PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) -- Formerly known as the Khmer Revolutionary Party, established to lead national liberation struggle against colonialism and to win Independence for the country, the Cambodian People's Party is celebrating its 63rd founding anniversary on 28 June 2014.
Since its foundation, the Cambodian People's Party has adhered steadfastly to the ideal of sharing people's sufferings and unwavering sacrifice for the cause of the Cambodian nation, independence, peace, freedom, democracy, neutrality and social progress.
We are celebrating this event to show our profound respect and gratitude for the Cambodian patriotic combatants of every generation who fought resolutely and sacrificed heroically their blood and life for the cause of our nation and people.
The anniversary celebration also coincides with new achievements scored by the Cambodian people in all fields on the course of socio-economic development in the first six months of this year, though there remained some difficulties.
COOL SHADE LEADING THE SHIP TO SHORE
It is on this auspicious occasion that 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, and Samdech Preah Mohaksatrei the Queen Mother, who stay as lasting cool shade for every Cambodian.
We are wishing Their Majesties strengths, intellect and longevity to continue to lead the Cambodia ship to shore of prosperous progress and peace.
On behalf of Samdech Akka Moha Thomma Pothisal Chea Sim, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Hun Sen, leaders of the Cambodian People's Party and myself, allow me to express respects and heartfelt appreciations to our compatriots, whether they are farmers, workers, employees, traders, monks and clergies of every religion and race, civil servants and the armed forces, for taking part in the implementation of the political platform of the Royal Government to further build and defend our motherland, and to improve the living standard of the people.
Over the past 63 years, the Cambodian People's Party has gone through various historical stages with pride of nurturing its brilliant nature and tradition.
The Party has led a powerful national revolutionary movement for liberation, which contributed a great deal to the struggle of the Cambodian nation as a whole to secure independence from colonialism leading to the resounding victory in 1953.
As the country later fell into the abyss of genocidal disaster of the Pol Pot-led Democratic Kampuchea on 17 April 1975, the Cambodian People's Party served as sole political core in the mobilization of national forces under the banner of the National United Front for the Salvation of Kampuchea.
It also appealed for support from peace and justice loving people in the world to overthrow the fierce regime and scored historic victory on 7 January 1979.
'NEW PAGE OF HISTORY'
The victory saved and revived our nation in a timely manner, brought back the lost rights and democracy in the regime of Pol Pot to the Cambodian people and ushered in a new page of history on the reconstruction of the Cambodian motherland.
In nearly 36 years, after the victory on 7 January 1979, under the leadership of the Cambodian People's Party, the Cambodian people have gone through various stages of hardships with successes and honor.
They have created numerous historic achievements that have changed Cambodia from a land of destruction by war and genocide to become a land of peace, stability and development in all fields.
Every Cambodian who went through the regime of Pol Pot and those of you who were born after the 7 January victory have all reaped the benefits of those achievements.
It is true that peace, progress and hope that we have in hands at this time are magnificent results of the solidarity of our people to overcome obstacles and march steadfastly forward on a correct path.
We are all determined to strengthen and expand achievements while making further efforts to build a prosperous future of our country.
Recent historical political developments that signify the march of our nation are the fifth legislative term of the national assembly elections on 28 July 2013 and the municipal, provincial and district councilor elections on 18 May 2014, in accordance with the Cambodian Constitution and laws, and in a peaceful, free, fair, just and violence-free environment and manner.
'DEMOCRACY IN CAMBODIA HAS BECOME STRONGER'
Successful conductions of the two elections clearly show that democracy in Cambodia has become stronger and expanded wider at national and sub-national levels in the context of Cambodia.
For the Cambodian People's Party, the two successful elections obviously ascertain that the people still need the Party's leadership role at national, sub-national and local levels.
These will in fact create favorable conditions for the Party to continue to implement successfully its political platform.
The results of the elections also deny brags of certain political party leaders, who always put into use their tricks of demagogy while twisting the fact and creating endless complications through their attacks on the Cambodian People's Party.
It is now 11 months from the fifth legislative terms of the National Assembly's elections.
The Cambodian People's Party, mandated by the people to continue leading the country for another five years, has fulfilled its role and tasks with responsibility before voters and scored good results one after the other in all fields, although the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), which also wins seats in the National Assembly, has continued boycotting up to the present.
DENYING ELECTION RESULTS, DEFAMING PARLIAMENT, INCITING ANARCHY
Taking actions that are contrary to the will of voters, CNRP has denied the electoral results, defamed the legitimacy of the National Assembly and the fifth legislative term Royal Government, while inciting anarchic street demonstrations aimed at changing the Cambodian situation according to their wills in contrary to the Constitution and aspiration of the people.
They aim to bring Cambodian society into turmoil, state into malfunction, foreign relations to weakening, economics to go down and people's livelihood to get harder in order to push the Cambodian People's Party into leadership crisis because of lack of people's confidence.
Their actions created real difficulties at the start of the term for the Royal Government that is making efforts to maintain stability and build the country in all fields.
However, those disruptions could not prevent the march forward of the country since sustainability of the state and regularity of people's socio-economic life are firmly guaranteed.
Thus, Cambodia has not been in any political impasses.
ECONOMY IN GOOD HEALTH
Starting the year 2014, Cambodia scores good results in socio-economic development for the year 2013, while enjoying favors in its relations with other countries and development partners.
The Cambodian GDP for 2013 recorded growth of 7.4 percent and in this year, we hope to realize a growth pattern of another 7 percent.
In reality, in the first five months of this year, the Cambodian economy appears to be in good health.
We have guaranteed macro-economic stability, while ensuring good stability of the financial sector and noting progress in positive directions for other sectors such as production, service, property, tourism, trade, labor, etc.
The Royal Government of Cambodia, led by Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, has taken firm measures to guarantee political stability, security and public order based on laws and people's participation that create favorable conditions for the development and improvement of the livelihoods of the people.
FOUR GOALS
The Cambodian People's Party fully supports efforts of the Royal Government of Cambodia of the fifth legislative term in speeding up effective implementation of the Rectangular Strategy Phase III to realize its four strategic goals.
The four goals are to guarantee sustainable annual growth of 7 percent per annum; to create more jobs for people, especially the youth, to reduce poverty at a rate of over 1 percent per annum, as well as those listed as the Cambodian Millennium Development Goals; and to strengthen capacity and governance of state institutions at national as well as sub-national levels.
In order to realize sustainable economic growth, improve people's living condition and strengthening social justice, the Cambodian People's Party is determined to continue implementing resolutely all reforms defined in its political platform in a more rapid and efficient manner, while considering that as the most significant job for the Party.
In this spirit, the Cambodian People's Party supports efforts of the Royal Government in furthering reform of the salary system in a consistent and equitable manner aimed at further increasing salary for civil servants and the armed forces.
The Party also advances actions of working teams to find a good solution in increasing a minimum wage for workers and employees in factories and enterprises.
The Party also furthers efforts of the Royal Government in providing social concessional land to people without land for residences and cultivation.
At the same time, the Party appeals to people of every region not to encroach upon and occupy land illegally as such action would cause disruption to social order, sustainability of natural resources and socio-economic development of the country.
The Cambodian People's Party highly approves the efforts of the Royal Government and those of relevant institutions and all levels of authorities in receiving and sending home safely Cambodian migrant workers from Thailand.
At the same time, the Party appeals to our laborers to look for information on job availability issued on 13 June 2014 by the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training concerning the provision of job-seeking, technical and vocational training services.
They should also refrain from migrating illegally for work in other countries in absence of guaranteed safety, interest and honor.
The Cambodian People's Party drives further to raise high democracy and human rights within the legal framework that provides real interest to people of all strata, political forces and socio-economic development process.
At the same time, we oppose actions of parties or circles that are disguising themselves under the banner of democracy and human rights only for their own political interests.
It is in everyone's note that currently leaders of some political parties and circles have preached well about democracy, human rights, etc., as if they care for the interests of our nation and people.
OPPOSITION DECEPTION
In fact, they deceived our people and created numerous challenges for the Royal Government and local authorities in various places aimed at taking down the Cambodian People's Party by all means, including use of the so-called people's power.
In this context, the Cambodian People's Party wishes to reaffirm its position in welcoming encouragement from outside to the process of democratization in Cambodia as well as resolving internal problems of Cambodia.
However, it will not consider acceptable any interference into Cambodian internal affairs.
Cambodia used to be a victim and lost a great deal because of outside interferences.
They were painful experiences. It is on this note that we will not allow rewriting of such history on our motherland.
The Cambodian People's Party continues to expand faithful cooperation with all political forces and patriotic circles aimed at strengthening social harmonization while mobilizing positive perceptions and actions from diverse sources into a common social movement for the construction and defense of the motherland.
It is our belief that every political party and circle certainly understands the people's demands and makes efforts to increase cooperation and understanding while continuing to do useful things for the sake of maintaining and growing peace, democracy and national development.
At this point, the Cambodian People's Party would assure every Buddhist monk and Cambodian compatriot as well as the international community that, in order to resolve the post-fifth legislative terms National Assembly's elections political problem, the Party has made every effort to advance negotiation with loyalty and true-will at all levels with the Cambodian National Rescue Party.
However, up to the present, the problem has yet to be resolved as the Cambodian National Rescue Party utilizes the negotiation process only for making gains in public opinion and not for resolving the matter.
LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN
Despite this fact, the Cambodian People's Party will continue to leave the door open for negotiation based on the achievements made in the discussion between Samdech Techo Hun Sen and HE Sam Rainsy on 9 April 2014.
Any forthcoming solution must be based on the Constitution, the results of the elections and not lead the country to political impasse, as used to happen in the past, once again in the future.
Presently, our nation is making its energetic and hopeful advancement towards a bright future that is going to be in our hands. Peace, democracy and development are not only the aspiration but also the truth in the making.
It will serve as a correct path to continue our advancement.
Over the past 150 years, we had so little opportunity for national development.
The rest of the time was for suffering and shamefulness from losing dignity, destructive war to indescribable tragedy. We can lose opportunity no more.
We must hold on to this chance for development by ourselves.
Anything different to that would have us placed in instability, division and poverty that no one would know when we could liberate ourselves. This is the main reason.
The Cambodian People's Party appeals to all compatriots and all political parties and circles, despite their different political tendency, to refrain from actions that may lead to division and to join action under the Constitution for the sake of our nation.
Originating from the people, the Cambodian People's Party loves our motherland and people over everything.
Regardless of now or in the time to come, the Party goes on binding with the people in peace as well as in difficult times.
It is in this spirit, I appeal to every Party's commission at all levels and every sector as well as officials to keep up the ideal of patriotism and loving people, to strengthen solidarity and perform good deeds, while refraining from actions that are in violation of the Party's principles and laws of the state.
Those actions would clash with the rights and interests of our people. It is not just a matter of necessity but obligation and determination for the Party's success.
HENG SAMRIN IS HONORARY CHAIRMAN OF THE CAMBODIAN PEOPLE'S PARTY AND PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. THE ARTICLE IS AN EDITED VERSION OF AN ADDRESS GIVEN ON THE OCCASION OF THE PARTY'S 63RD ANNIVERSARY
No comments:
Post a Comment