Published by the Cabinet of Samdech Hun Sen —————— MP of Kandal Prime Minister Issue 78 http://www.cnv.org.kh July, 2004 25 July 2004 (Unofficial Translation) 30 July 2004 (Unofficial Translation) Inspecting the Construction of a Bailey Bridge in Reconstructing the National Road 3 between Koh Sotin District of Kompong Cham Province Kompot Town and Tropeang Ropov Following is the selected com- Republic of Korea (RoK), who ments, aside from the pre- financed the project, I am pared text, of Samdech Hun pleased and thankful to the Sen at the groundbreaking people and Government of the ceremony to rebuild the na- RoK for the assistance and tional road three between support they have always pro- Kompot Town and Tropeang vided for the Cambodian peo- Ropov, the last 32.7 kilome- ple and Government. ters length that is connected to another part that is con- … The construction site here is structed by the World Bank one of the three projects that I from Veal Rinh to Tropeang have negotiated with RoK – Ropov. (1) information technology project and (2) the construction “… I am sure that today’s of a large professional training event is what we all have been centre, which is supposed to be 25 July 04 - Samdech Hun Sen (centre) accompanies an old-age waiting for. With the presence ready by end of the year, (3) person in his wheelchair to cross the Tonle Touch River by the of HE Ambassador of the (Continued on page 3) newly built Doeum Sdao Bailey Bridge at Koh Sotin district, Kom- 20 July 2004 (Unofficial Translation) pong Cham province (Photo: Virakmuny). Welcoming Comments for the In-Coming Minister for Rural Development Following is the selected com- this year, the dike that was ments, aside from his prepared built for our people to cross At the welcoming ceremony the leadership of HE Ly Thuch text, of Samdech Hun Sen dur- while the bridge was under for the in-coming minister for in the second term Govern- ing his visit to the Construction construction was blown away. Rural Development in the ment, which gives a great ef- Site of a Bailey Bridge at As of today the situation third-term Royal Government, fects on the efforts to reduce Doeum Sdao crossing in the where our people are facing Samdech Hun Sen made a our people’s poverty. district of Koh Sotin, Kompong difficulties in rainy as well as speech on a wide range of Cham Province. in dry seasons is over. issues relating to rural devel- … My thanks also go to the opment in Cambodia and office of rural development of “… I think everyone is pleased … In 1982 when traveling to CNV is making an abridged all levels for the same efforts with a new achievement today Memot, Dambe and to O and selected version here as and achievements. Rural devel- – the Doeam Sdao Bridge, Raing Ov and returning to follows: opment was first under the which ends difficult passage Koh Sotin, I had to cross the leadership of HE Hong Sun for people in the region. Those river with a small bridge. HE ... I am indeed honored and Huot, and later of HE Chhim who have resettled here can go Preap Pichey was then the pleased to be able to join with Seak Leng, HE Ly Thuch, and to Phnom Penh and return to Governor of Kompong Cham. all of you today to celebrate now of HE Deputy Prime Min- Koh Sotin or the area together He would like me to travel the welcoming ceremony for with family to visit the native along the river back to the city the in-coming minister, HE (Continued on page 5) village by land. Personally I of Kompong Cham. Deputy Prime Minister Lu am glad to see that the wish of Lay Sreng, for rural develop- In This Issue our people has been realized. … There were then many ment. The bridge has been under illegal checkpoints and they 1) The Bridge, P. 1 construction for about 117 even opened fire on our team. 2) National Road 3, P. 1 …On this auspicious occasion days and it is ready for our It was because of this incident 3) Minister for Rural, P.1 people to use. that I have declared that all I would like to express my illegal checkpoints, which sincere appreciation for the 4) Inter. Community, P. 6 … As the flood has come early (Continued on page 2) work fulfilled by the Ministry 5) East Asia Future, P. 8 of Rural Development under Mailing Box: Cambodia New Vision (CNV), P.O. Box 158, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; e-mail: [email protected]; Tel: 855-23 219898; Fax: 855-23 360666/219869 Cambodia New Vision July 2004 (Continued from page 1) Mondulkiri we need another tion here. In 1969, under the until the bridge is completely 300 meters of Bailey bridges. leadership of HM the King finished… demand bribes from people, Norodom Sihanouk as Head must be stopped. At that time I … I begged the Cabinet mem- of State, there was an inten- … This means that the team was a Deputy Prime Minister bers during the first Cabinet tion to build the bridge right will return to do some more and Minister for Foreign Af- meeting on July 16 that they here but it was not happening works (paving a 100 meters fairs, so how difficult and must be patient with the small because of man-made disas- concrete road on either side of scared it could be for the peo- size meeting room because ters – the coup and the war. the bridges of Doeum Sdao ple in general. I was born in the we have to save up money to and Pungro) as soon as the countryside and I happened to build bridges for our people – … As we now have achieved flood recedes and I would sug- see all this in my life and I am like the Doeum Sdao Bridge peace, we could not only se- gest March 29, 2005 as the sure people in other places also here today. This is the Gov- cure that the bridges and roads date of inauguration. The date encounter similar difficulties. ernment’s objective to narrow can be built but also guarantee was in fact the anniversary the gaps between the rich and that no damages would be when I left this area in 1975. … I could foresee the construc- the poor through an equitable brought up because of wars. tion of bridges for at least an- distribution of the economic … It is not a coincidence that I other 40,000 meters for the growth between rural and … I often mention that those have come to launch the next ten years and by then I urban areas. who join in the current Gov- groundbreaking for the two think we will be able to say ernment are not being offered bridges on March 29, and the that problems of passing across … This was the implementa- new cars, etc. because the inauguration also on March 29. water ways and the connection tion of the second angle of the Government needs to address I would like to suggest also the of road access in the country is second-term triangular strat- the people’s need like road, building of a woman statue in a better condition. Otherwise egy, and infrastructural devel- bridges, etc. It is true that sit- with a traditional weaving our people would still be in a opment has in this term be- ting in the Cabinet Meeting is loom which symbolizes the situation of market inaccessi- come one angle. The cost of a little hot in such a small expertise of the women in this bility for the products they building four bridges – room, but it is far better than area. have produced. Doeum Sdao, Takao, Ta Koch people working in the field… and Pongro, would be more I am glad to hear that the mili- … Today I am glad to see that … I may request HE Sun than enough to build a mod- tary engineering team work- the commune council which Chanthol of the Ministry of ern office of the cabinet but if ing here has enjoyed the hos- composed of 34 CPP and 17 Public Works and Transport we have done so our people pitality from our people. FUNCINPEC members is who is present here to make a would not have bridges to present together. Our country rough estimate on how many cross the river. … I learned that some have has got numerous political bridges would need to be built brought for them the Khmer parties but only two parties that across the Small River (a … I used to live in this area noodle or traditional sticky playing the key roles. branch of the Mekong River and I know full well how life- rice, etc. Though the amount that comes from Kompong cost incident could happen is small but the heart of our … In the course of solving the Cham at Koh Sotin down to because of the inability to people and monks are pro- political deadlock situation for Peam of Prey Veng Province) travel across the river. People found. We have two values the safety and security and as it stretches from Kompong could talk to each other from here that meet one another. wellbeing of our people, some Cham to Kandal and to Prey one side of the river to another politicians predicted us to be veng. According to my under- but they could not commute … The value of the Ministries historical offenders.