CONTENTS

• The Royal Gov't of Cambodia's Platform On Second Term From 1998 To 2003
• US Aid For Medical Research
• Japan-ASEAN Aids To Cambodia
• Foreign Investments In Cambodia
• ADB Loan for Cambodia

In the past two decades, Cambodia has gone through many major changes reflecting the heroic sacrifice of the Cambodian people to protect and to rebuild their homeland, the standard of their living, and the prosperity for their future. With the October 23, 1991 Paris Peace Agreements, Cambodia achieves full right and sovereignty. For the result, the Cambodian people may fervently develop their country with generous assistance from international communities.

Before reaching their goal of prosperity, they faced many critical proceedings. With His Majesty vision of Preah Bat Samdech Norodom Sihanouk, the beloved King of the Cambodian people, peace and national reconciliation were finally achieved.

At the second session of the auspicious plenary meeting of the National Assembly, I (Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister) have the honor to submit the Royal Government of Cambodia's Platform for approval from the august legislative body, the National Assembly. It is a foundation of governance to ensure peace, stability, democracy and development for the Cambodian people, and to rebuild their country.

I. Policies:

A. Domestic Policies:

The main goal of the Royal Government is to ensure peace, stability, and national unity. In order to create a political stability conducive to the economic and social development, and the alleviation of poverty, Cambodia have to be state of law. The development of liberal democracy and the respect of human rights must be firmly promoted.

1. Pacification:

The Royal Government adheres to national solidarity. To respect the consuls of His Majesty the King, the Cambodians from all walks of life and political backgrounds from every corner of the world must come together to defense their nation's independence, peace and prosperity.

To restore permanent peace and political stability, the Royal Government would welcome the return of the remnant of the Khmer Rouge. It continues to integrate the armed force and the people, who support the policy of pacification successfully implemented in Pailin, Samlot, Malai, Anlong Veng, Preah Vihear, and in other areas.

The Royal Government continues to cooperate with international organizations to set up the repatriation program to settle the Cambodian refugees into their society. It would pay at any price to stop the return of the genocidal regime, and the reoccurrence of the recent past tragedies. The hard-line leaders of the outlawed Khmer Rouge would be put on trial by the court. In the meantime, the Royal Government would reinstate a handful of former servicemen into the Royal Armed Forces. Under the chairmanship of His Majesty the King, the November 13 statement clearly emphasized that the working group in charge of military affairs must immediately and properly implement the agreements set forth in the spirit of the November 12-13 summit. The Kingdom of Cambodia has full sovereignty. It is a unified state, not a seceded state.

2. Liberal Democratic Process and Respect of Human Rights:

The Royal Government adheres to the principle of democratic pluralism and to the respect of human rights for which, it strongly believes they are fundamental to the social progress. The democratization and liberalization of all social fabrics must be rapidly addressed, because they are the essential forces of economic and social developments. The Royal Government assures and protects freedom of its citizenry bestowed in the Constitution, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in the Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Social, Economic and Cultural Rights, and in the Convention on the Rights of Women and Children. It strongly opposes racial hatred. The overall structure of the state run human rights institution would be upgraded.

3. Freedom of the Press and of Expression:

The Royal Government vigorously supports freedom of the press, freedom of expression and of assembly, which freely contribute to social and political conscience. In order to seek different shade and color of opinions, public forums are encouraged to take place. At the same time, freedom and anarchy should be clearly differentiated. The Constitution provides its citizenry their freedoms to be enjoyed and honored, not to be destructive and intrusive.

4. The Role of Oppositions:

To mobilize the wisdom from all walks of life and backgrounds to build the nation, the Royal Government widely supports the role of oppositions for constructive criticism, and for good services to the nation. The oppositions have full legal rights to perform its political activities. They are fully guarantied by the Royal Government equal social and political benefits, such as freedom, justice, security, and employment. They may assist Cambodia's young democracy to be fully developed. They do not have to implicate themselves in order to be labeled oppositions. The Royal Government and the oppositions would have to promote jointly the national interest, the social stability, and the welfare of the people, so that Cambodia and her people may enjoy the fruits of long lasting political strength and national stability.

The role of the oppositions shall be defined in the law.

5. The Participation of the Civil Society:

The Royal Government and the civil society shall incorporate their principle of state of law into strengthening democracy, liberty, and social law and order. They may not develop the country by conflicting interests between civil and political societies. The civil society shall be a key partner of the Royal Government in the construction of Cambodia. In view, the Royal Government would endorse the multiple activities of the non-governmental organizations and of associations, which have served the Cambodian people nationwide. It will appropriate special funds and allocate them to the non-governmental organizations in providing services on its behalf to the needy. The Royal Government would welcome the participation of the international non-governmental organizations in the process of rehabilitation of economic development and in the promotion of democracy and human rights. Therefore, it needs drafting a law on the non-governmental organizations and associations.

6. The Rule of Law:

The rule of law is the basic principle of democracy, the sustainability of the government, and of all institutions. It is to ensure freedom, national interest, justice, harmony, and social sustainability. A forceful legal structure to end assaults on human dignity is urgently needed. The enforcement and education of law would be widely disseminated. All men are born free and equal, but they must not be allowed to be above the law. A set of law must be applied equally to all.

7. Reforms:

Presently, administrative, judicial, military and police, and economic reforms are urgently to be addressed.

Today, Cambodia's administrative machine is excessive. The Royal Government can not further support it. It would take steps to reform it. It should gradually trimmed. It should be neutral and sound administration, which is capable to effectively serve the people. The rule of civil servants must be strictly applied. The training program to update the knowledge and skill of the employs must be spontaneously upgraded and maintained.

The physical structure of provinces and its cities must be reviewed. The provincial administration autonomy should seriously considered. The management of provinces, districts, communes, and villages should be properly carried out to rules and regulations.

The judicial system and the court are necessary to be entirely overhauled. By law, they ought to be independent, honest, and trustworthy. To succeed their quest, the corporations among the national institutions, such as the National Assembly, the Government, the Constitutional Council, the Council of Magistracy, and the court, should be overcome. Judges' salaries must be adequately raised. Especially, the judges in the Supreme Court must request their summons be properly recorded and executed. However, if there is a judge committing a violation, the Council of Magistracy should immediately reprimand him or her.

The corruption and power abuses, which obstruct the promotion and supports of the people's living conditions, ought to be stopped. The Cambodians, the businessmen, and the investors must not be victimized by those exploitations. The Royal Government of Cambodia considers the fight against the corruption as its matter of priority.

The Royal Government would set transparency in every work force. The anti-corruption institution would be soon formed. To ensure the effectiveness in the work force, the following measures would urgently be realized:

1. the anti-corruption law against the corrupt,
2. the creation of an agency to monitor and to fight corruption,
3. the wealth clearance decree,
4. the State estates control,
5. the encouragement of citizenry to participate in the corruption fight,
6. the appropriations of pay raise for the civil servants in accordance to the national budget.

B. National Defense and Security:

The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), the Military Police, and the National Police would fulfill their roles according to the Military and Police rules of order. They must be neutral, obedient, and self-restraint. They must sacrifice their lives to protect the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia. They would bravely defense the national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, to maintain peace, security, and stability, and to enforce law and order. They must end insurgency, terrorism, and secession. They must completely eradicate kidnapping, armed robbery, drug trafficking, artifact smuggling, money laundering, and sexual exploitation of minor children and women. They must properly enforce the law to make their homeland prosperous and safe for all, including diplomats, investors, tourists, and foreign workers.

They would participate in the national development programs. They must be active in the rescue operation to save lives of the people from the natural causes. They ought to curtail the use of illegal weapons, and close down the arms black markets.

The service of militia may be reviewed. Some places still need its assistance. For other places, its help is not applicable. However, the demobilization of militia and its disarmament should be highly considered.

1. Foreign Policies:

Cambodia adheres to policy of neutrality and non-alliance. It indiscriminately establishes relations with all friendly states worldwide. It conducts policies of mutual understanding, equality, respect, and non-interference in other state's internal affairs.

Cambodia would fortify bilateral friendship and cooperation with its neighbors. The border issues with its neighbors would be resolved through negotiations, and peaceful means.

Cambodia would establish bilateral and multilateral friendships with regional countries, especially with ASEAN. It wants to contribute as it may in jointly building the Southeast Asia to be a region of peace, tranquility, and prosperity.

When it becomes an active member of ASEAN, Cambodia would conduct itself within the principle of the agreements.

Cambodia is a member of non-aligned movement. Within the principle of agreements it would increase its diplomatic relationship with other nations, and set up embassies within its financial and human resources.

(To be continued)

On December 4, 1998, Cambodian Health Minister Dr. Hong Song Huot signed an agreement on medical research on infectious disease with H.E. Mr. Kenneth Quinn, Ambassador of the United States to Cambodia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia.

Under this agreement, a research laboratory will be established at the National Institute of Public Health. This laboratory will provide the capability to monitor and research infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis, arboviral and enteric diseases that significantly affect public health and the economy in Cambodia.

The implementing agencies for this agreement are the United States Navy and the Cambodian Ministry of Public Health. The US Naval Medical Research Unit has officers around the globe and recently was recognized for its work research for a trial malaria vaccine.

On December 24, 1998 at 10:00 a.m., an Exchange of Note was signed, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, between H.E. Mr. Hor Namhong, Senior Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and H.E. Mr. Masaki Saito, Ambassador of Cambodia to Japan.

The Exchange of Note covers the second phase of Japan's Grant aid of up to 84 millions Yen (USD 710,000) for the rehabilitation and improvement of the electricity supply network in the city's suburbs of Takmao, Pochengton, Russey Keo and Chroy Changva.

A signing ceremony on the extension of the Joint Cooperation for Rural Development and Resettlement Project in Cambodia called " Tripartite Cooperation Project Japan ASEAN-Cambodia" was also held the same day at 10:15 a.m. at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, between H.E. Mr. Hor Namhong, Senior Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Mr. Chhim Seakleng, Minister of Rural Development with H.E. Mr. Masaki Saito, Ambassador of Japan and Theirs Excellencies Ambassadors of the Republic of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and the Kingdom of Thailand.

This form of technical cooperation has been implemented in Cambodia since September 1993 with all the funds provided by Japan and with the cooperation of UNHCR and UNDP in Takeo and Kompong Speu Provinces. These are rural development projects in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, fish farming, community health and vocational training, with an emphasis on transferring technical skills to the Cambodian counterparts and on promoting food production and income generation.

Sok Chenda, Secretary General of the Council for the Development of Cambodia said in early December that Cambodia approved investment in 130 projects worth $840 million up to the end of October compared with total approved investment of $760 million for the whole of last year.

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