All religions (1), Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and other religions all have the same purpose – to educate people/practitioners to have a righteous mindset, to do good deeds, and to respect each other as a basis for living with morality, virtue, mutual respect and harmony. Self-esteem is an important task in modern times, when we have many choices, especially for young men and women, and for children who become the future of the nation, as everyone requires clear self-esteem […]
When we freed ourselves from the genocidal regime of Pol Pot, when the country is poor and (2) when our country was in difficult state […] the options and possibility to have access to education or information was impossible, and where materialism was not yet our choice, at that time, the focus was more on learning to fulfill the role of a good child and a good student […] in the current era of modernization, especially the acquisition of civilization and the ability to acquire morality from various materials from abroad, as well as modernization in our society, our people started to have more choices – good and bad. The youth and people have had to make decision on what to accept or execute and/or what is good and bad […]
Education and building self-esteem is a necessary factor for people when there are many choices (to make) whether the one we take is good or is bad, or it benefits the society or has a negative impact on society to the nation and religion. Thus, (3) education, counseling, teaching in all religions, along with education in the school and in the family plays an important role in creating a clear value in our people, and especially from a young age […]
In Cambodia, all religions, or both, went through the same situation – good and bad […] after gaining independence from the France in 1953, all religions in the Kingdom began to practice their freedom again. Unfortunately, when our country fell into the flames of war in the 1970s, because of which the people of all faiths, especially during the genocidal regime of Pol Pot, were affected. (4) From 1975 to 1979, all religious practices were shut down and many religious achievements were destroyed, be it Christianity, Buddhism or Islam, Mahayana or other religions […]
After (the liberation of the country from the genocidal regime of Democratic Kampuchea (5) on January 7,) 1979, religion was given the same opportunities, rights and attention, and the same resurrection. Under the genocidal regime of Pol Pot, the people who were massacred were not only Buddhists, but also Muslims and Christians. Equal chances are given to everyone, to religious or non-religious people, to participate in social activities, in all aspects, political and social, as well as in the ranks of government. The win-win policy of Samdech Techo, (the former Prime Minister), which ended the war in 1998 has saved life of the Cambodians of all religions from death […]
(6) When there is a war, (whether) in the army or in a village, where the people live or in any religion, (all are) affected. The end of the war saved people’s lives and gave equal opportunities to people and all religions. Respect and practicing, promotion and uplifting the religious freedom is done (in every religion), and even though Buddhism (is defined as) the state religion, all religions are promoted. This contributes to the maintenance of religious harmony that avoids destruction […]
(7) Apart from the Royal Government’s policy of engaging in religious practice, we can proudly say that there is no religion in Cambodia that is extremist. In Buddhism we have different denominations. In Islam, there are also different denominations. In Christianity, there are also different denominations, but there are no extremist practices that cause conflicts within one religion or between religions in Cambodia […]
The two factors – (8) the policy factors of the Royal Government and (that fact that no religion adheres to extremist tendencies), the participation of the community has helped prevent and eliminate the occurrence of religious conflicts/discriminatory stance in the territory of Cambodia. We must work together to prevent any form of discriminatory or extremist policy, and if there were any, we are to eradicate it in order to maintain peace and harmony in our society […]
(9) The three principles (at the core of the win-win policy are), first, impunity, second, the granting of rights, freedoms, preservation of life, property, and (third, the preservation) of title and roles, […] which has provided understanding and respect of/for each other and allowed Cambodians to reunite together. The 500 years of war were caused by division, and had come to the end in 1998 because we understood and loved each other. This policy of working and living together gives us lasting peace […]
Therefore, (10) the Royal Government of the 7th legislative term (of the National Assembly) will continue the traditions and policies that the Royal Government in the past over 40 years, and respects and promotes the rights and freedoms of all religions, and tries to maintain religious harmony as an element important in maintaining peace, as well as eliminating any extremist policies or views that attempt to destroy peace […]./.
