Phnom Penh (FN), Aug. 15 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet noted that the Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) has sparked three distinct viewpoints among the people, speaking on Thursday (Aug. 15) during a meeting with Buddhist priests at the National Institute of Education.

"Some say we do not listen to concerns about the CLV-DTA. The Royal Government hears both supporters and opponents, but the key question is: which group should we listen to? We have three groups: the first fears withdrawal, the second values development. Which should we heed? Importantly, the third group, though silent, is the largest. They seek assurance on four points: first, that the four provinces won’t lose territory; second, that sovereignty remains intact; third, that development in these provinces is secured; and fourth, that Cambodians remain united to prevent social chaos," said Samdech Thipadei.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet continued, "The third group is the largest. If we withdraw, but if there is an intention to cause division, the problem will persist, regardless of cooperation. We have been in ASEAN since 1999, and none of the 10 countries have disappeared; rather, they have cooperated and strengthened their borders together. Those who support the project argue that it benefits their provinces, especially the remote ones, and they want to protect that support within both the national and regional frameworks, with Japan also offering assistance."

The fourth concern of the third group is to maintain national stability and unity, so we must address these concerns. At the same time, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet reiterated his commitment to protecting the sovereignty of the four northeastern provinces and continuing to promote development for the next generation of Cambodians.

Please be informed that illegal rebel groups in some countries have incited protests against the CLV-DTA in an attempt to destabilise Cambodia, similar to the situation in Bangladesh. Although the project began in 1999, extremist opposition groups have recently falsely claimed that the development project involves ceding Cambodian territory to other countries.

At the same time, Samdech Thipadei underlined that to protect Cambodia’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty, it is essential to work together to develop and improve the lives of Cambodians in the Northeast. Regarding the CLV-DTA, Samdech Thipadei also urged the public to express their opinions in a dignified manner.

In a special message, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, who initiated the DTA, clearly stated that Cambodia has not ceded any land in the four provinces—Stung Treng, Kratie, Mondulkiri, and Ratanakkiri. The joint development with Viet Nam and Laos is simply a form of cooperation among the three countries. The territory of Cambodia is developed with Cambodian funds, just as Viet nam and Laos develop their territories with their own resources
=FRESH NEWS