Unofficial Translation from FACEBOOK PAGE: Samdech Hun Sen, Cambodian Prime Minister
THURSDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2019,
Translated by TONG SOPRACH
Good morning, grandchildren, nephews/nieces and Cambodian citizens!
Today is the 10th day of the lunar eclipse, year of Chor “Dog”. It is an important lunar day, but maybe none of you grandkids and nephews/nieces are interested, but if it were February 14, it might be of interest to many. Some are ready to join the Valentine’s Day celebration.
Today, I [Grandfather] don’t want to talk about politics, I just want to talk to the grandchildren who have become adolescents. I believe that all grandchildren know what they should do, and what they should not do; especially on Valentine’s Day.
Although, I [Grandfather] say this to you, the intention is not to interfere into young people’s affairs. However, wrong behaviour of the youth is not our Khmer tradition. This is also our concern with regard to young men and women’s affairs too. Even though I am advanced in age now, I [Grandfather] passed through the phase of being a teenager too.
I know how excited it was to meet your loved one. During grandfather and grandmother’s era, we were in the war years. Even though we loved each other, we still kept our respect of our traditional rule until becoming a husband and wife, a socially recognized couple.
I [Grandfather] read an article written by a social researcher who noted that grandchildren [teenagers] are now more mature, compared to past behavior in recent years on Valentine’s Day. Most of you [grandkids] right now are thoughtful and do nothing contrary to Khmer tradition. The study made me glad.
Of course, I [Grandpa] always want to see nephews/nieces and grandchildren who are garment factory workers have children and grandkids with happiness. This happiness must come up from a proper family, through a legal and Khmer traditional and cultural wedding; otherwise it will really not bring you happiness on either side [a granddaughter as well as a grandson].
Please grandchildren, show your love by being respectful on this February 14th.
