengthening the economy and resolving internal affairs are key factors for long-term national defense
Every day, looking at Facebook, we still see posts about losing land, asking why we don’t fight to take it back, or why it is taking so long. I think some brothers and sisters have the right to feel annoyed or tired of waiting for so long, but being hasty leads to no results. Taking time is better. We move with clear steps that yield sustainable, long-term outcomes. Acting hastily for a brief moment provides only an image, but it does not bring much benefit. It can destroy the peace of the citizens and can create even longer-lasting problems, especially for those living along the border. Coming to Battambang, I am meeting the very people who live directly alongside the realities of war.
Now, let us allow time to breathe, allow students to study and go out to work, allow time to strive for recovery to bring income into families, and allow time for us to strengthen every single location. This strengthening of ourselves is the key factor for long-term national defense. We must strengthen our economy and resolve internal affairs, especially the livelihoods of our citizens. Let us keep hardships, bombs, and other things from exploding, and instead create an environment to address the challenges we cannot predict, such as floods and recovery.
We are doing this for real, not for show. We will continue to do so. Every level—village, commune, district, town, province, and capital—must strive to resolve all difficulties of the people, strive to serve the people better, and strive to create new achievements for the citizens in their respective localities. This is the commitment that an environment of peace facilitates… let us take this opportunity to strengthen ourselves.
(21) Following the construction of wastewater management systems, landfills, and water treatment facilities … Battambang has now reached the phase of urban road construction
After the floods, we have reached the recovery phase. We must strive to get it done. In Battambang province, a road in Koas Krala was washed out, even though it seemed to have been completed just a few months ago. I saw a young man post a video showing a road that used to be beautifully constructed, but now one side of it is completely split. He remarked that a road he used to ride on with such a refreshing feeling has now become a hardship. We must restore it. As long as our citizens are alive and still using the roads, we still have the opportunity to rebuild and continue addressing whatever is left behind.
The other day, I saw some citizens submit a request, and His Excellency the Governor also submitted a request regarding the urban roads in Battambang municipality. When receiving His Majesty the King returning from Beijing recently, Samdech Kralahom—as the head of the government working group for Battambang province—also raised the issue of urban roads in Battambang. Let the floodwaters wash away the old problems. Now, during this fresh start, we will rebuild and repair them to be even better than before. For Battambang province […] possibly very soon or before the end of the year […] we had already done some work before the floods came, which was the rehabilitation of urban roads. Among those projects, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, working with ADB credit funds from 2019 to this past September 2026, has already completed two phases.
We have put in place certain infrastructure systems, such as wastewater management, landfills, and clean water treatment facilities. Now, it has reached the phase where we must construct the roads. Under this project, there are 21 major roads in Battambang province. I asked His Excellency Peng Ponea, and he stated that the final bidding process is underway, and starting around this coming November, we can begin the rehabilitation of major roads within Battambang municipality. Has anyone strained their back riding on them lately? In addition to that, the Royal Government has also approved the construction of 7 additional roads, totaling 11 kilometers, using our national budget… and work has already been completed in some areas.
(22) “… War recedes means fewer human casualties and reduced spending, but increase development driven by peace, stability, and a good environment …”
The other day when I came here and visited Ek Phnom, there was a section of over one kilometer where DBST (Double Bituminous Surface Treatment) had just been laid—the asphalt hadn’t even fully cured yet—and the floodwaters rose and submerged it… but it was only minor damage […] there is a big difference between “some damage” and “nothing left.” We have managed to build some, but with the 7 additional roads spanning 11 kilometers, it brings the total to 28 roads, focusing on major, key roads as our top priority. When building these, we are not just constructing roads, but also installing drainage systems. They must be planned together—do not build the road only to lay pipes later, or lay pipes only to rebuild the road. They reported to me that the drainage systems are being constructed concurrently with the roads. Those 7 roads must also include drainage systems. In areas where drainage systems already exist, restore and connect them. For roads that have not been built yet, this work must be taken into account. Do not build a road only to dig it up for a sewer, or build a sewer that cuts across the road. Do them together. As a gift for the people of Battambang, this can begin before the new year 2027, following the recent floods and bombings.
The new year will start off progressively well, beginning right with the roads. Today, we also have 2,001 graduates as a new addition to Battambang’s human resources. This is what we want […] a reduction in war means fewer human casualties and reduced spending, but brings an increase in development driven by peace, stability, and a good environment moving forward. Whether the economic situation rises or falls is part of the economic cycle, but during difficult times, we must seize the opportunity to strengthen ourselves. During this challenging period, we have implemented numerous reforms to strengthen our position. Launching crackdowns to sweep away certain security issues that tarnish the country’s reputation is something we have been doing since the final years of the previous mandate. The operations against online gambling have been carried out since the end of the previous mandate, when Samdech Techo assigned the task to Samdech Kralahom to lead.
At the start of this mandate, His Excellency Abhisantibandith Sar Sokha, Minister of Interior, has continued to lead the effort. Before the war broke out, we had already established a crackdown commission early in the year, but due to the war, we paused briefly. Now, we are striking harder, strengthening ourselves, and scrubbing away the dirt.
(23) “Even though there are immediate challenges to resolve … the government does not forget to invest in the education and healthcare sectors …”
Secondly, regarding social investments […] even though we provide assistance to resolve immediate challenges, whether caused by war or inflation […] whenever a war breaks out in other countries, it drives oil prices up and we have to intervene […] yet we do not forget to invest more. We invest in education and the healthcare sector. In the past, there was a misunderstanding that money was cut from education and healthcare to increase the national defense budget. I already clarified after the meeting concluded that the education budget increased by 4.7%, reaching a total volume of over $1.1 billion. We are increasing teacher recruitment. Currently, we are recruiting contract teachers. Next year, we will invest further to expand the school system and education system, building additional lower and upper secondary schools. The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training is investing in human resource training.
Despite the difficulties, we must execute and we must strengthen. The military is reforming. It is our obligation to strengthen our people. The defense sector is important, but we are not going to withdraw funds from healthcare or education, which are vital sectors for building human resources. We have implemented many military reforms, but I will not elaborate on that matter here. Internal military affairs are not meant to be discussed or explained on a public forum. I ask for your understanding. Since the fighting broke out, what our military has strengthened—I don’t even know, yet it turns out Ta James Sok seems to know better than me. Yesterday evening, Ta James Sok looked at how the administration is strengthening this or that. He knows better than me. His spies must be stronger than the decision-maker himself. The decision-maker doesn’t even know […]
(24) “… Strengthen human resources, national defense, national security … and technology …”
We must strengthen human resources, national defense, and national security. We are also strengthening technology that relates to both civilian applications and national security. I will wait for a day when the situation is convenient to detail what we have done, though perhaps some of you might have already noticed it. Some people know. His Excellency Vong Pisen is here, worried that I might leak something. We are reforming at the ministry level, the general command level, the service branches, the military regions, the sub-operational areas, and the border protection units. What exactly we are reforming, I will not say, but we are reforming. Venerable monks, please do not mind that I will not disclose what is being reformed.
Now regarding military service, do any of the venerable monks want to volunteer for the first batch? Back during the military officer exams, there were monks here in the 5th Military Region. The committee and subcommittee reported that five monks requested to leave the monkhood just to sit for the military officer exam. If they passed the exam and entered the academy, they wouldn’t need to re-ordain; if they failed, they would return to the pagoda. Why did the monks have to leave the monkhood? Because the military exam consists of two parts. The written exam covers general knowledge and English. They could still wear their saffron robes for that, but on the second day, there is a physical test which includes running, long jump, and shot put. If they didn’t leave the monkhood, they couldn’t wear athletic shorts and wouldn’t be able to beat the others at jumping.
Throwing a shot put might be possible, but throwing it while wrapped in a saffron robe wouldn’t work out either. Now we have changed things. In the past, when we lacked schools, young boys would ordain as monks just to pursue further education. Nowadays, there are monks studying at Buddhist schools and at private schools as well. There are no restrictions… they are all Cambodia’s human resources within the religious sector. The spiritual and secular realms are the same, regardless of the religion. We are implementing reforms […] not only in the military and national defense sectors, but we are also carrying out many reforms in the economic sector and several other fields. You might ask if we are done? Not yet. Challenges remain, still.
(25) “When facing consecutive pain from war and flooding … do not lose heart, but confront it by finding solutions, improving, and strengthening ourselves …”
We did not just start reforming after the war. We have been reforming for more than 40 years. Challenges exist. No country is without challenges. We can sit in Cambodia and compare ourselves with another country, but if we ask the citizens in that country, they have challenges just the same. Within a nation, just like in Buddhism, life must reach Nirvana to end karma; otherwise, everyone must face karma. The karma of a country includes strengths and weaknesses that require constant adjustment. We must carry out all these reforms amidst difficulties. This is actual experience. When we face consecutive pain from both floods and war, we have two choices. Choice one: we fall, we do not get up, we lose heart, and some people even go as far as committing suicide, or our country fails to recover. Or we take choice two: we must confront the challenges, find solutions, and improve to strengthen ourselves, as in some places, reforms can strengthen ourselves best precisely when we meet with complications. If everything is comfortable, people will say it is fine, why reform? […] We do not know because we were growing. Just like before COVID-19, real estate kept rising and everyone said buying land could never go wrong. However, the cycle moves up and down like that. This is an opportunity for us to strengthen ourselves.
(26) “… Reforms will inevitably cause impacts … together, consider making sacrifices for the common interest … and continue national solidarity and unity … in order to move forward”
I believe that during this difficult time, we have strengthened our national solidarity and unity. We gather Khmers inside and outside the country for the national cause. This is the defense of our territory […] We continue our national solidarity and unity for the reform and strengthening of our nation. Of course, reforms will inevitably cause impacts. If we don’t do it, it causes impacts; if we do it, it also causes impacts. By considering things together and sacrificing some personal interests for the common good, we can move forward. Whether it is the crackdown on scams, military reforms, private sector reforms, or various other procedures that must be implemented to increase cooperation between ministries and institutions, we must continue to do so.
This is an opportunity that must be continuously pushed forward; we cannot stop. All of this connects the situation back to the people—our experience as a country and a province that confronts and resolves war, floods, and other things. Some challenges we can predict, while others we cannot. It is the same for our lives. For the students who have graduated from here or reached this stage, it is just the same. We carry burdens and face issues. Some have problems with banks; some do not face financial problems but have family issues… some face this or that issue, for life is never perfect… Our struggles and our lives, just like our country, do not always turn out exactly the way we want them to.
(27) “… It requires the family to fight together, and especially for oneself to set goals, have the will, and work hard …”
Cambodia does not want war. Along the border, we set goals to build a border of peace and cooperation, yet war broke out anyway. Our people and our lives are just the same. We all want only peace and everything to be good, but we face challenges. There is nothing else to do except for our country to strengthen itself; the situations we may confront exist not only in the past, present, or future—they will remain—but this is an opportunity for us to strengthen ourselves. You brothers and sisters here faced many challenges studying for 4 years. Some wanted to drop out in the first year. Is there anyone who wanted to drop out in the first year? Even if there are, you won’t raise your hands because you are in the fourth year now. When meeting here in Battambang before, a working group was also established to help scholarship students.
Each year, quite a few drop out, but sometimes it is not due to major reasons, just minor issues. After helping explain things to them, they can push through. Some say they keep failing a class or two, so they want to quit. But if they quit and do not fight, it is over for them. Everyone sitting here is a fighter. I do not believe anyone gets 100 percent scores all the time. Sometimes there are problems too […] Setting a long-term vision, continuing to study, and continuing to learn outside of school after graduation—the harder the lessons, the faster you learn. Believe me. I do not need to highlight this too much. You already know. This is just sharing a comparison between a country or a province resolving the challenges of war and floods, which is no different from us encountering challenges in life. It requires a collective struggle for the family to move forward together, and especially for oneself, we must set goals, have the will to work, and make an effort.
(28) “… Learn to know well so you can actually apply at work … tangible proof combined with creativity to learn more within school … no one else will pull you through the hardship …”
Some people ask whether their major is good or bad. Any skill is good—just do not hold your degree and look completely unsure of yourself, thinking, “I have this degree, but maybe I studied the wrong thing for 4 years.” Never let that happen. Once a decision is made, just execute it. The subject you chose is already good for you. What matters is you—you are the one who makes that decision a success or a failure. If you choose one option, you drop another.
Even if you want to take both, you are still leaving out 10 other options. So, you cannot take everything. We must take whatever skill or knowledge you have learned to earn this degree and expand on it, grasping it tighter. Learn to know it well so you can actually apply it at work […] showing signs of effort combined with creativity to learn more within school to strengthen yourself—it is no different from the country: no one else will pull you through the hardship […] I have led the country for 3 years, especially during these difficult times. Friends do help us, but their assistance has limits. It is only us who must strengthen ourselves and help resolve our own problems.
If we do not step up to solve our own problems, confront the challenges, and acknowledge the issues, we cannot resolve them or move forward. When you have problems, confront and resolve them completely by yourself; do not give up or wait for others to save you. Do not wait for your father to help, do not wait for your mother to help, do not wait for your husband to encourage you, and do not wait for your wife to encourage you—because depending on others for motivation can sometimes leave you even more depressed. Lift yourself up.
(29) Regarding the market and job opportunities: either pivoting to a new skill, striving to seek opportunities, or creating your own opportunities
No one is without problems or the drive to resolve challenges, whether small or big. Everyone faces problems. Small or large, family issues—the province has problems at the provincial level, and the nation has problems at the national level. When heavy fighting erupts, the provincial level focuses on evacuating citizens within the province, while the national level must hold every front, covering the military, rescue operations, and negotiations. It is not easy. We manage to ensure that our people can survive and that families can live together in peace without being separated. This is what our students must reflect upon as they continue to build their future.
Do not just wait for opportunities. Sometimes you must go out and look for opportunities now that you have a degree. Someone once asked me: “You keep going around talking about the ministries encouraging students to study according to market demands, so why don’t you create a market specifically for my major?” If it were the era of a planned economy, we could create a market, but in the era of a free market, it flows naturally. One year requires this skill, while another year requires a different one. What matters is that all skills are in demand. We have two or three choices. For some specific skills, no matter what you do, it is hard to find a market.
For example, a major focused on observing animals or something similar—not veterinary medicine, but something else, like environmental studies or a field where opportunities are limited and do not require many people. One option is to change your skill to a new one that has a market. Second, hold on to your skill without changing it, but strengthen your capacity and go out to seek opportunities. If our province lacks opportunities or does not match your skill, go look in another province or location. Third, create opportunities for yourself. Creating your own opportunities is difficult, but most people do create their own.
Major success stories belong to those who create their own opportunities. Not everyone can do it, but it is something we can never abandon. Sometimes, no one in our province is familiar with our specific skill, but in other places, it is highly active. We must find ways to market it and create that opportunity.
(30) “No matter what skill you study, it is never wrong—just study it clearly … if you are not precise, beware that AI might replace you …”
That is no different from Facebook, which no one believed in or used when it was first created. He possessed that skill, he built it, and though no one used it at first, he strived to build it himself to create a market. Alibaba is similar. Who would have believed back then that selling things through that platform would work? Yet later on, it sold successfully because he went around creating it and never gave up […] There is an elderly uncle in Phnom Penh. I thought people were just joking at first. His business is transporting and selling actual seawater. Do you believe it? Some restaurants that keep live seafood want the fish to stay alive longer, so they do not mix salt with tap water; they use real seawater.
No one else was doing it. He did. He created his own opportunity. He transports seawater around to sell, and he has even been able to buy one or two trucks. I am sharing this as an example of rare skills. We have three choices. Studying any specific major is never wrong. It is true that some fields have larger markets, but for whatever skill we love, sometimes we have to create opportunities for it and be creative. Just be precise in whatever you do. I say this both as someone who has worked for others and as someone who is a leader of others. Those who assist me need to know many fields. Some specific skills do not require many people, as long as each person is precise. If you are not precise, beware that AI might replace you soon.
Do not, however, rely too much on AI; humans will still do the work, provided they are precise. Leaders want one person who is sharp and precise at their job rather than employing five people or looking for five assistants for the exact same task. Find one person who is precise to execute it. In the future, if the task grows larger, let that person lead others to assist us. We do not need to involve ourselves too much. Development is just the same. Leadership and building your personal economy—whether within your own business or your workplace as a manager—follows the exact same principle […]
(31) “A country is strong only if its people are strong; the people are strong only if they have health, safety, and knowledge …”
Receiving your degrees today is a further step in building your foundation of knowledge and experience. You will take this and continue to work, learn, and build your capacity, serving as resources for your province, your families, and the nation. A country is strong only if its people are strong; the people are strong only if they have health, safety, and increasing knowledge. This applies from childhood to adulthood across all sectors, whether in Buddhism, any other religion, or the secular realm. Whether you are civil servants, civil society organizations, or the private sector, everyone must be strong because this represents the collective capacity of our nation. We have suffered enough from hundreds of years of internal divisions, and hundreds of years of loss and recovery. For instance, Battambang province lost control twice—once for 100 years and another time for 5 years. Now, the people of Battambang are autonomously in control and growing even stronger. Let us prevent any further loss. We must strive and fight on.
(32) “We will be respected only when we are strong …”
The Royal Government implements this approach to safeguard lives, create opportunities, and strengthen ourselves, our nation, and our human resources to become even more resilient. We will be respected only when we are strong. If we want others to respect us, we must not be weak. Whether as a nation or an individual, we must be strong and confident—and this is not about bragging. To be confident and strong means being independent and not relying on others for everything. We must master our own destiny to the best of our abilities. Even if we must rely on others, we should not do so forever. Rely on others in the short term to strengthen ourselves for the long term.
If you do not know something, ask the teacher to help guide you so that you can build your own capability. Do not let the teacher do everything for you for an entire semester just to pass along with the others. Where there are difficulties, the teacher helps explain, and we take that to study further on our own. Work operates in the exact same way. We rely on others to strengthen ourselves. We work with partners for ADB loans and some ADB grants to strengthen our infrastructure, boost our urban economy, and improve our traffic systems […]./.