Speech
H.E KEP CHUK TEMA Governor of Municipality of Phnom Penh
At the Inauguration of Gate Way and Park, the North of Wat Phnom
March 22, 2007

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-Pariah Supreme Monk
-Excellencies, Lok Chumteav, Oukha, Ladies, Gentlemen

Today is an auspicious day to observe inauguration ceremony of gate way to be held on March 22, 2007. On behalf of vice governors and on my own name, I’d like to express my warmly welcome to Excellencies, Lok Chumteav, Oukha, Ladies, and Gentlemen, government officials, residents, teachers, and students for participating in the ceremony.

Phnom Penh is one of the famous cities among Angkor Borei Baphnom, Sambor Prey Kok, Kos Kei, Angkor, Longvek, Oudoung, etc. Phnom Penh came into existence, and was represented by “Phnom Daun Penh”, which we now call “Wat Phnom”, laying at the west of Chaktomok River.

The history of Phnom Penh was recorded in Khmer history in early the century 15, Phnom Penh lasts 573 years old. Phnom Penh came into existence and changed by filling the strem, channel, rivers, then there were many bridges across them, but there was only a bridge in better condition and with nice style – “SPEAN NEAK TMOR” [concrete Dragon bridge] or “SPEAN RATANAK SAMBATH”. The bridge was built in 1892 acrossing PEAM PLOUNG river. It spans Northern city the place for Europe to Southern city – the place for Khmer and China for accommodation and doing business. To expend the city and combined the two parts of cities, the French governor-general decided to fill PEAM PLOUNG and demolished the bridge in 1929.

The nice bridge was stayed in an old generation Khmer heart and it was only in picture. Dragons represent prosperity, cold and also represents Khmer people through legend “Preash Thong Neag Neak”.

So the reconstruction of the gate way is an indication of recalling the past achievements of Phnom Penh which is full of cultural heritage. It also upgrades the beauty of Wat Phnom resort where there is a gate way I the southern part. There is Yey Penh statue to indicate national and international tourists that Phnom Penh is one of well-known prestigious and old cities in the Kingdom of Cambodia and it is also one of the nice cities in the world. It is so regret that under Pol Pot regime – 3 years, 8 months, and 20days – almost everything were destroyed. A prestigious Phnom Penh city became a desert. There were no people to live. All infrastructures and building were destroyed. Phnom Penh become a city ghost and is almost disappear from the world’s map.

Under the leadership of the Kampuchea United Front for National Salvation which is now United Front for the Development of Cambodia and with support from Vietnamese soldiers, Cambodia was liberated on January 7, 1979. It is no doubt that defending and rebuilding the country are the strategic orientations of the Government and the people and building and restoring Phnom Penh are challenging tasks for local authorities and the people….not to mention urban heritage preservation, but living in appropriate houses, access to clean water and electricity are beyond our imagination. We has tried our best just for survival. We have strived to restore and build Phnom Penh city from bare hand. We are using all out resources to turn the city into a city of development.

His excellencies, Lok Chumteav, Oukha, Ladies, and Gentlemen.

Under the leadership of the Royal Government of Cambodia with Samdech Hun Sen as head, Cambodia has full peace, national unity, political stability and sustainable development. The construction of gate way and the development of physical infrastructure the municipality of Phnom Penh has been carrying out actively is the new style leadership under the slogan “Phnom Penh is in the angle of Peace Safety, Beauty and Progress” for the welfare of the people and also for the contribution in upholding Cambodia image in International scene. Phnom Penh in the 21 century is busy with changing development chain to follow high-tech. We have overcome political, social, and economic stability. We are trying to get rid of insecurity in all forms, implement good governance, eradicate corruption, and bad action with a view to promoting domestic and international investor to trust in doing business.

The above affords coincide with restoring and developing urban infrastructure, national heritage, including sewage system, clean water, electricity, telecommunication, historical resorts, particularly the expanding of the city, national park. For instance, the parks along side the gate way upgrade the beauty of Phnom Penh.

We remind and always pay gratitude to our ancestors who found Phnom Penh. We never forget to pay gratitude to out hero who scarified their lives to defense Phnom Penh and the people. We also would like to express admiration to fine art professors who worked directly in building the bridge. The new gate way and the nice parks was designed the previous one for recording in the history.

During the auspicious ceremony, I would like to pray the gate way for Khmer citizens including the people who have contributed in building Phnom Penh since the liberation day in January 7, 1979 as well as the next generation to know the value of our culture and help maintain it.

Finally, I’d like to wish all of you five Buddhist blessed for the coming Khmer New Year. .

Thank you.

(Unoffical translation )