Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Monday that he met with King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace on Sunday to discuss the border issue and his extensive discussions with the King on the topic went on into the evening.
“I reported all aspects about the border to His Majesty until eight in the evening,” Hun Sen said at the inauguration of a high school in Pursat province.
Hun Sen added that he spoke with the King on the phone before the meeting about the supplemental border agreement with Vietnam, and that he also briefed Prince Norodom Ranariddh on the issue at Phnom Penh International Airport while waiting for the King’s plane to arrive from China on Saturday.
Officials at the Royal Palace and the Royal Cabinet could not be reached Monday to confirm Hun Sen’s statements.
Hun Sen said last month that the monarchy could be dissolved if the King does not sign off on the controversial border agreement.
Hun Sen emphasized during his Monday speech that the cooperation between the CPP and Funcinpec was essential to maintain peace and that the border issue must not be used to “damage peace.”
“We must leave no chance for anyone to destroy the peace and political stability that we have achieved,” he said.
Hun Sen said he had also spoken about the importance of maintaining peaceful borders with the leaders of Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Burma during the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy meeting in Bangkok last week.
Peaceful frontiers promote economic development and alleviate poverty along the border, Hun Sen said.
“This idea was welcomed by all leaders,” he said, “particularly [Thai Prime Minister] Thaksin Shinawatra who gave the strongest support.”
Opposition Senator Ung Bun-Ang praised the pursuit of peace and prosperity but warned that it must not come at the price of free speech and dialogue.
“We need peace and stability,” he said. “But we should make a distinction between graveyard peace and stability and normal peace and stability.”
Ung Bun-Ang praised a Saturday meeting at which Deputy Prime Minister Sok An explained the border issue to lawmakers but stressed that it was important to have an open, informed debate with the public as well.
