Hailing the Magha Puja Day

February 8th, 2020 is the Magha Puja Day, one of the most important festivals in Buddhism, which is the state religion. The Magha Puja is to commemorate the day that the Buddha proclaimed the birth of Buddhism to the World in India in 588 BCE on the full moon day of Maagha , after nine months of his enlightenment.

Buddhism has not only made our people spiritually peaceful but has also played a vital role in strengthening order, peace, social stability, development in all fields and maintaining our national identity.

I wish our Buddhist monks and compatriots happiness and prosperity.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Facebook Page, 08 February 2020

• [...] appreciated and highly evaluated efforts of the Cambodian National Council for Women (NCW) for active contribution to national construction and development [...]

• [...] women take parts in areas of health, service, education, and military [...] in which they also took part in the recent building Collapse rescue operations [...] and in the UN blue beret peacekeeping operations [...], and

• [...] urged NCW to continue cooperation with the Ministry of Interior on female convicts, while expediting their trials, and seeking them lawyers,

• [...] requested the Ministry of Labor to monitor safety and provide protection from abuses for women workers working abroad, [...] ordered the Ministry of Interior to monitor and take measures on cybercrimes mainly pornographic VDO affecting honor of the Khmer women,

• [...] warned to take measures against those advertise sales online wearing inappropriate dressings, [...] and urged for increase of capacity of female civil servants to hold political positions in institutions [...]

Samdech Techo Hun Sen,
Annual Review Meeting of the Cambodian
National Council for Women, 17 February 2020,

• [...] The real sickness in the region and the world has been ones of fear and discrimination [...] this is no time for fear or discrimination but time for solidarity to resolve challenges (of CoViD-19) which has been threat not only to one but many countries [...]

• [...] Should there be CoViD-19 on the ship, would Cambodia allow docking? I am replying aptly [...] I will allow docking the soonest possible [...] could we leave infected human dying on the ship? [...] that would be responsibility of the world as well as us responsible members of international community [...]

• [...] Cambodia upholds responsibility on respect of human rights, first of all right to life, and in this case more than 2,000 people from 41 nationalities on the ship [...] Cambodia is doing for them now works relating to human right respect - right to life, right to no discrimination, and right to return to their countries safely [...]

• [...] I am giving those of you on board to leave for excursions to the province of Preah Sihanouk, or some may want to go to Siem Reap, and we will facilitate them with every facilities we may have - four planes of Cambodia Airways, for instance, to help deliver them [...]

• [...] Hotels, restaurants in Preah Sihanouk province should not discriminate against and be fearful to tourists because of this (sickness). If they are infectious, I am the first to get it. I strongly hope that the Cambodian people will exercise high responsibility as a contributor to promoting right to life, right to free travel and to no discrimination [...] Cambodia has not got much wealth as other countries but we have got heart to save those people stranded at sea on the cruise ship [...]

Samdech Techo Hun Sen,
Statement during the Welcome of Westerdam Cruise Ship
docking at Sihanouk Autonomous Port, 14 February 2020.

It is because of sustain peace that I have the ability to allow the stranded cruise ship to dock at the Preah Sihanouk seaport to help those on board the ship 13 days already to be able to safely return to their home countries.

On 14 February 2020, I will go to Preah Sihanouk province to welcome them in our capacity as host with solidarity and responsibility.

I thank the World Health Organization and countries whose citizens held aboard the ship for providing Cambodia with their confidence.

Help one another when we are in need, a friend indeed is a friend in need,

Thank you! Peace

Samdech Techo Hun Sen,
Facebook Page, 13 February 2020.