Hun Sen warns union leaders and political parties about workers’ salary increaseFriday, April 25, 2008
By Kesor Raniya
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Prime minister Hun Sen warned union leaders and political parties which accused him of raising the workers’ salary in a rush because he wants to win the election.
Nevertheless, he admitted this fact on his own, and he supported his win-win policy, as well as saying that whatever he did was always to win: “I am telling you the truth, whatever Hun Sen did was to win, I am saying this clearly so that in the future, I don’t have to repeat this again and again. Mr. Hun Sen already declared that whatever he did was to win, but it is not for Hun Sen to win by himself only, and it is not just for the CPP (to win), but it is for the entire nation, why? If Hun Sen does something wrong, or if the CPP does something wrong, the people will not support the CPP nor Hun Sen. Therefore, by and large, Hun Sen also wins, the CPP also wins, and the entire people of Cambodia also win, therefore we all win together.”
Regarding this winning, Hun Sen said that the winning of his party is due to the fact that it has a clear leadership path, and his personal name can be used: “During the past mandate elections, it was the truth, this story cannot be falsified, even the former king talked openly enough about it. Funcinpec said that if you love Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, you must vote for Funcinpec, and the CPP said that if the CPP wins, Hun Sen will be the prime minister. In many places, a lot of people are saying that if you love Hun Sen, votes for the CPP. Therefore, here is the true meaning, since when did Funcinpec has its own political goal?”
However, (in his speech,) Hun Sen did not account for the political standing of the Funcinpec party led by Nhiek Bun Chhay as the party secretary-general.
Regarding the issue of raising the workers’ salary, Hun Sen said that it is true that he did increase the salary to win (the election), but it was his measure to lower the temperature for the government only: “And this (salary raise) is not due to any union demand, don’t show off your achievement. This is the request made by the nation, by the workers, by the government, by the factories and companies, which all require this (measure). Don’t claim that this is done because I (workers) demanded it, or the unions demanded it, even if there is no demand, we will increase the salary anyway. It is the timing to undertake this salary raise. This comes at the proper timing, because it is the economic temperature, the economic heat has increased a lot and it called for this measure to be taken.”
Hun Sen made this speech on Wednesday of this week, during a government forum for the private sector, organized by the Council of Development of Cambodia, held at the government palace building.
Nevertheless, he admitted this fact on his own, and he supported his win-win policy, as well as saying that whatever he did was always to win: “I am telling you the truth, whatever Hun Sen did was to win, I am saying this clearly so that in the future, I don’t have to repeat this again and again. Mr. Hun Sen already declared that whatever he did was to win, but it is not for Hun Sen to win by himself only, and it is not just for the CPP (to win), but it is for the entire nation, why? If Hun Sen does something wrong, or if the CPP does something wrong, the people will not support the CPP nor Hun Sen. Therefore, by and large, Hun Sen also wins, the CPP also wins, and the entire people of Cambodia also win, therefore we all win together.”
Regarding this winning, Hun Sen said that the winning of his party is due to the fact that it has a clear leadership path, and his personal name can be used: “During the past mandate elections, it was the truth, this story cannot be falsified, even the former king talked openly enough about it. Funcinpec said that if you love Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, you must vote for Funcinpec, and the CPP said that if the CPP wins, Hun Sen will be the prime minister. In many places, a lot of people are saying that if you love Hun Sen, votes for the CPP. Therefore, here is the true meaning, since when did Funcinpec has its own political goal?”
However, (in his speech,) Hun Sen did not account for the political standing of the Funcinpec party led by Nhiek Bun Chhay as the party secretary-general.
Regarding the issue of raising the workers’ salary, Hun Sen said that it is true that he did increase the salary to win (the election), but it was his measure to lower the temperature for the government only: “And this (salary raise) is not due to any union demand, don’t show off your achievement. This is the request made by the nation, by the workers, by the government, by the factories and companies, which all require this (measure). Don’t claim that this is done because I (workers) demanded it, or the unions demanded it, even if there is no demand, we will increase the salary anyway. It is the timing to undertake this salary raise. This comes at the proper timing, because it is the economic temperature, the economic heat has increased a lot and it called for this measure to be taken.”
Hun Sen made this speech on Wednesday of this week, during a government forum for the private sector, organized by the Council of Development of Cambodia, held at the government palace building.
