A SPEECH MADE BY
SAMDECH CHEA SIM, A SENATE PRESIDENT
ON THE OCCASION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
"THE CAMBODIAN CONSTITUTIONALISM"
HELD ON 10-11 JANUARY 2003
AT THE ROYAL UNIVERSITY OF LAW AND ECONOMICS
******  *****  ******
 

His Excellency Gotaro Ogawa, a Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia. Your Excellencies, Distinguished National    and International Guests, and All Conference Attendants,

Today, I have a great honor and pleasure to join the conference on "Constitutionalism in Cambodia". Which is sponsored by the School of Law of Nagoya University, Japan.

   I would like to take this occasion to express my gratitude towards Japanese government and people for actively, financially, and mentally help Cambodia build its independence, sovereignty, development, and to become a real rule of law.

   Our country has gone through a significantly subsequent historical events, which reflected our bravery and sacrifice for the sake of protecting and developing our country. Backward and people for actively, financially, and mentally help Cambodia
   build its independence, sovereignty, development, and to become a real rule of law.

   The Paris Peace Accord signed on 23 October 1991 has given us the basis to bring about peace, national reconciliation, and full independence in Cambodia. This is a new turn and a golden opportunity for us to rebuild our country with an enormous support from the international communities.

   Despite facing great difficulties in rebuilding our future, we have tried our best to settle those issues on the basis of national    consolidation and unanimity guided by our revered  King Norodom Sihanouk.

    Your Excellencies, Distinguished National and International Guests, All Conference Attendants,

   It is ineffable to rebuild one country from nothing - that is, the old system was rooted out. Our Cambodians have sacrificed for rights, freedom, and democracy, and this is the reality and history because if there is no yesterday, there would be no today and tomorrow.

   Following the Second World War, the democracy was in embryo in Cambodia with the start of its first constitution in 1947. 
   Moreover, the Cambodian constitution has been subsequently amended with the change in the political regime. The 1972
   Constitution of Khmer Republic ensued from a 1970 coup that forced Cambodia into war, and was a cause to bring about genocide regime in 1975. By the way, the 1976 Constitution of Democratic Kampuchea formed an eccentric regime that
made Cambodia return to its pre-historical era. The 1981 Constitution of People's Republic of Cambodia was taken into effect after Cambodia was released from the genocide regime on January 07, 1979, and this constitution was amended in
   1989 when People's Republic of Cambodia changed its name to the State of Cambodia. After Paris Peace Accord signed on
   23 October 1991, United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) made an interval law system in order to arrange the public order, led by Supreme National Council (SNC). There were 20 political parties joining the proportional 
   election, which was held from 25 to 28 May 1993. Funcipec Party, Cambodian's People Party, the Buddhist Liberal Democracy Party, and Molinaka Party, Cambodian's People Party, the Buddhist Liberal Democracy Party, and Molinaka
   Party won the general election and formed a constituent assembly presided over by late Samdech Bovorsitha Soeun San to draft the  constitution. After this constitution was adopted on September 21, 1993 and promulgated by the king on September 24, 1993, the Constituent Assembly has become National Assembly.

   Your Excellencies, Distinguished National and International Guests, All Conference Attendants.

   So far, our new constitution is almost ten years old. In coincidence with the evolution of the society, this new constitution has gone through 3 amendments. The first amendment in 1993 is on article 28, and the second amendment in 1999 is on articles 11,12,13,18, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 34, 51, 90, 91, 93, and other articles from chapter 8 to chapter 14, and the third amendment in 2001  is on articles 14 and 19. This evolution is in response to the actual situation of Cambodia, which has been developing and integrating itself into regional and international framework.

   As you have known, a strong legal reform and justice reform are under way in Cambodia. This is a big deal that requires a proper time and a comprehensive determination.

   The Japanese government through the Japanese International Organization (JICA) that has been cooperating with Ministry of Justice has helped draft civil codes and civil procedure code. In addition, the Association of Japanese lawyers in Cambodia.
   contributed civil law and penal law books in Khmer version to students of the Faculty of Law and Economics.

   Nagoya University has signed an agreement with the Faculty of Law and Economics have cooperated to conduct a conference in the purpose of conducing a research into the national development and legal assistance projects and so as to
   share experience, viewpoints, this pioneers us to a joint research into law field to develop the academic relationship between
   the researchers and the executives in Cambodia and Japan.

   Today conference on the Cambodian Constitutionalism explicitly shows the kindness of Japanese Government and Japanese people towards Cambodia, ensuring that they are conscientious to develop Cambodian human resources. I would.
   like to take this they are conscientious to develop Cambodian human resources. I would like to take this occasion to deeply thank the Japanese government and Japanese people for their ongoing aid, which has made Cambodia economically and
   politically stable and qualified to be a rule of law for developing the country on its own in the future.

   In conclusion, I would like to wish you all happiness, and prosperity, and declare the opening of the conference.

Thank You.