Press Briefing Samdech Techo Hun Sen, at the Voters’ Registration Office at Takhmao, Kandal Province [Unofficial Translation]

CNV:

(1) Adjustments of Personal Data; Prime Minister Can’t Dissolve the National Assembly; Voting Is Scheduled Every Five Years; Never Postpone Elections

I would like to inform you journalists as well as our people, today I came to register to vote, or in other word to correct my personal data […] I have to fulfill my obligations to the end. No matter who or where we are, we must obey the law. I have come here to make adjustments of my personal data (approved by the court), and it is not a scene just to show Cambodians or foreigners about the Cambodian democratic process […] but it is an opportunity for people to register to vote, especially for young people coming to their voting age. I call on people to go for voters’ registration so that they can exercise their democratic rights to elect leaders […]

I should emphasize here that we are very thorough and do not just aim for those who have reached the voting age. People who have not yet registered must do it or they may want to relocate or adjust their data. They can use this time. The National Election Committee has allowed a period of 50 days enough for Cambodians to register and transfer from one place to another. For example, I used to vote in Takhmao. If I needed to go to the polls in Phnom Penh, I can use this opportunity to transfer my name. I appeal to the people to participate in voter registration as well as to transfer their names to the location where they will be voting.

I want to talk a little about the election process. No matter what some have said, Cambodia implements the most rigorous and regular democratic process. I use the word “regular”. With the term “regular,” I refer to the binding by the Constitution that does not allow the Prime Minister to dissolve the National Assembly. The parliament has a five-year term. The parliament cannot be dissolved before the end of the term, unless the parliament dissolves the government twice in 12 months. That fact must emphasize that the Cambodian Prime Minister has not right, as those in other country would, to dissolve the National Assembly when their political parties are at their best favors. Cambodia does not do thing like that. We have maintained such “regularity” so that all political parties, both the ruling party and the non-governmental parties, are capable of getting ready for five years elections […]

The election law clearly states that every five years, on a Sunday of the fourth week of in July, the elections must be held. This point has been confirmed by the Constitution and the election law. Voting is scheduled every five years on the fourth Sunday in July. In some countries, governments announce the dissolution of parliament and hold a new election resulting other parties almost unprepared for it. For Cambodia, there is enough time (for all political parties) to prepare. It has also been clearly defined for the Commune/Sangkat elections. At least, the parties are getting ready in the five years period. However, the Prime Minister must announce the date of the election at least six days before the end of his term […]

The Prime Minister announces the (general) election to be held on July 23, 2023 […] I can say that Cambodia is moving towards on its regular democratic process, without giving the reason that the election was not to take place because of so and so reason. Cambodia has never postponed (elections) and maybe Cambodia does not have such a problem, except in cases where there are attempts to overthrow a government. (In such cases) it would not be necessary to hold elections. (Things like that) could happen. However, such a case will definitely fail, as I confirmed a few days ago […]

As we have a chance to meet today, I am giving you journalists an opportunity to talk for a while […] before I will receive the President of East Timor this evening and will leave on a mission to the provinces around the Tonle Sap Lake tomorrow. You journalists can start your questions now.

Fresh News

Question 1: … Would you call for political parties to campaign for people or their supporters to register to vote out of concern that as the registration process is ongoing, those parties do not call their people to register. When it comes to voting, they would say that their members do not have their names on the voter lists and create things that undermines the election institution.

Question 2: Yesterday, the court sentenced Sam Rainsy to life imprisonment for wanting to cut land to foreigners […] what is Samdech’s comment on the court’s decision on this case?

Samdech Techo: Thank you Mr. Saray for raising this question. In the case of the first question, I would like to take this opportunity to call on political parties to call on all citizens or their supporters to register. This task is not just the Royal Government or the National Election Committee or the CPP, but also the duty of all political parties. If you build political parties and number of party members, and supporters, it would not mean anything if they do not register to vote […] therefore, it is very important that all political parties call on people from all walks of life, especially their supporters, to come and register to vote so that after the election, there will not be complain that “so and so parties’ members have not gotten the right to vote” […]

It is not the NEC’s fault. It is the fault of the party that has not urged supporters to register to vote. On the other hand, those who have the right to vote refuse to exercise their rights and refuse to fulfill their obligations to be qualified as voters. Well, this is an opportunity for me to call on political parties to urge people to register to vote to exercise their right to choose their leaders […]

On the second point, (2) I have seen the verdict (on a man) that I dubbed “the three generations of traitors.” Please think about how (he) can become the leader of Cambodia while having had no power yet, he dared sign cutting four provinces from the country’s territory to foreigners and explained that (what he was doing was to) give rights to indigenous peoples in Ratanakkiri, Mondulkiri, Stung Treng, Kratie, and Preah Vihear […] the court verdict is correct and punishable based on specific evidence […] the Constitution also stipulates against secession […]

Have you seen the picture of the signing session? Behind the two signatories there are up to three flags, the center being the American flag, the Cambodian flag and the Degar Montagnard flag. Do Cambodians in Ratanakkiri, Mondulkiri, Stung Treng, Kratie have flags? If it were just to empower indigenous peoples, there would be no need for them to have a flag. What is the meaning of this point? Please give us the answer.

You may say whatever you want, but the picture of the signing ceremony is clear enough to prove the promise of cutting land for foreigners. Those foreigners are not referring to Vietnam. (3) These Degar/montagnards created a state with a flag in separation from the Vietnamese flag. We cannot blame the Vietnamese authorities in Hanoi, because this is an ethnic group who are working against the Vietnamese government to create a state and have a separate flag. (In doing so) what is the real purpose of this traitor? […]

This is the most important legally binding document. There is no death penalty in Cambodia, but in the case that there were, the maximum sentence would be the death penalty. We have only a lifetime, however. Therefore, the people must see the treacherous character of these three generations of traitors – grandfather, father to son. In reality, we are currently negotiating toughly on every inch of our border, for which we have already reached agreement of 84%, whereas the remaining 16% are still bargaining here. Why this person, not even in power, daring to cut off the territory of 4 provinces to foreigners […]

Fresh News

[…] In the past, Samdech Techo, seen as a hard-spoken, but with high sentimental heart leader, who had twice favored Sam Rainsy to return to politics. According to the latest political situation, would Samdech Techo confirm if there will be no new favor for Sam Rainsy to return to politics. If Samdech Techo does not open the way in this case, can one (say) that […] Sam Rainsy will rest his bones out of the country?

Samdech Techo: No way. I have twice favored this traitor. (4) This traitor not only did not change, but continues to destroy Cambodia. Not only that I will not raise my hand to sign a pardon for the traitor. Also, I am inspiring a movement to eradicate the extremist ideology of three generations of traitors. It has been days already that there are strong supports […] because in order to ensure peace for our country, it is necessary to get rid of extremist politics. There is an example in France. They come together to prevent Le Pen – known to be the extremist faction – from rising to power […] thus, in order to ensure lasting peace and stability, Cambodia needs to eradicate extremist ideologies. I can assume that this person dumped the bones abroad. Please do not expect (to get away with​ what he had done) […]

I will take measures as I did to dissolve the Khmer Rouge political and military organization. I succeeded. (5) I will now continue by appealing to the people who misunderstand and believe this traitor to turn away from him. Legal mechanisms must also be in place. I have already stated that whichever party is associated with this person or this group, would be sued to court to dissolve. This is stated in our law, which requires us to dissolve political parties that make serious mistakes and prohibit communication using voice messages or images of so-called prisoners. The person has had so much punishments. I will give no chance to forgo. I have said already if I were to sign a request for his pardon again, I would cut my arm and throw it away. I will not do that […]

I am inviting you to do whatever way you wish to overthrow (me and my government). You may want to turn to your method used in 2013 again. I invite you to do so and I will accompany you to the end. At the end of the day, anyone involved with this convict will probably be punished. Please stay away from this person.

In (6) my campaign to bring down the Khmer Rouge political and military organizations, I used the five letters abbreviation strategy – DIFID – meaning to divide, to isolate, to finish, to integrate, and to develop. This time I use only two letters – I and F […] I am going to go to the provinces to set up a network to eradicate extremist ideological organizations formed by the three generations of traitors. Now there is enough support. I ask all foreign friends to understand the relationship that led to this. Listen to their content and what their actions are. Should the administration with a constitution, a king, a parliament, a senate, a government, and the armed forces take action or not? In such a situation that they call for an overthrow […]

Thmey Thmey

The first question – Samdech’s impression as the Prime Minister for coming to re-register to vote? The second question – along with Samdech’s call for people to register and check their names, some people are also worried about their ID cards. What would Samdech say to relevant officials to facilitate this work? On the other hand, […] regarding Samdech’s trip […] as Samdech mentioned in Run Ta Ek village, some people think that Samdech came down for electoral campaign. What does this mission (mean) so not to confuse others it as an election campaign but a mission to help people suffering from flood?

Samdech Techo: […] There are questions about identity card issues. It is not the problem of the NEC, but it is the problem of the registrar that I would like to take this opportunity to call on all the registrars everywhere or (any authority that can issue) any certification can be used in registration. That will facilitate those tasks. In addition to the ID card, there may be other documents recommended by the NEC. I would also like to take this opportunity to call on the relevant officials to confirm and expedite the identification of voters in order to register to vote or transfer their names from one place to another in a timely manner within the time limit set by the National Election Committee […]

(7) Regarding the coming traveling around the Tonle Sap Lake, let me I ask when the people are suffering and facing such difficulty, should the Prime Minister stay at home and watch for fear of being accused of conducting an election campaign? […] people infected with Covid-19, should we leave them as they were and need not search for vaccination. Was searching for and acquiring vaccines an elections campaign? It is an obligation that we have to do. Now I will go to Siem Reap’s Run Ta Ek and Piak Snaeng, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Pursat and to Kampong Chhnang provinces […]

[…] That is not the only point, though. I will instruct officials on how to solve problems in each province. I would not say that this is a pre-election campaign effort […] I do not care what other (political) parties say. I care about the well-being of the people. I did not ask the people which party they belong to. I am bringing assistances – rice seeds and food – for everyone affected by flooding […] you should be grateful to me, because among those I am going to distribute, there are definitely people who voted for other parties […]

It is good that all microfinance institutions have supported my call the day before and postponed interest rate repayments or stabilized interest rates, and restructured loans without foreclosure for those affected (by floods). At this point, I would like to thank the National Bank of Cambodia as well as all microfinance institutions for understanding of this difficult situation. I would also like to thank the authorities everywhere for taking care of the people in this difficult situation […]

(8) We cannot accuse any party as long as we do not have enough evidence […] I have seen the communication and the clear voice of the Zoom meeting attended by characters from abroad and insiders. I do not think, however, it is enough to dissolve a political party involved. We will check again and this is just a reminder that you cannot do anything illegal. If you break the law, we will not be afraid to use the law to dissolve you. For whatever actions we are taking, there must be specific evidence […]

As for the riot plan, we are preparing for the worst. They would not have a force that will be as strong as the Khmer Rouge when they attacked and took over the territory, such as Pailin, or when they came near to Battambang town. We are prepared for the worst though. If you are attempting to cause unrest, we are not intimidated by the use of force to prevent vandalism or subversion and unrest. This is a clear message for you. If you dare to use a weapon or armed violence, you will have to face a weapon. No one is willing to let you hit or catch […] how much force you have, you think come and catch Hun Sen?

The use of incitement to provoke unrest and force the armed forces to turn their guns at or to disobey the Royal Government, is against the law. You have more counts of guilty. However, a life sentence is enough […] “IF” – “Isolate” and “Finish” at once […] does not take as long as “DIFID” […] considering the age factor […] and even their insiders do not dare to connect as doing so would see themselves dissolved. What does that mean? It means my strategy to “isolate” has already taken effect. The law helped “isolate” them and did not allow any political party to associate with the convict. Do you understand? In other words, the law contributed to the success of my politics on isolating and ending it […]

[…] In that verdict, the court wanted to be proportionate – as I am the Prime Minister and the defendant is an ordinary citizen. They use the word ‘favor’. The only success of this traitor is when he is not obliged to pay Hun Sen Euro 1. (9) What Hun Sen wants, however, is not the Euro 1 thing […] but what the fact afro mentioned that Hok Lundy’s death has nothing to do with Hun Sen […] the second point is the court worded the verdict that it (the accusation) was a defamation to my reputation. The third point is that the evidence presented in the facts is nothing but a slap on a politician who does not have sufficient legal strategy. Well, I (got) enough. What the French court has confirmed is enough […]

[…] Winning or losing depends on whether I have paid the defendant for the lawyer’s fees and other expenses. In the case of Euro 127 paid for stamping duty, it is the burden of the plaintiff. It is a normal practice in every court and country. He interpreted that as his victory. This is very cunning. (That is why I say) he is the cunningest person ever in the history of 500 years […] well, “the winner,” where could you hide your face when the French court claims in the facts and even points out that you surely acted in defamation and you have no evidence whatsoever. Have you forgotten to talk about it? […]

Unfortunately, I would like to talk a little bit about the betrayal of Sam Nhean, the grandfather of this person (Sam Rainsy), who ran for the CPP in 1955. He stood his candidacy for the CPP in Kampong Trabek, Prey Veng province […] his grandson (Sam Rainsy) insulted us as a communist party, but his grandfather was a candidate for the National Assembly against Prince Norodom Sihanouk. Sam Nhean is the father of Sam Sary, who is the father of this traitor […] well, it is unfortunate there. I do not want to talk about that, but sooner or later, people will know […]

I think this traitor has made two major mistakes. I should tell him so that he can learn this experience. The first mistake is when he gathered people to flee the country abroad. Even if the party is dissolved at that time they will be arrested. They gathered all their people and fled abroad. The leadership structure is completely broken inside. The CPP should thank him for making that a mistake. It was like when the Khmer Rouge did not participate in the election […]

The second mistake is when he removed his people from the NEC. What does that mean? That mean you defected. Why accuse the National Election Committee (of consisting of only the people) of the CPP? While it is they themselves got off the line. If they continue to function as normal, it would not be a dead thing for them. There is no one to catch you and it will serve you during this election […] I told the German ambassador the other day that no body chased them out but that he was stupid […]./.

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