Madam Bun Rany Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian Red Cross

It is a particular pride for the Cambodian Red Cross to have this summary report printed for the first time since the unification of the national society in 1994. This report has reflected the performance and the commitment of the CRC in implementing its mandate and mission to serve the interest of the most vulnerable people.
The achievement, constraints and conclusion pointed out in this valuable document demonstrates the willingness of the national society to become a well-functioning national society, the attachment of all staff to their role and responsibility to our national and international donors.
Transparency in our overall management, in particular financial, has helped us to ensure good image and to entrust our donors as well as our beneficiaries.
Wit our volunteers and youth network nationwide, CRC, while promoting the awareness of community residents on the Red Cross Movement, the ideal and Principle of the Movement, has helped them to release sufferings, responded to their immediate needs and to build up capacity in earning life. Red Cross Youth and Volunteers have been trained and educated with humanitarian spirits and skills for immediate response to emergency and disaster. They are the implementing force of the CRC at the community level. Without this network, CRC could not successfully implement its role.
When we record our achievement, we always attach it with high appreciation and gratitude to the care and support extended to the CRC, morally, materially and financially, by Their Majesties King Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk. Their devotion to humanitarian activities has been encouraging our people, especially the most vulnerable to strive hard for their life and for the development of their communities.
The First publication of such document could be hailed to commemorate the 45th Anniversary of the Cambodian Red Cross. Since its foundation in 1955, despite rocky road, windstorm en route to development. CRC has restored its history and begin to march forward courageously to become a well-functioning national society.

Chea Sim

Chea Sim (born November 15, 1932 in Romeas Hek district, Svay Rieng Province, Cambodia) is a Cambodian politician. He was the President of the National Assembly from 1981 to 1998 (from June to October 1993 is vice president) and is currently the President of the Senate (since 1999), and has also served as Cambodia's acting Head of State many times before. He is of Chinese descent,[1] with roots from Chaozhou.[2]
From April 6, 1992 to June 14, 1993, he served as the nation's interim leader ("Chairman of the Council of State") before Cambodia became a monarchy.
He also acted as Head of State on behalf of King Norodom Sihanouk for brief periods in 1993, 1994, 1995, and 2004. After the King announced his permanent abdication on October 7, 2004, Chea Sim once again became acting Head of State. He left that position on October 14, 2004 when Norodom Sihamoni became king.
Sihanouk awarded Chea Sim the honorary title of Sâmdech in 1993. Chea Sim is a member of the Cambodian People's Party.

Keynote Address at the 17th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting

Phnom Penh, 28 My 2009

- Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Co-Chair of the 17th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting,
- Excellency Mr. Jan Kohout, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, EU Presidency and Co-Chair of the 17th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting,
- Excellencies Heads of Delegations of the EU and ASEAN Member-States,
- Distinguished Delegates,
- Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
- Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is indeed a great honor for me to be present at the opening session of the 17th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting and to deliver my keynote address at this important meeting here in Phnom Penh. I am very much pleased that Cambodia is hosting this ministerial meeting before the end of its role as Country Coordinator for ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations. In my view, there is no doubt that the convening of this ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting is very much timely and highly relevant when our two regions, let alone the world at large, are confronted by numerous global challenges, in particular the current international economic and financial crisis.
Our ASEAN-EU cooperation dated back to more than thirty years ago, and our close relations at present are becoming ever stronger and covering a wide range of areas. In recent years, the ASEAN-EU cooperation and partnership have been growing and expanding in scope and depth, especially following the convening of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit in Singapore, in 2007, which brought together leaders from both sides. The ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit was a historic milestone for both ASEAN and the EU, as the relations between the two sides were raised to the highest level.
At the more practical level, I wish to note the ASEAN-EU cooperation has been carried out through the various existing frameworks and mechanisms, such as the Trans-Regional EU-ASEAN Trade Initiative (TREATI) and the Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (READI). At the same time, the ASEAN-EU partnership and cooperation are strategically guided by key documents, namely the Nuremberg Declaration on EU-ASEAN Enhanced Partnership, the Joint Declaration of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit, and the ASEAN-EU Action Plan.
In the area of political cooperation, ASEAN and the EU have been working closely together through the various frameworks, such as the present ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conferences (PMC) with the EU. At the same time, ASEAN has welcomed the significant number of accreditation of ambassadors by the EU Member-States to ASEAN, which clearly has demonstrated the EU’s strong commitment to strengthen its close cooperation and partnership with ASEAN.
Moreover, I am delighted to know that ASEAN and the EU will be signing the “ASEAN Declaration of Consent to the Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia by the European Union/European Commission” and the “Declaration on Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia by the European Union/European Commission” at this meeting later today. The signing of these documents represents another significant step forward in ASEAN-EU relations. As you all would agree, the EU/EC’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) will undoubtedly promote peace, security and stability in East Asia as well as in a wider region. Given the important role of the EU in world affairs and the significance of ASEAN-EU relations, I am of the view that we need to continue accelerating the process of the EU’s accession to the TAC as early as possible, perhaps sometime within this year in order to maintain the momentum, the interest, and the political will of both sides.
With respect to the economic cooperation, ASEAN and the EU have been working closely and actively to promote trade and investment between the two sides. While more could be done to expand and deepen economic and trade relations, I am of the view that it is in the best interest of both ASEAN and the EU to move forward, with concrete progress, on the FTA negotiations on a region-to-region basis. Given the size of the markets, the enormous economic potentials, and the volume of trade between the sides of the regions, it is essential for ASEAN and the EU to proactively continue the FTA negotiations because it will bring enormous benefits and interests to ASEAN and the EU. Therefore, I personally feel that we should not lose sight of the broader and longer-term interests of the two regions, and we need to maximize our great potentials and the strategic window of opportunity that we now have.
On global issues and challenges which negatively affecting both regions and the world at large, I strongly believe that ASEAN and the EU can play a more active and more forceful role in the world. There is no room for a passive role for us, and we—ASEAN and the EU collectively—need to take on the global challenges with head on. In this regard, I wish to share my view on the global issues and challenges, as follows:
First, the global economic and financial crisis. Today, we are confronted with serious implications of this economic and financial crisis throughout the entire world, to a varying degree. The current global economic and financial crisis has clearly undermined the progress that it has been made thus far, particularly in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and poverty reduction in the developing countries. Surely, the current crisis presents with both the danger and the opportunity for some countries, particularly those in the developing world. The danger is that some countries may resort to protectionism and other national measures, as a way of coping with the fallouts of this global economic and financial crisis. The opportunity is to work together to reform the international financial institutions so that they will serve the interests of all. In addition, ASEAN and the EU can exchange their experiences in policy responses and the sharing of best practices on how to manage the ramifications of the crisis and to learn from the G-20 on how they are committed to achieving the recovery. I think this is one area that ASEAN and the EU can engage each other more in the future.
Second, climate change and the environment. At present, we all know well that the global warming and climate change have negatively affected our world, our region, and our respective individual member-states and societies. In recent times, the entire world had witnessed more frequent natural catastrophes, tsunamis, droughts and floods, and the rising sea level. In this context, I believe it is important for both ASEAN and the EU to work together in addressing climate change and the environment, especially at the upcoming Copenhagen Climate Summit in December of this year. I hope that all participating ASEAN-EU countries in this Summit will be able to build a consensus on a post-Kyoto global framework in Copenhagen. At the same time, we should collectively urge the most industrialized countries to respect the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), especially the Kyoto Protocol and the Bali Roadmap, in order to for us to take the necessary steps to prevent the increasing degradation of the world’s environment, to reduce the greenhouse gas emission and to help make the world a better place for humanity. In this regard, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the EU for choosing Cambodia this year as one of the pilot countries for the Global for Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) project.Third, food and energy security. Food and energy security will remain as one of the world’s global challenges for some time, despite great efforts and coordination to deal with and manage this challenge. I am of the view that both ASEAN and the EU could give their priority and attention to the cooperation in this area, especially in coming up with alternative clean and renewable sources of energy, such as hydropower, wind energy, solar energy and so forth. To ensure food security for our two regions, if not for the whole world, I think that we should avoid encouraging others to really develop bio-energy which could have real impact on food security, if more arable farmland will be used for bio-energy production only while the world is facing with an increasing of population.
Fourth, disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. I believe that the world is not safer or more peaceful when more countries have access to nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction or when more countries could produce such weapons. To the contrary, I think that we should work more concertedly and systematically to reduce the number of stockpiles of those WMDs and to continue building a more credible non-proliferation regime throughout the world. In ASEAN, we have the Treaty of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (SEANWFZ). Over the years, we have been trying to get nuclear weapon states (NWS) to accede to this treaty, and so far only China has indicated its willingness to do so. I hope that more nuclear weapon states will be considering their accession to this treaty and by doing so they would support a region free of nuclear weapons or other WMDs. At the same time, ASEAN and the EU should work together to actively urge those countries that have not become members of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to do so because it is in the interest of ASEAN and the EU as well as the world at large if they could join the non-proliferation regime.Fifth, non-traditional security issues. Another area that ASEAN and the EU have been collaborating closely is combating of human smuggling, drug trafficking, illicit trade and circulation of small arms and light weapons; and fighting money laundering and international economic and cyber crimes. I believe that this is in this area of non-traditional security issues where ASEAN and the EU should be strengthened in the future, especially in capacity building and sharing of information and best practices. We should expand the scope and the depth of our cooperation in addressing the non-traditional security issues for mutual interests and benefits.
Sixth, the pandemic diseases. With the recent outbreak of the swine flu, the world, once again, has focused its attention and priority on this emerging infectious disease. In fact, in our region, I proposed to convene a two-day special meeting for the health ministers from ASEAN and the Plus Three Countries to meet as urgently as possible. On May 9, in Bangkok, the health ministers met in the framework of ASEAN Plus Three and agreed to boost the stockpile of antiviral medicine and protective equipment to fight this deadly disease (H1N1) as well as to look at other ways of sharing the supplies in case of a pandemic. The swine flu is just one of the global infectious diseases that we need to actively promote our closer cooperation. We should not wait until such an outbreak of infectious disease. Instead, we should enhance our collaboration within the region, and certainly between the regions, such as ASEAN and the EU, to ensure that we can respond more effectively to the outbreak of any infectious diseases, such as this swine flu, Avian Influenza, and so forth.
Before concluding my remarks, I wish to underline the following areas where the ASEAN-EU cooperation and partnership should give more priority to:
First, we need to continue implementing the ASEAN-EU Action Plan, especially in carrying out the Phnom Penh Agenda to Implement the ASEAN-EU Action Plan, which will be adopted by the ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministers later today.
Second, we need to move quickly to realize the EU/EC’s accession to the TAC, without further delay.
Third, we need to work closely together to ensure the success of the FTA negotiations as early as possible.
Fourth, we need to cooperate more actively and support each other in the areas of integration and the community building process, especially as ASEAN is now implementing its Charter.
Fifth, we need to continue strengthening the ASEAN-EU Enhanced Partnership by ensuring that the existing mechanisms and frameworks are working effectively and efficiently, especially the ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting.
Sixth, we need to strengthen ASEAN-EU cooperation in the regional and international fora, where ASEAN and the EU have an important role to play, such as the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).
Finally, I wish to congratulate and thank all of your for participating in the 17th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting in Phnom Penh. I also would like to extend my best wishes to all of you for a very successful meeting and a pleasant stay in Cambodia. I have full confidence that the 17th AEMM will be a success.

Thank you very much and a good morning to all of you.

Announcement of the 31st Plenum of 5th Tenure of the Central Committee

The 31st Plenum of the Central Committee of the Cambodian People's Party was held for two days from 28th-29th January 2005 under the auspices of Samdech Chea Sim, President of the Party; Samdech Hun Sen, Deputy President of the Party and Samdech Heng Samrin, Honorary President of the Party. The Plenum participants are 137 people from the total 153 members of the Central Committee. The Plenum was expended to also include 483 Party's officials, who are members of the National Assembly, members of the Senate, members of the Royal Government and Party's representatives from the provinces-cities and ministries/institutions.
With the spirit of high responsibility, the Plenum achieved the following works:1. Discussion and adoption of the "report on the situation (of Cambodia) and the next goals/ tasks of the Party."
2. Voting for 8 additional members of the Central Committee's Standing Committee who are:


1. H.E.Mr. Chea Chanto

5. H.E.Mrs Som Kimsuor

2. H.E.Mr. Ouk Rabun

6. H.E.Ms Khuon Sudary

3. H.E.Mr. Cheam Yeap

7. H.E.Mr. Pen Panha

4. H.E.Mr. Ek Sam Ol

8. H.E.Mr. Chhay Than

The Plenum expressed its deepest loyalty and gratitude to Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah NORODOM SIHANOUK, Heroic King, the King-Father of Independence, Territorial Integrity and Khmer National Unity and Samdech Preah Mohaksatrei NORODOM MONI NEATH SIHANOUK, Cambodia's Mother of Freedom, Dignity and Happiness. The Plenum extended its best wishes of good health, energy, intelligence and longevity to their Majesties so that they continue to be a cool shade for our people- their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren- for a long time to come.
The Plenum expressed it unwavering loyalty to Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath NORODOM SIHAMONI, King of Cambodia. The Plenum extended its best wishes of good health to Preah Karuna to stay on the throne as a symbol of independence, sovereignty, national unity, territorial integrity, prosperity and progress of the Kingdom of Cambodia.The Plenum of Central Committee set out the following important principles:
1. The Plenum made a comprehensive assessment of the Party's victory in the general elections for the 3rd term of the National Assembly and its achievement in seeking for a solution to the post-election political deadlock, considering them as a common achievement of all Cambodian, the people who always cherish peace, justice, democracy and development. The Plenum took the view that the general situation of Cambodia is developing well, producing favorable condition for execution of the Party's platform which is now a political program of the Royal Government in its 3rd term of office.
2. The Plenum expressed its deepest respect and gratitude to Party's members and all compatriots throughout Cambodia for their trust in the Cambodian People's Party and which was founded in voting overwhelmingly for CPP, making it possible for the Party to continue its leadership of the country. The Plenum, at the same time, highly appreciated and admired Party's Committee of all levels, all Party's members, both in and outside the country for their active participation in carrying out every task of the Party, trying to do every good thing and recording many achievements for the nation and people.
3. The Plenum fully supported the Royal Government of Cambodia, under the leadership of Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister, in its efforts to execute the Rectangular Strategy for Growth, Employment, Equity and Efficiency, having good governance as its core. This strategy is for successful implementation of the Royal Government's political program and its national strategy for poverty reduction.
4. The Plenum supported and urged on the enactment of the legislation for the election of the Senate for its 2nd term in early 2006 after another year extension of its (1st) tenure.5. The Plenum supported the cooperation between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the United Nations Organization, aimed at pushing forward the establishment of the extraordinary chamber, under the Cambodian laws, to bring to justice those responsible for the crimes committed during the period of the Democratic Kampuchea.
6. The Plenum highly appreciated the Cambodian People's Party and FUNCINPEC, having Samdech Krom Preah NORODOM RANARIDDH as President for their cooperation to overcome every complicated problem and to complete the political solution which guaranteed the establishment and normal operation of all national institutions, in accordance with the constitution and the people's aspiration. The CPP promotes sincere execution of the Protocol of Cooperation Agreement between the two Parties, signed on 30th June 2004 and continues to expand its good cooperation with other political parties and social establishments aimed at strengthening peace, stability, national reconciliation and national development.
7. The Plenum extended its most sincere thanks to political parties, governments and people of distant and near friendly countries and international organizations for all their supports, spiritual and material, extended to the cause of national construction of the Cambodian people.8. The Plenum decided to make preparation for the extraordinary congress so as to review the performance of the Party’s platform, adopted by the extraordinary congress in April 2003, and to hold election for additional members of the Central Committee.
9. By holding firm onto its Party identity, the Plenum appealed to Party Committees of all levels, officials and all Party's members to promote the spirit of keeping solidarity and firm internal unity; being close to the people and determined to fulfill every task defined by the 31st Plenum of the Central Committee so as to bringing new achievements to our nation and people.

Hun Sen

His current, full, honorary title is: Samdech Akkak Moha Sena Pedey Decho. He is one of the key leaders of the Cambodian People's Party, which has governed Cambodia since the Vietnamese-backed overthrow of the Khmer Rouge in 1979. He was a former Khmer Rouge who escaped to Vietnam before 1979 in order to call the Vietnamese to overthrow the other Khmer Rouge. From then on he was in power.
Since the restoration of multi-party democracy in 1993, the CPP has been in coalition with the royalist Funcinpec party and as senior partner since 1997. The title "Samdech" was attached to his name in 1993 by King Norodom Sihanouk. It is only an honorary title and does not give him further powers. He has a glass eye, the result of a wound sustained during the Khmer Rouge offensive against Phnom Penh in April 1975.

Political career

Hun Sen was selected by the Vietnamese for a leadership role in the rebel army and government they were creating for Cambodia. When the Khmer Rouge regime was overthrown, Hun Sen was appointed as foreign minister of the Vietnamese-installed People's Republic of Kampuchea in 1979 and served until 1990, with a brief interruption from 1986 until 1987. As foreign minister, Hun Sen was a key figure in the Paris Peace Talks which brokered peace in Indochina. He became Prime Minister in 1985, shortly after the death of Chan Sy. From 1993 until 1998 he was co-prime minister with Prince Norodom Ranariddh.
In 1997, the coalition was shaken by tensions between Ranariddh and Hun Sen. Funcinpec began to collaborate with the remaining Khmer Rouge rebels (with whom it had been allied against Hun Sen's Vietnamese-backed government during the 1980s), aiming to absorb them into its ranks.
In response, Hun Sen launched a bloody military coup, removing Ranariddh and becoming the country's sole prime minister in 1998. Several royalist supporters were killed or tortured by CPP members, though Hun Sen denied any involvement.He also denied that his action was a coup, arguing that if he had wanted to make a coup, he would have abolished the monarchy.
The elections of July 2003 resulted in a larger majority in the National Assembly for the CPP, with FUNCINPEC losing seats to the CPP and the Sam Rainsy Party. However, CPP's majority was short of the two thirds constitutionally required for the CPP to form a government alone. This deadlock was overcome and a new CPP-FUNCINPEC coalition was formed in mid-2004.
He joined the International Parliament for Safety and Peace, as Senator for Life in October 2007.

Criticism

Some political opponents of Hun Sen accuse him of being a puppet of Hanoi. This is due to his position in the government created by Vietnam while Cambodia was under Vietnamese military occupation and the fact that he was a prominent figure in the People's Revolutionary Party of Kampuchea (now known as the Cambodian People's Party), which governed Cambodia as a one-party state under Vietnamese military occupation from 1979 until the elections in 1993. Hun Sen and his supporters reject such charges, claiming that he represents only the Cambodian people. More recent political opponents outside the country accuse him of being a corrupt dictator who controls the country by force.
Hun Sen was accused of ordering his personal body guards to throw hand grenades into a crowd of protesters at a rally led by Sam Rainsy in 1997, which led to several deaths and many injuries.
Hun Sen's government has also been accused of carrying out a fire sale of land to foreign investors in 2007-08 and the eviction of thousands of residents from their homes.
Hun Sen was also implicated as involving in corruption related to Cambodia's oil wealth and mineral resources in Global Witness' latest report about Cambodia, Country for Sale. He and his close associates were accused of carrying out secret negotiations with interested private parties and taking money from those who he would grant rights to exploit the resources.However, the prime minister and his government have denied this accusation and called it groundless.

Family

Hun Sen is married to Bun Rany. They have four children, one of them adopted.
In October of 2007, Hun Sen made a surprise announcement at a graduation ceremony in front of an audience of around 3,000 that his adopted daughter is a lesbian. He has taken legal steps to disown his daughter and to prevent her from receiving any inheritance. Nonetheless, he asked the audience to accept homosexuals.
Although Hun Sen's birthday is officially celebrated as April 4, 1951, he has revealed that his actual date of birth was August 5, 1952.He apparently altered his date of birth to appear older when joining the Khmer Rouge as a youth.