Selected Comments of Samdech Techo HUN SEN. at the opening of the 32nd National Congress of Buddhist Monks in 2024 [Unofficial Translation]

Selected Comments of Samdech Techo HUN SEN. at the opening of the 32nd National Congress of Buddhist Monks in 2024 [Unofficial Translation]

CNV: 21/11/2024

(1) A dialectical connection between Buddhist and secular worlds

Please allow me to have a bracket here, I am leaving the role of being a royal representative here to be Hun Sen […] let me now turn to a separate speech, which is not a prepared one for the royal representative […] tomorrow, this morning and evening, and in the next few days, guests will come to our country […] I have spoken of the relationship between the Buddhist world and secular world […] as a dialectical connection that complements each other and cannot be avoided. It is not just the issue of the Buddhist and secular worlds. We can say that all religions, whether Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, or other religions, always have a relationship with state governance, and no religion teaches people to do wrong things […]

The kingdom must promote and make all religious sectors, especially Buddhism, prosper. As for the secular world, with the development of this religious sector, the secular world, frankly speaking, is the state that benefits in return from the knowledge of the citizens, the understanding of the citizens about doing good deeds. It is through those good deeds that the state can govern better, without the problems of violence or sins occurring in society. This is mutual fulfillment. Our Buddhist monks must see this. When the citizens are happy, there is progress in their lives, our Buddhist monks also have good alms, and they are making contributions to the construction of monasteries and sanctuaries […] whenever our people face difficulties, the monks also have difficulty finding food because the people need it too. This relationship is inseparable […]

(2) Win-win politics is possible because Cambodia has one ethnicity and a majority of them are Buddhists

Why is it easy for us to implement the win-win politics 27 years ago […] it is because of the ethnicity and religion factors. Some countries have not found a solution (to their conflicts) because their roots (of differences) are too deep between ethnicity and religion. Just look at the ASEAN countries, some cannot conduct politics in a peaceful way because their differences in ethnicity and religion. For us, the convenience is we are one Khmer, even though there are a small minority, we do not discriminate against each other. The majority of us are Buddhists […] I always remind people that the Cambodian experience is not a one-size-fits-all to be applied to other countries because they have different socio-economic conditions or ethnic and religious backgrounds. Fortunately, in Cambodia, Buddhism is the one big religion, and there is something called ethnic and religious harmony, which makes it easy to extinguish the fire of war that had been going on for hundreds of years […]

(3) CLV-DTA repealed to avoid being a national division

Yesterday, the National Assembly approved the repeal of the Law on Trade Facilitation in the Development Triangle Area – Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (CLV-DTA). Only this agreement has legal binding force and needs to be ratified by the Parliament and the Royal Decree to be put into effect by HM the King, who will sign it today […] we do not want this issue to become a national division. Some citizens are being incited by ill-will circles and extremists. We are willing to give up the socio-economic benefits that have been widely supported, of whom Japan was the first. Then there are international organizations, international financial institutions and some other countries that come to help in those areas […]

(4) There are groups diverting issue from Cambodia/Vietnam to Cambodia and Thailand regarding the sovereignty of Koh Kut

One issue that I would like to ask all the monks and fellow Cambodians to be aware of is that they (the opposition persons) are diverting the issue of Koh Kut from Cambodia/Vietnam, which could lead to a border conflict. In Thailand, there is also an extremist group that has created the Koh Kut issue. Now, in our country, extremists from abroad are calling for demonstrations to demand (the sovereignty on) Koh Kut. I would also like to see what our citizens think about it […]

(5) Is it about time to label this group terrorists?

Former Thai Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan came to see me at my house at the Independence Monument to discuss the issue of oil drilling in the overlapping area […] in 2001, we issued a memorandum of understanding, which has been in place for 23 years and has not been discussed in detail […] the fact that a group of opposition people angered Cambodians to demonstrate and force the government to take the matter to the International Court of Justice – is a pick on a painless wound […] is it about time for the government or the legislators to designate this group as terrorists […] this is an incitement that could lead to an outbreak of hostilities between Cambodia and Thailand, not just an internal Cambodian issue […]

(6) Extreme actions would lead to either internal problem or border conflict

I call on our citizens to allow the Royal Government to continue the negotiation with the Thai government. I hope that the extremists in Thailand will allow the Thai government to negotiate. What surprises me is that both the Thai side, the Thai extremists and the Khmer extremists taking refuge abroad say that I and Thaksin have been discussing about how to share the fruits […] I call on the citizens to remain calm and let the Royal Government work. If you push too far, the situation (will evolve) in such a way either to firstly, have an internal problem, for which the Royal Government does not allow the opposition to do thing they plan to, or secondly, have a problem at the border. I call on the army not to raise any noise about this problem and refrain from moving – both the navy and the land forces –in the area […]

(7) A few matters regarding Buddhist practices

I would like to come in and give my opinion regarding the so-called “slight delay” (in the appointment of the Supreme Patriarch) […] the Supreme Patriarch has passed away, so why has there not been one appointed yet? I am asking for your understanding to allow some time because there is no urgency (on this matter) […] only HM the King has the right to appoint at the request of the Prime Minister, while the Prime Minister and I have discussed it, but he leaves the matter to me – the President of the Supreme Council of HM the King, to give your opinion and I have requested for a delay […]

Secondly, I am requesting that the Ministry of Cults and Religion, as well as the Protocol department, reorganize the seating arrangement […] the current seating arrangement is being prepared according to title, not according to position […] today, the Venerable district head monk is seated in front of the provincial head monk […] I am asking the Ministry of Cults and Religion, and the Protocol department to reorganize it […] I am making a suggestion out loud here […]

Another thing… the Ministry of Cults and Religion should be working with monks and authorities regarding the fact that there are stupas in the monasteries. Fortunately, some monasteries can still accept stupas, but in the future, there will be no place to build stupas. Should we consider jointly buying land somewhere so that Buddhists can have a place to build stupas […] we need to think about those who cannot afford to build stupas […] some families who cannot afford to build stupas […] it is not like a mass grave like in the Pol Pot era, but a place for the poor to put the remains of their parents for whom they could go to the funeral […]

Another thing, I would like to take this chance to advise the Ministry of Cults and Religion to think about credible person to take over the ritual procession in the Royal Palace after the wiseman Kun’s retirement […] after the wiseman Kun, who could be the one to work in the Royal Palace? Have we been prepared? we must be ready for anything and everything […]

I am begging you, Buddhist monks, not to be jealous of each other […] the Venerable Chantmuni, I don’t know if he came today or not? He didn’t come. Why are there monks that are not happy with the Venerable Chantmuni? When many Buddhist followers like him, we all should be happy. What is the need to be jealous of him? Let’s be honest with each other. I really find it difficult to understand. Let’s not be jealous of each other about this person being influential, that person being popular, that person being unpopular […]

Where is Venerable Hak Sieng Hai? Please continue to help with literature, as you always go live on social media to teach Khmer literature […] the other day, I saw the Venerable Hak Siang Hai (I called him Lok Kon) and the Venerable Chantmoni walking together looking around in the compound of the pagoda. I am so happy that they walk together in the pagoda looking at the trees, the school, etc. […]./.