Battambang-Serei Sophorn National Road No. 5 – Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Fruit
Today, I am very happy to join (the Japanese Ambassador) HE Mikami Masahiro, representing Japan, as well as Excellencies, Lok Chumteavs, Ladies and Gentlemen, who attended the inauguration of the northern section of National Road No. 5, which connects Battambang to Serei Sophorn city, 84.74 kilometers long. In consideration, this is the fruit of the cooperation between Cambodia and Japan in the Cambodian socio-economic development efforts. What (the Minister of Public Works and Transports) HE Sun Chanthol as well as HE Mikami Masahiro said just now, I think, was right […] on June 26, 2018, I was here for the launch of the construction.
I would like to take this opportunity to seek an apology from our people in Battambang province. In 2020, we had severe floods. I traveled to Banteay Meanchey many times, then I have to make a second plan to go to Pursat and Battambang and I will go to Banteay Meanchey once again to provide assistance such as rice seeds and other crops for the restore (phase after the flood). Coincidentally, there was a community infection breakout. I myself had had direct contact with the Hungarian Foreign Minister, who visited Cambodia, and was COVID-19 positive. Therefore, the schedules were interrupted and for Battambang province, Samdech Krala Hom Sar Kheng came in my place to distribute those assistances after the flood. During the flood, I was traveling in a part of Banteay Meanchey province on National Road 5 too.
NR 5 or ASEAN Highway 11 or South Corridor – Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City
I observe that this road is a firmly built road, and I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the efforts of the two provincial authorities, the construction companies, and the cooperation that made this road possible. I would like to commend the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, as well as the demining team for implementing this road construction project without impacts from the operation, though indeed, in Battambang province, there are landmines. Now, Japan is also financing for demining in the northwestern provinces, covering Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Pursat. For National Highway 5, also known as ASEAN Highway 11 or South Corridor, Japan helped us connect Phnom Penh to Bangkok of Thailand on one side and to Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam on the other.
We have seen that as we have achieved this section (of the NR 5), we still have more phases to go. HE Sun Chanthol mentioned in his report already about ongoing construction process. Today, we inaugurated the 84-kilometer-long section (of NR5) from Battambang to the provincial town of Banteay Meanchey, Serey Sophorn. For the south section from Prek Kadam to Thlea MaAm (with a length of 135 km) we have just realized 64%, and we planned to finish it in 2022. Just another year, the journey from Prek Kadam to Thlea MaAm in Pursat will be much easier. Next, we will have a 146-kilometer connecting road from Thlea MaAm to Battambang which we have realized 55%, and in addition, the road section between Serey Sophorn and Poipet is preparing a bidding procedure to select the construction.
Japan Builds National Road No. 5 and National Road No. 1 to Vietnam Border
On observation, the NR5, connecting between the Kingdom of Thailand (and the Kingdom of Cambodia) with links to the Vietnamese border, is one of the busiest roads. So, the Japanese friend helped in building a 366 kilometers long road, which has connection […] to National Road No. 1, also built by Japan, and the Japanese built Tsubasa Bridge, which is the largest bridge to replace previously most difficult to road to transport, with a ferry crossing at night connecting Kandal and Prey Veng, Neak Loeung. It can be said that this southern corridor is supported by Japanese grants and financing.
I am taking this opportunity, through His Excellency Mikami Masahiro, to thank the Government and people of Japan for their continued assistance in offering grant and financing for the socio-economic development of Cambodia […]. We have in Mongkol Borei district (of Banteay Meanjey) the Japanese buildings in the hospital, which I traveled with the former Ambassador HE Fumi Akita Kahashi in a helicopter for inauguration. Today (Ambassador Mikami Masahiro and I) had the opportunity to fly a helicopter together and we have one more program left for the inauguration of a few of Japanese built bridges. We will do it in one place, and we can still travel by helicopter together. This has pointed to Japan’s contribution to peace and development in Cambodia.
Japan Contributed to the Establishment of Paris Peace Agreement and SNC
(For) peace, I should remind a little. This morning, I handed over an article that His Excellency Cham Prasidh found in the Asahi Shimbun, since 1990, to His Excellency Mikami while we were in the helicopter. (The article) related to the search for peace in Cambodia, when the signing ceremony for the establishment of the Supreme National Council (SNC) held in Tokyo. HE Mikami was able to see former Japanese Foreign Minister Nakayama attending at the time. Both Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Chavalit Yongchaiyuth came from Thailand to attend […] His Excellency Yukio Imagawa, former Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia organized a secret meeting for me, Chavalit and His Excellency Yukio Imagawa in Pattaya. Then the late King Norodom Sihanouk, the Father of the Nation, Preah Borom Ratanak Kaod and I signed the SNC establishment. This was an important part of the search for peace at that time.
Then again, every time I go to Japan for a medical check, it is not just about health. Health is one thing, but we (also went there) to discuss politics. The one who won my heart at the time was (Hisashi) Owada. He is Japan’s Deputy Foreign Minister. At that time, I proposed to include in the Paris Agreement the point of non-return of the Pol Pot genocidal regime. I negotiated with (Hisashi) Owada from 7pm until 2:30 am. At that time (Hisashi) Owada said to me this way, “Saddam Husein must be tried. Pol Pot must be tried. If, however we made it the point now, how can the Khmer Rouge participate? How can the parties be involved?” That is why we have rephrased the clause to “do not let the deeds of the past return” instead of “do not let the Khmer Rouge return.”
In other words, the Cambodian peace process has had a big share from the Japanese side. Japan hosted the preparation of negotiations to sign the Paris Agreement, leading to the establishment of the SNC. We also had help of Japan for the four (Khmer) factions to come together. At that time, the Khmer Rouge refused (and) boycotted. Only three parties participated in the signing. I do not care if it were three or four parties. I only care about us having two governments. A government led by me and a government led by Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk. From their side attended by Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk and Son San, the Prime Minister. Khieu Samphan, the Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Democratic Kampuchea at the time, was not present.
PKO Arrived in Cambodia; Welcomes Japanese Warship
Now, if we look at this issue, we should say that 2022 is the 30th anniversary of the Japanese peacekeepers, popularly known as the PKO or Peace Keeping Operation to operate outside Japan. Thus, the 30th anniversary of the day Japan first sent out (its peacekeeping troop) to Cambodia. Two Japanese died and buried in our territory. Therefore, 2022 is the 30th anniversary that we should do some activities to celebrate, including the visit of the Japanese warship to Cambodia’s seaport. Since the depth is only two meters, the ship could not enter Ream port. This morning, I discussed with Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh and we have a choice.
Though construction is underway, we can still arrange for their visit. We can take Cambodian small ships that can navigate shallow water to take the Japanese troops from their big ship to Ream, and then load them in buses and tour. We can arrange on one part a visit on waterway and then land, on the other […] Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh received my phone call this morning. Before I came here, I was a little busy calling with him. We organize a little program to acknowledge the first operation of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in peacekeeping operation.
On this peacekeeping operation, I should bring back to memory a little bit. At the time, I strongly supported Japan’s role in maintaining peace. I was becoming the target of an attack. The Shimbun Akahata, the press of the Japanese Communist Party followed and asked me (about this). At that time, Yasushi Akashi (the head of UNTAC) asked me to go to Washington […] to meet with relevant persons to mobilize the United States to help contribute funds to UNTAC. I traveled via Tokyo and left for the United States. (The) Shimbun Akahata (reporters) followed and asked me (about the Japanese PKO) in Washington and then another Shimbun Akahata came to Phnom Penh’s Pochentong airport to ask me “why you support (peace operation force).”
There is one more thing. In addition to playing a role in bringing peace and sending self-defense forces called the Peacekeepers (Japan) to Cambodia, Japan organized the first ICORC (International Committee for the Reconstruction of Cambodia) in 1992. At that time, I had no idea why there were many Japanese bodyguards placed in my protection […] HE Ieng Moly also went to the signing ceremony together that day. At that time, I asked the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, why did I have so many guards? He replied that Your Excellency supported the Japanese PKO to go on mission abroad, while some Japanese people do not agree on the issue. As of now, the people of Japan should be proud of Japan’s role in peacekeeping in the framework of the United Nations […]
Let us return to National Road 5. Those who travel between Prek Kadam to Thlea MaAm, those who travel from Thlea MaAm to Pursat may find it a bit difficult at this moment. Once we finished the construction, it will be one strong and safe road. No matter how safe it is, we must uphold traffic laws. A few days ago, I said there are a smaller number of people dying of COVID-19 than from traffic accident. Even with the new variant of COVID-19 Omicron infection these days, the death toll is zero. It has been few days in a row now. One case of Omicron infection infiltrated into the community yesterday. Yesterday there were three cases. I will talk about the problem down below.
Through His Excellency Mikami, I am delivering thanks to the Japanese generous assistance to the Kingdom of Cambodia […] many roads – small and big roads, built for our country […] Former Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi once visited Cambodia at the year that we had a huge flood. Sadly, when he returned to Japan, a few months later, he passed away. I asked the Japanese Prime Minister that I would like to build a road link from Takeo to Phnom Din on the Cambodian-Vietnamese border. He asked for a discussion on the issue. At the time of the great flood, I took the Japanese Ambassador with me to distribute (humanitarian) gifts to the floodplain. On National Road 2, I pointed out to him the road I wanted to expand. That is why we received the grant to build this road connecting Takeo town to Phnom Din at the border with Vietnam. There are more assistances and connectivity, which enable us to rebuild the country.
Former War Zone, War among Khmers
Do not forget that in our area, this is a fighting area. Excellencies and all Japanese friends, in the past, Japan only allowed Japanese tourists to come to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, and Japanese tourists were not allowed to leave those two areas. At that time, the hot war zone was in Battambang province, which we later divided into two provinces – Battambang and Banteay Meanchey. In the direction of Pailin, especially in the territory of Battambang, I think that Samdech Krala Hom Sar Kheng and HE Ke Kim Yan still remember the events that took place in that time. In a way, I said we were wrong in terms of military strategy. When the Vietnamese army was there, we got our army in so ad so positions. When the Vietnamese army withdrew, we stayed where we were. They broke our defense line. This is a management error […] we all slept in one place together – Samdech Chea Sim, Samdech Heng Samrin, and I, and other leaders. The war in this area was very hot. It was a war among (us Khmer) each other. I remember one thing. We lost Pailin in September/October 1989. We later lost Thmor Puok on Pchum Ben Day in 1989. We lost Svay Chek later. Later, we fought back and retook it. It was a war among us Khmer.
War Cannot End War, a Political Solution Sought for
I never believed that a war could end the war. I must continue to seek a political solution that I began in 1987. Negotiations to resolve the issue are not trivial. In particular, the military aspect is the most complex issue. We focused efforts to reach for a ceasefire […] but in order to achieve that, we have to go from one stage to another until we have this United Nations operation in Cambodia called UNTAC (United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia). UNTAC still cannot achieve end of war though. Once withdrew, Cambodia was still at war […]
In the past, Cambodia was a country with many territories, but now we have become a country with one territory. The peace opportunity gives us socio-economic development and infrastructure construction. Now, there are more paved roads in Battambang, Pailin and Banteay Meanchey. Peace has scored these achievements and peace is hard to find. We must be protective of peace. If peace cannot be maintained, people will die, have injuries, disabilities […] we have had enough pain. We have had our lessons that we must strive to maintain this peace. If you cannot keep the peace, do not talk about anything else. Look at some of the countries that are at war, would they be able to talk about human rights, about democracy, about freedom of expression, under shelling and bombings. So, start with the right to live, the right live in peace without the threat of war […]
90% of Former Battles Become Markets, Development Areas
I still remember that after the end of the war on December 29, 1998, I set two main goals, the first of which was to turn the former battlefield into a market and a development zone. Second, turn the border with neighboring countries into a border of friendship and peace, cooperation and development. We have made major achievement of these two goals. In that, turning the former battlefield area into a market into a development area, so far, we have realized more than 90 percent of the goal. The areas remain are still under landmines and unexploded ordnance that we have yet to destroy.
For Battambang and Banteay Meanchey, for this region, as the General Director of CMAC reported to me, Japanese friends have helped fund demining in the northwestern region, which includes provision of credit for Pursat. If we were to achieve in 2025 the goal of (having left) zero mines and UXOs, it would mean that we had successfully pursued a policy of successfully turning a former battlefield into a development zone, a market, production places and tourist sites.
On the border with our neighbors, we try to cooperate with our neighbors, where people have always been afraid of fighting between neighbors. Now it has become an area of bartering goods. With Thailand, we have a trade volume of about 10 billion US dollars. Vietnam has more than 9 billion US dollars and last year more than 9 billion US dollars. We have agreed with Laos to work toward attaining more than 100 million US dollars. This size can be even more. From the beginning, it was a war zone. We became a region of socio-economic cooperation.
COVID-19 Hinders Us, We Go On
COVID-19 has destroyed us, but they have not been able to destroy our efforts. Take for instance the road construction is still going on. The Japanese friend continues to build National Road No. 5, which connects Kandal province, Kampong Chhnang province, Pursat province, Battambang province, and then continues to Banteay Meanchey, which connects to the Thai border […] this is a commitment to move forward. Although the COVID-19 attack was devastating, we still have works at hand.
Today is the opening of the 2021-2022 school year with three million students. We have not yet come to the case that students are COVID-19 positive. This is a good (pandemic) management. I would like to express my appreciation to all stakeholders, as well as the people who accept the call of the Royal Government through the adoption of vaccines and self-defense. Previously, (for the yard of this size), we would put about 6,000 people. Now we only have more than 1,000 people. We keep the distance. We must continue to keep the distance, exercise “three dos”, and “three don’ts” further. We must hold on to masks, always clean hands with alcohol, and keep a distance to ensure we do not infect. If infected, it does not lead to seriousness that leads to death.
I have not received any information to clarify the one that there is now another variant of virus, which is a hybrid between Delta and Omicron. It is Deltacron. While Omicron is yet to go away, Delta is yet to go away, Alpha is yet to go away, there comes now another hybrid. When is it going to be over? Because of this invisibility, we as an individual and each family must continue the efforts to protect ourselves with alcohol and wear masks, and not to go to crowded places.
No Foreign Visitors Yet, Promote Domestic Tourism
It is very difficult to stop people from going to crowded places, though […] however, we try to do as we did during the last three days holidays, when 460,000 people went out on January 7, a Friday, 8 and 9 – three days. According to the Minister of Tourism, in Battambang, there were about thirty thousand local tourists. Well, we needed our economy to keep working. When there are no foreign visitors, we continue to promote domestic tourists. Before COVID-19 arrived in Cambodia, about one million people went abroad for holiday. Now more than one million of them are visiting places in the country and provinces have big and small hotels catering to budget ability.
Purchase Five Million Doses in Addition to More Than 10M Doses in Stock
[…] I would urge us in this opportunity to accelerate the booster dose. I am taking take this opportunity to thank, through His Excellency Mikami Masahiro, the Government and the people of Japan for sending 1.3 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Cambodia […] in my meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, he said that he would give another 300,000 doses, which has already arrived. We are working to ensure that the vaccine is not overdue, as the AstraZeneca vaccine is short-lived.
Yesterday, I ordered for a purchasing order of another five million doses. Though we still have 10 million doses left in stock, but taking into account the amount needed for booster doses, we still lack another eight million doses. Yesterday I asked for purchasing order of five million doses to add to the warehouse. We needed to ensure that our Cambodian people are not short of vaccines for the booster dose. I would like to ask each province, the Ad-hoc Commission for General Vaccination, to announce and make every effort to ensure that this third dose will happen in time for the Omicron infection, which is entering the community. There is no better option […] as the five million doses arrived, we may need to consider placing order for another five million doses because we do not know when it will end? […]
Rapid Operation Command: Vaccine for Everyone, No Matter Where They Come From
I have issued an order in Phnom Penh. It is difficult to move Pfizer out (as it needed to stay in the temperature of) 80 degrees below zero. Let us jab them in Phnom Penh. Some are worried that people will jostle for jabs in Phnom Penh. Now I would tell you that the best way is if they are willing to leave Battambang to have injection in Phnom Penh, give them the injection. We are all Khmer after all. Let us use all Pfizer. When we are out of Pfizer, there is no more. That is it […] Lok Chumteav Or Vandin may announce it. People in Phnom Penh who wanted to have Pfizer injections, do it […] the most important thing is to have vaccine in the body […] I heard there was a meeting that concerned about the fact that people might go to Phnom Penh to compete for vaccine. I wanted them to. All I wanted is people get vaccinated […]
Yesterday, I called (DPM and Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Porn) Moniroth why there is a need for […] two weeks study […] in the world, had we not known that there are only Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Sinopharm? Why study for two weeks? I order immediate negotiations to buy five million doses to ensure that our people have vaccines and vaccinated for community immunity. As of now, we have seen clearly the immunity effect when among 115,000 students taking Baccalaureate exams, there were only three infected cases […] today, our children and youth go to school, and we continue to monitor and manage that problem.
HE Mikami Masahiro Supports Cambodia as ASEAN Chair
I would like to thank His Excellency Mikami Masahiro for supporting Cambodia as ASEAN Chair this year. (His Excellency wrote) “I would like to express my respect to the Prime Minister for his immediate visit to Myanmar and for his initiative to improve the situation in Myanmar. Japan intends to provide strong cooperation for Cambodia to succeed as chair of ASEAN.” I am grateful for Japan’s support for Cambodia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and will be committed to coordinating cooperation for the success. On the helicopter, we discussed issues related to the process of dealing with Myanmar. He asked for more information and confirmed that Japan cares about the issue of humanitarian aid.
Dialogue Bible with Myanmar: Five Consensus and ASEAN Charter
I just wanted to clarify to the Cambodian people as well as to the analysts, in fact, as there are too many comments. The bible that I am using for dialogue with the leaders of Myanmar are, firstly, the five-point consensus of ASEAN, and secondly, the ASEAN Charter. My bible is not anything far from ASEAN. As the time has not come yet, I do not act. I just threw a message. What we have achieved does not end with a joint statement on my visit to Myanmar. Here are the three main points: first, the ceasefire; second, the provision of assistance; and third, it is relating to the dialogue. His Excellency Senior General Min Aung Hlaing ensured the facilitation of the envoy’s visit to Myanmar and meeting with all stakeholders, including ethnic armed groups, considering the actual situation in Myanmar. We need to create two mechanisms. This is not Cambodia’s thing. This is what ASEAN has to do.
Ceasefire Coordination Mechanism Consists of Troika and ASEAN Secretariat
I have instructed His Excellency Prak Sokhon to work for compromise in our ASEAN partners to establish two mechanisms, the first mechanism deals with ceasefire. We should have at least had (the ASEAN) Troika. Chaired by Brunei (former Chair), the current Chair is Cambodia, the future Chair is Indonesia, the Troika and the ASEAN Secretariat will coordinate the ceasefire. Ceasefire is implementable if there is an implementation mechanism. In doing so, the Myanmar side welcomed the participation of the ASEAN Special Envoy for Myanmar to participate in ceasefire talks with ethnic armed groups.
This important step is enshrined in the ASEAN Five-Point consensus. The first point of the consensus related to ending the violence. The first is the immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar, and all parties must exercise maximum restraint. At that time, we used the word “immediate cessation of violence” in Myanmar. This time we reached the issue of stopping all violence, in addition to the word “ceasefire.” Well, in order to be credible for all parties, ASEAN should play a role. This role, which was not previously available, is now available, and ASEAN has a role to play in mediating the conflicting parties to a ceasefire. It is very good. With the absence of violence, no armed war in Myanmar, it will create a favorable environment for a constructive dialogue and for the elections that the Myanmar side has scheduled to hold in August 2023. Well, if that (favorable environment for a constructive dialogue) does not happen, then elections will not be possible.
I hope that our ASEAN partners will work to create a mechanism, and this mechanism is not Cambodia’s mechanism, only Cambodia is the chair now. The efforts will not end in 2022. This will be in the hands of the new ASEAN Chair, Indonesia, and then the Troika will be Cambodia, the former Chair, Indonesia the Chair in 2023, and the future Chair – Laos. Thus, such a mechanism should be proclaimed with reconciliation among our ASEAN. Myanmar itself also needs to have a mechanism to work with ASEAN. ASEAN cannot mobilize and bring on the force without the consent of Myanmar […]
Would Japan Help Bring about a Ceasefire
While in Nay Pyi Taw, I thought if Japan could help in some way, such as cars to implement the ceasefire, it would be good. I depend on Japan because Japan supports this principle of humanitarian aid. I am asking His Excellency MIKAMI Masahiro to help look into this request. As there would be operation teams, whether they wanted it or not, there must be means of transportation to enter this area. If it is happening, it would be good. This is not a UN operation, but an ASEAN operation to help resolve armed conflicts in ASEAN member states. It is not an interference, but this is a provision by the Myanmar side for ASEAN actors to play a role. I do not think it is a separate issue of Cambodia and Myanmar.
“Opponents of Ceasefire Wanted Deaths and Injuries of War”
I know some of you are cursing me. Maybe they are blaming on Facebook again and they are the very same group. I believe in the group there are Myanmar and Khmer sitting together […] they may be sitting together anywhere in Paris or in the US or in Thailand or in the Philippines, etc. […] well, we know. You are the very same extremist group. That is why I said, “those who are against the ceasefire, you want people killed and wounded in the war.” I do not have animosity with the Myanmar people […] you have to see, however, that your life will be saved from the flames of war by the role of ASEAN in that (there are) initiatives in my visit to Myanmar. Myanmar leaders agree to do this is not too common. This is in the scriptures of ASEAN. Violence in Myanmar must stop immediately and all parties must exercise maximum restraint.
All parties must stop the violence because this is a killing spree, including the bombing of the Cambodian Embassy. You have to understand that Cambodia is suffering too much. We have had ample of experience. Death of mother/father and handicaps nationwide. All these happened because of the war. We have implemented successfully my win-win policy for 23 years already. We ended the wars that prevailed in the land, one after the other, for 500 years, since the reign of Preah Srey Raja. War began to tear up the territory. Finally, we united the territory. Due to the unification of territory, we got rid of polio, and moving towards zero malaria. We are now fighting with Covid-19.
Mechanism to Strengthen Humanitarian Assistance for Myanmar
[…] If all ASEAN joins, it will be up to ASEAN and Myanmar to agree. All ten countries may join with the ASEAN Secretariat together […]. In capacity of ASEAN Chair, Cambodia just paved the way. Leave this works to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair. The second point is to strengthen the provision of humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian assistance must have specific mechanism. Some aid has now arrived in Myanmar but has not gone into distribution. The paragraph says – “the two leaders supported the meeting of stakeholders, including the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, the National Working Group for Coordination of humanitarian assistance through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre), the Myanmar Red Cross and relevant UN agencies.” Both sides recognize the importance of establishing appropriate mechanism and infrastructure to implement the Covid-19 vaccination program in conjunction with the effective provision of humanitarian assistance to the needy people without discrimination. Nothing is more important than saving lives […]
ASEAN Chair Does Not Aim to Meet This/That Person
Once the ceasefire is resolved and humanitarian aid goes everywhere, the dialogue can go together. Some people just say I did not meet with this/that person. I do not set a goal to meet anyone. What I wanted is two things: first, a ceasefire, and second, (humanitarian) aid. In the joint statement, the wording was (the Myanmar side will) facilitate and coordinate the special envoy’s visit to Myanmar for meetings with all stakeholders, including ethnic armed groups. Well, the special envoy will continue to meet with this/that party. I cannot afford to meet with this/that party or this/that group. For that, those people considered my visit unsuccessful because of the opposite story.
I would like to highlight the five-point consensus. The fifth point is that “special envoys and delegates must visit Myanmar to meet with all stakeholders.” There had been efforts to implement Point 5 first. It was because of that the envoy could not go. As for my process, we take the first one first and connect the fourth with humanitarian aid. I think our ASEAN partners will understand. This process based on the five-point consensus. (When) we set the condition to take the fifth point (before anything else) it has become a constraint. Some says – “if there is no chance of meeting this/that person, no pint of making a visit”. I am not an envoy. I am the Chair. I go and I did.
Cambodia Hands Its Share of ASEAN Vaccine to Myanmar People
When I got there, I was able to bring back a ceasefire. If shooting does not stop, whom to meet? I bring back chance for coordination of humanitarian assistance. The people of Myanmar needed lives saving first. Save lives from armed clashes and violence, and provide them with food, medicine, vaccines. I told Min Aung Hlaing at a meal that I would like to offer its part of the ASEAN Fund for Vaccines, about US$ 1 million worth of vaccine, to Myanmar people. Cambodia does not take it and transfer its share to Myanmar so that the people of Myanmar can have them. Although Cambodia is poor, Cambodia’s heart is not […]
Yōhei Sasakawa as Advisor to ASEAN Chair 2022
Therefore, the humanitarian assistance mechanism should be set up with the relevant ASEAN stakeholders, the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair, the ASEAN Secretary-General, the AHA Center and relevant UN agencies, and with the help of Myanmar friends set up by Brunei. We can create that group, and in that group, the Japanese side can participate in it. I will meet Yōhei Sasakawa on January 31, and he is known to have made 131 visits to Myanmar. I would like to ask him to be an advisor to the ASEAN Chair in 2022 to help me mediate, because he knows Myanmar from almost all sides. Well, I hope he agrees and on the 31st, I will meet him. He is now the President of the Japan Foundation. He will come to see me. I hope he hears this and volunteers to be the advisor to the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar for 2022. In 2023, we are not the Chair anymore.
With Ceasefire and Distribution of Assistance, Dialogue Process Will Happen
Well, I hope our people understand the process. It is not just a two-page announcement. The final stage is for Myanmar itself to announce that it will hold elections in August 2023. That is why implementation of the five-point unanimous consensus should be complementary to the five-point roadmap of the State Administrative Council. At this point, I want to connect with what not stipulated in the 5 points of the ASEAN consensus. The five ASEAN consensus does not mention elections. What we wanted to link there is for the elections to take place.
Look at the five points of ASEAN, nothing said about the elections. The so-called solution must end with the elections itself. I see Ong Keng Yong, former ASEAN Secretary-General, Singapore’s diplomat, made his points. I would like to explain to you, Excellency, look at the five-point consensus. Were there any points that mention about the elections? Not at all. I still cling to first – the ASEAN Charters and second the five-point consensus of ASEAN. However, what interests me is that in the road map of Myanmar there is a date set for the elections – August 2023 […]
I look forward to seeing more comments on that issue. Let the people of Myanmar know that Cambodia does not want anything. Cambodia is now in a situation where it is wrong either to do or not to do […] if I remained silent about Myanmar, the situation will remain in limbo. When I do it, people say I was wrong. If I do not do it, they also say I was wrong. In that case, it is better to do it than not to do it. The results will come later. Only it will not happen in just one or two days. Cambodia held four years of negotiations before (elections). Myanmar set August 2023 for the elections […]
With War, There Is No Human Rights, No Democracy, No Freedom of Expression
I think I talk a lot, but it is time to talk about the topic. I call on ASEAN partners to understand and facilitate Cambodia to fulfill its role in 2022, and to understand that I am in a difficult situation […] as I decided to do it I have achieved more than I wanted. At first, I just wanted a ceasefire, but did not expect him to give the ASEAN Chair’s special envoy on Myanmar the opportunity to discuss with other armed groups to implement the ceasefire. This is a good point. Do not forget when there are armed clashes, nothing you could do. Do not talk about human rights, do not talk about democracy, and do not talk about freedom of expression, only shooting at each other […]
Channel humanitarian aid to the survivors first and talk later. Things will proceed. Now, if we remain silent and a visit would take place only if a meeting with this/that person happen, it will not go anywhere. From April (last year) to January 7, 2022, no one was there and talked to the leaders of Myanmar, […] (I) wrote on the plane and I posted in my Facebook page on arrival. “Whoever opposes the ceasefire means that you wanted people to die and sustain injuries of war. Anyone against humanitarian aid means wanting people to starve to death, to have no medicine, no vaccine to protect against COVID-19” […]
If Approved, I Will Visit Japanese Troops on Board Warship
Taking this opportunity, I would thank the two construction teams who worked hard to build on time, giving me the opportunity with HE Mikami Masahiro for today’s inauguration. I would like to send a message to all the construction team who are building on National Road 5 with my friendly greetings between Cambodia and Japan. We will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Japanese PKO in 2022, and I promise that when the Japanese warship arrives in Cambodia, I will visit the Japanese troops on board if the Japanese side agrees.
Let me wish teachers and students a successful school year 2021-2022. We have lost a lot of human resource training due to COVID-19, but community immunity has given us the courage to reopen the country […]
With the announcement of the inauguration of 84.74 km of National Road No. 5 north of Battambang under the (ODA) concession loan from the Government of Japan and the contribution of counterpart fund of the Royal Government of Cambodia, I wish long lasting friendship between Cambodia and Japan […]./.
