King Norodom Sihamoni lights the SEA Games torch during a ceremony held at Angkor Wat on March 21. - HUN MANY via FB
PHNOM PENH (The Phnom Penh Post/Asia News Network): Prime Minister Hun Sen has responded to commentators who have asked why King Norodom Sihamoni will not be opening the SEA Games on Friday (May 5), explaining that it is traditional that countries with a parliamentary system have always tasked the prime minister with the role.
“Some people asked why the king would not be opening the games. He was the one who lit the games’ torch before it began its regional relay. In Asean, there are only three countries where the head of state opens an event like the games,” he said.
He offered the explanation on May 1 while presiding over the groundbreaking of a new container terminal at the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port in Preah Sihanouk province.
He added that Indonesia and the Philippines have a presidential system, so their presidents, rather than prime ministers, opened their games. In Brunei, the Sultan is both monarch and prime minister.
“Every other Asean state had a parliamentary system with a prime minister, and it is he or she who begins the opening ceremony,” he said.
“If people do not understand how the Cambodian system works, or how a standard presidential or parliamentary system operates, you should know regime parlamentare or regime presidential,” he said using French terms.
“Do not pretend to be educated if you do not understand these simple points. It seems like you are attempting to incite conflict between the King and the prime minister.
“In Japan, the prime minister had the duty, rather than the emperor. In China, the president of the party is the one to announce the opening of the games. The king does not take on the role of the prime minister, and vice versa. When the King lit the games’ torch, I merely accompanied him,” he explained.
In March, King Sihamoni lit the SEA Games torch at Angkor Wat Temple, in the presence of many top leaders from Cambodia and the other Asean sporting federations.
Hun Sen also responded to criticism of the Kingdom’s free ticket policy for the biennial multi-sports events, and its decision not to charge visiting athletes for accommodation or meals. He explained that Cambodia is using the games as an opportunity to attract more people to the country, so they would begin to understand its unique qualities.
“Cambodia is a poor country, but its heart is big. We have committed $7 million to feed foreign athletes and ask nothing in return and we do not regret the decision. But I believe in one thing: None of the next host countries will charge us for our participation in their future games, you mark my words!” he said.
Hun Sen added that what Cambodia wants to do is demonstrate its heart, and its care for life, just as it did in the case of the MS Westerdam cruise liner.
“I think that the people who oppose this decision would disagree with any decision we made. At any rate, the number of opponents is small when compared to the number of Cambodians who are proud!” he said.
At the height of the Covid-19 outbreak, the Westerdam, with more than 1,400 passengers and crew onboard, was denied a berth by five nations, before Cambodia allowed it to dock at Sihanoukville. The vessel is expected to return to Cambodia in December.
