Hun Sen Delivers an Address To 8,000 CPP Youth Activists

In a marathon six-hour speech to about 8,000 CPP youth activists gathered at Phnom Penh’s Dia­mond Island on Saturday, Prime Minister Hun Sen spoke about Cambodia’s role as Asean chair, the global financial crisis and terrorism.

Despite talking for hours, no transcript of the prime minister’s address was available for public dissemination as no independent media were al­lowed into the event, which was also attended by the ruling party’s top military brass and senior officials, as well as thousands of other party faithful, including schoolteachers, youth leaders and union chiefs.

“The prime minister talked about the economic progress Cambodia has made as well as the general situation at home and abroad so that the youth activists know how to develop the country in the future,” state news agency TVK said in commentary to images of the meeting.

Mr. Hun Sen also spoke about some overseas countries that had recently experienced challenges in terms of civil war and terrorism, said Chea Nim, chief of Roka Chambok village, Choam Chao commune, in Phnom Penh’s Pur Senchay district, who attended the meeting.

The gathering, which was organized by Phnom Penh Municipality’s youth department, was intended to strengthen the ruling party’s support from the youth, Mr. Nim said.

Mr. Hun Sen also expressed his hope that US President Barack Obama would attend the next Asean Summit in Phnom Penh and see the progress the country had made, according to TVK.

“More than 33 years ago, the CPP worked hard fighting to topple the Khmer Rouge regime. Reconcilia­tion and rebuilding were not easy tasks, but everything was achieved by the youth banding together,” TVK quoted the prime minister as saying.

Independent political analyst Chea Vannath said yesterday that she believed Mr. Hun Sen had used the event as an opportunity to engage with the youth on a broad range of issues ahead of elections.

“He’s getting in touch with all the issues at the same time and the youth are considered the new voters,” Ms. Vannath said.

(Additional reporting by Kate Bartlett)