(11) The government does not withdraw from the development goals of the four northeastern provinces
On September 20, 2024, the Royal Government announced the end of Cambodia’s participation in the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam – Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA). This project had been going on for 25 years […] one group of people said that by withdrawing Cambodia out of the CLV-DTA, “the government has failed, the government is no longer moving forward, and must be changed” […] let us see what is the main goal of CLV-DTA? If its big goal has reversed, then they can talk about that. The main goal of the CLV-DTA was – as part of a northeast development policy – to allow the most remote provinces to grow faster to connect with the other parts of the country. Asked if we have withdrawn from this goal? I would say “not at all”. The government is still developing the northeastern area, i.e. developing the four provinces still […]
There are three groups of people. One group wants to develop the area on our own. Another group wants to develop the area, but supports partnership in order to draw some resources, and leave the national resource to develop elsewhere. The third group of people, the silent majority, did not express their opinion on Facebook whether there should or should not be a DTA, but they just want (the RGC to ensure) – firstly, not to lose land, secondly, not to lose sovereignty, and thirdly, to develop the area. Those supporters and non-supporters of the CLV-DTA development triangle wanted the same thing as the third group – to defend the territory, defend sovereignty, promote more development in the area […]
We have now pulled out of that (CLV-DTA) project. We will work with partners in a different framework. Some asked (that we have made this decision,) who is losing and who is winning […] I am asking you to have an understanding […] when we (have) common interests, our concept is to achieve development, guarantee sovereignty, ensure our territory – it is not loss, plus we will ensure development of this northeastern provinces. It is our big goal. If we talk about which side lose or win, let me tell you that the whole Cambodian people, whether you support or not […] the whole Cambodian nation wins […]
(12) Ensuring Cambodian children go to all parts of the country to help defend the territory
My answer to the above question is no different to what I (said on the occasion of the meeting with) the wisemen/women – with or without the DTA, we must continue to play an important role in defending our sovereign territory and promoting the growth not only in the Northeast but also in the whole country. We must continue to demarcate the border by negotiating and finishing the mounting of border markers responsibly. We must continue to build the border ring road until we finish it […] for places like the dragon-tail-shape area, where most of the Cambodian children have never been reaching, and even the Indochina geographical group, had not reached in certain places, we need to build the road for people to live and to invest to ensure that the Cambodian children can go to all parts of our country to help defend the territory […]
(13) Have trade ports rather than closing border and sending the troops there
The word nationalism is a good thing, but do not be overly nationalistic, which can become extremist […] we are over (with the war). Together, let us maintain protection (of peace). Do not break the national unity […] the Royal Government responds and implements the principle of resolving people’s concerns, urging the erection of border posts, border road construction, border development, turning the border area into a border of solidarity, cooperation with neighboring countries, whereas people are the fence […] promote the development by opening trade ports rather than closing it and sending the troops there, demining along the border instead of laying more, and placing more cranes to build tall buildings rather than artillery lined up […]
Secondly, I would like to confirm that the visit (to the northern provinces and the border area) is to go on […] so that our people can see the real development, feel the warmth and help those from the plain area and others to get to know the northeastern province […] the Cambodian or local tourists can go visit the border to see if there are roads, border posts/markers, and judging themselves if there need to have fences […] in terms of tourism, let us not think just about tourists from outside the country. There are a lot of local tourists. People need to go for sightseeing too […] the tour group should think if there is a product for retirees around the country […] so that more Cambodians know more about Cambodia […]
(14) Determined to develop the northeast area, to protect the territory, to protect the sovereignty of Cambodia for the Cambodians for hundreds of years to come
(Those in the opposition may want) to shout that the Hun Manet government failed and collapsed, or ended, and they may drink for that […] but for Cambodia, we are still making a package to boost the investment economy in 2025 in the Northeast […] we do not back down […] I used to announce and we still do, with or without DTA, importantly, we are determined to continue to develop in that area, to protect the territory, to protect the sovereignty of Cambodia for the Cambodians for hundreds of years to come […] whereas CLMV is the mechanism of ASEAN, (it is naïve to have called for removal of Cambodia from it) […] and sooner Timor-Leste would also join […] Asked if all countries lose sovereignty? (They do not and have become) stronger, respectively. This CLMV is not dangerous and it is not wrong […]
Previously, they used (the CLV-DTA issue) to ignite people’s (misconception) […] they used it as a sword to cause people’s concerns all along. Now (that the RGC has moved Cambodia out of CLV-DTA), they have no such sword anymore. They may have their party and drink Soju, but all the bullets that caused people’s worrisome are out. As of now, the Cambodian people all over the country are united. Let us not worry about DTA anymore. Let us unite to develop the area together with other partners, in whatever way – the best possible. As we are now free from worries, the Cambodian people are united […]
Someone came out and said on TikTok that the government did not dare to withdraw from the CLV because it had to pay back money. According to the MOU among the three countries, anyone country has the right to withdraw (candidacy by) just notifying the other party through diplomatic means six months in advance. On the 20th (of September 2024), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (and International Cooperation of Cambodia) already informed Laos and Vietnam […] it is our right. We do not owe anyone […] each country must respect each other’s sovereignty […] the issue of relations with countries around the world, what others think is their problems […] we must strengthen ourselves, and the start point is internal unity, national unity, not to be divided […] we may have disagreement but do not go to action leading to instability […]
(15) Gumball 3000 arrived in Malaysia, social media debate should end
Hopefully the Gumball story is over soon […] they are gone, and some people are still fighting (about it). This September 30, I will go to Chip Mong Company to receive more than US$ 400,000 from the Gumball event and give it to the Angkor Pediatrician Hospital. I would like to clarify that no one has a heart to despise our ancestors, and some people have already expressed opinions regarding, to their judgements, improper activities in the organization (of the event) […] you may express opinions, but do not have to fight each other. The Gumball3000 was here only two days, but in Cambodia, (there had been) debates for two weeks and is not over […] the battle should end on the airwaves or on Facebook. Both sides have their arguments, but if you want to win or lose, […] I would urge them to look around – they drove to Malaysia already. What are we still fighting for? […]
We are not perfect, but we have not lost our cultural values. Foreigners also respect our values. In terms of tourism and culture, we have done everything possible to protect. Some have already expressed their opinions. We have to take this as an experience to learn from for the next event. We have to take extra carefulness. I think everyone should be happy. We have already expressed our opinions and should end (this useless protracted exchanges) […] I say we should finish it and go to Pchum Ben. No need to have a loser and/or the winner regarding the CLV-DTA anymore. Let us find out how to develop the four provinces. (I urge people to) visit our border provinces and we are committed to build more roads (there) […]./.
